According to Microsoft’s Blogging Windows website, a special offer is available to those of us who currently own older versions of its software. This special offer extends to not only to those of us who are using Vista or Windows 7, but is also being extended to users of Windows XP. This special offer, according to the site, states that between the time that Windows 8 is released, for purchase, and January 1, 2013, users of previous Windows versions can upgrade to the Pro version for a mere $39.99. What wasn’t stated in the announcement was when the consumer could expect Windows 8 to hit the marketplace.
I know, I know, you must be thinking that this guy is confused or suffering from dementia, but I’m really not. However, I, too, had to read it several times to confirm I was reading the pricing and availability correctly. As I continued to read through the offer I was also surprised to see that, in addition, to taking this offer at face value, if you do choose the upgrade path, Microsoft is also going to allow you to download and install Media Center for free. This sounds like an incredible offer and I can’t recall any previous upgrades — from one version of Windows to another — being offered at such a low price.
Surprisingly, this offer is basically gimmick free, which means that with the $39.99 offer you will have the opportunity to download a version of Windows 8 Pro, including the option to burn the ISO image to a DVD. Included in the price is a download assistant that will take you through the upgrade steps. However, if you wish to have a permanent DVD installation disk mailed to you, there is an additional $15 charge for shipping and handling.
Limitations of the Upgrade
- For those upgrading from Windows 7, the upgrade will save Windows settings, personal files, and applications.
- For those upgrading from Windows Vista, the upgrade process will maintain Windows settings and personal files, but not applications.
- For those upgrading from Windows XP, only personal files will be transferred.
When I first read that the upgrade process was going to include users of Windows XP, I thought to myself, “no way.” My thoughts were that most Windows XP boxes couldn’t support Windows Vista or Windows 7, so how could they support Windows 8 Pro? What I failed to consider was that when Microsoft came out with Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft allowed OEM boxes to be installed with Windows XP for those users who wished to have the older version of Windows. I remembered this while I was going through my invoices, and recalled that several months ago I had worked on a system with a dual-core CPU and 4 GB of memory that was running Windows XP. The reason was simple. The owner didn’t want to learn, or train his employees, on another new operating system and had therefore opted to have Dell install Windows XP on the business box. Because he has a newer and better computer, upgrading to Windows 8 Pro should not be a problem.
However, if you have an older Windows XP machine like I do (it’s an eight-year-old Gateway laptop), I wouldn’t recommend the upgrade. This old laptop struggles using Windows XP and I know that, even after a clean install of the OS, if I installed Windows 8 Pro it would be slower than a snail in winter. Specifics for this machine include a measly 512 MB of RAM and a single-core 1.2 MHz CPU. I only keep this particular unit around for use by the grandkids so that they can play online games when they visit.
Why is Microsoft Making This Low-priced Offer?
There will be two distinct levels of thought as to what is motivating Microsoft to make this special, low-priced offer. First, we have the anti-Microsoft crowd who will state that:
- Microsoft already knows that Windows 8 will be a bow-wow.
- Microsoft has alienated its OEM partners by announcing its own Microsoft-branded tablet computers.
- HP, the largest PC maker, has already stated that the company will not be offering an RT (ARM-powered) tablet, which shows a lack of confidence on HP’s part.
- If one owns a non-touch computer system, requiring the user to manipulate the screens via a mouse or keyboard makes navigating through Metro a real pain.
- Users are comfortable with Windows 7 and are thankful that Microsoft finally got it right after the disaster known as Vista failed to gain consumer approval.
- Those in the know would only buy a Mac.
Second, we have the Microsoft fanboys who will state:
- Windows 8 will be the best Windows ever.
- It is time for a change and Metro is an improvement.
- Metro is easy to use and you still get Windows 7 included.
- It’s the ability to add various applications that will set the new OS up for success and make it a competitor in the marketplace.
- The new OS gives you the ability to choose either an RT or an Intel interface. It doesn’t get any better than this.
- Microsoft will eat Apple iPads for lunch.
No matter which side of the fence you are on, no one can deny that Microsoft is making this a juicy offer that could end up leaving the company with a sweet taste in its mouth when all is said and done. However, even here, anyone who is observant cannot help but admit that Microsoft’s improvements and better price point are probably directly related to the competition Apple has provided in the computer market place. This same competitive spirit is now extended to both Google with its Android OS and new Nexus 7, both of which will add additional pressure to companies to lower prices and produce products with better hardware.
For us, the consumers, that should mean that whether we choose a tablet or the traditional PC, the competition in the electronics arena should continue to improve the products we see at lower prices as time moves onward.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
CC licensed Flickr photo above shared by comedy_nose
For $40 usd Im gonna buy ..and clue on what the uk comparison price is gonna be ? But why buy it .. simple it could be awsome plus I have some ideas to get round my lack of touch monitor namley the bamboo pen and touch or apples magic pad thingy
It “could be”? You’re a marketer’s dream. Please accept this piece of stick at the never to be repeated price of £2367. It could be awesome! (terms and conditions apply)
Yeah It could be …It might fit in what I consider awesome and my work flow No need to throw the insults about …. and yes I feel insulted
Microsoft Will be surprise to know that they can sell more with better price, making piracy almost disapear. I wish one could buy a windows OS from the Internet, download and install it. That beeing said, w8 will be a disaster in terms of user interface.
Mr. Gates, I am pleased to inform you that you can buy Windows 8 from the Microsoft store online with the same pricing (shipping not included)
Well lets see, there is no native DVD support, it is a download and Media Center is a separate purchase, derp, I wonder why it is so cheap.
Through this upgrade option, you will be able to get Media Center free.
In the Release preview, I was able to play DVDs. 0.o
Say what? I thought only certain *nix distros have no native DVD support and have to download them as additional packages….
That being said, I had the Dev Preview, Consumer Preview, and Release preview and was able to play DVD………. And Media Center is offered separately because not everyone uses it and wastes space on the DVD for those who don’t really use it. It’s not a big download anyway, and they’re giving it away for free which means it doesn’t even cover 1% of the cost of Windows. I don’t see why not including it makes Windows cheaper.
I will definitely be upgrading. If you actually use Windows 8 with a mouse and keyboard, you will find that it is much more pleasant than you think. My Windows Phone makes it easy to get information immediately with live tiles, and I can’t wait for my computer to be able to do that.
My Gaming PC will still have Windows 7 until Microsoft offers another OS that is good for gaming, and not touchscreen.
Will I be able to format my computer and install a fresh Windows 8 environment with this $39.99 upgrade?
Despite common knowledge, the upgrade ISO is a full blown Windows installer… Regardless of having a Windows on the hard drive or not, you can use a Windows installer (upgrade version or not) to install a fresh Windows environment… It works with Windows 7, and I believe MS is doing the same with Windows 8…
I find it odd people purchase the regular version for a clean install meanwhile you can buy the upgrade version and do a clean install just fine. This works due to Microsoft wanting people still on XP be able to upgrade… And on the Windows 7 upgrade, they need to do a clean install, which requires them to burn the ISO and install via DVD.
Unless Microsoft makes something different this time around, you can use the upgrade to do a clean install regardless if you have Windows or not installed. (Of course using the upgrade advisor requires you to have Windows installed, but if you buy the upgrade DVD from retail or online at the Microsoft store just put it your DVD drive and install)
Thank you for your reply. Much appreciated.
Been working with win8 for a while now and I have to say its somewhere between Vista and Win ME. It sucks and sucks hard. This from a long time Windows guy. Windows 7 is a great OS. There was no need for all the new “improvements”. All they did was take a great OS and make it almost unusable. Do yourself a favor and don’t get win 8. If you get a new computer that comes with it, wipe it and install 7 or Linux.
While I hate the Metro apps in Win8 and don’t use them since I don’t have a touch monitor like 99% of Windows users, once I changed all the default apps back to their Win 7 cousins and got used to the start page, Win 8 is super stable ( crashed exactly ONE time ) so not sure how is sucks?
Uh…… If you say “unusable” do you mean you just haven’t worked your way past getting over Metro, right?
Because if you say “unusable” everyone reading your comment would think that you can’t even get regular programs to work at all, get past windows login… and so on and so forth which makes it “unusable”
You need to get your wording correctly. Otheriwse you’re misleading people and just exagerating your situation.
Actually, the way Microsoft blended two separate UX paradigms into one OS could very well be considered unusable.
This is MS we’re talking about. They don’t get out of bed for less than $100. If this price isn’t the most blatant admission of failure to launch in the history of computing then Bob was the best OS ever!
Bob was an add on pack not an OS LOL
Geeze, Win 8 sucks so bad they’re almost giving it away. No thanks, I’m heading for Linuxville…..
Right now I use windows8 on an old tired dual core PC and it runs better and faster than windows7 or windows XP….smooth…I even play games on it…DVD is supported……..I drop to desktop and use it like I always have in ANY of their OS releases……why use METRO and try to get used to all that garbage……use the desktop and be done with it like you always have……start button…ehh who needs it??