Windows 7 pricing formally announced
Thu Jun 25, 2009 11:36AM EDT
See Comments (15)
After months of speculation, Windows 7 pricing options have finally been unvieled. Not a lot of surprises here, but I do have a lot of information to relay due to the sheer number of options available to end users.
Let's start with upgrade pricing, which is likely how most early buyers will obtain their copies. If you're upgrading an existing PC (with XP or Vista), you're entitled to buy software at these prices (and I'm adding a penny to every price in this story in order to avoid obfuscation of the true costs involved; all prices are MSRP and are subject to further discounting from retailers):
Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade - $120
Windows 7 Professional upgrade - $200
Windows 7 Ultimate upgrade - $220
Again, not a lot of mystery there, but for many, disappointingly on the expensive side. Those are the exact same prices that Vista upgrades cost today, with the sole exception that a Vista 7 Home Premium upgrade costs $130, $10 more.
If you're planning to install from scratch (say, on a home-built PC or from some other OS), you'll have to pay full fare. Those fees are:
Windows 7 Home Premium - $200
Windows 7 Professional - $300
Windows 7 Ultimate - $320
Again, this is the same current pricing as Vista at retail, except $40 cheaper for Windows 7 Home Premium.
The good news comes if you're willing to pre-order an upgrade copy. Confirming earlier rumors, Microsoft is launching a steeply discounted pre-order offer, beginning June 26 (tomorrow). If you're willing to pay now and wait four months, you'll get the Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade for $50 and the Windows 7 Professional upgrade for $100. Those are big discounts, and if you're looking to upgrade current machines, I'd highly recommend jumping on it. The offer ends July 11 in the U.S. and Canada (or "while supplies last"), so don't sit on the fence too long. You can get your pre-order copy here, and general retailers like Amazon and Best Buy will also be selling the steeply discounted copies.
Finally, if you're buying a new PC, beginning tomorrow you will be entitled to a free (or, in some cases, low-cost) upgrade from Vista to Windows 7. Details on specific machines and manufacturers honoring this program will be available on this page beginning tomorrow... though that "low-cost" caveat is a little troubling.
Comments on Windows 7 pricing formally announced
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2 Posted by falconrok55 on Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:18PM EDT Report Abuse
The Ultimate upgrade is a bit too lavish, and expensive for its feature set, IMHO. Home Premium is all most people need... and the $50 pre-ordering price is actually pretty cheap (for Microsoft). We'll have to see if it's worth it, once Windows 7 is released, though.
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3 Posted by bowling_255 on Thu Jun 25, 2009 1:39PM EDT Report Abuse
If I upgrade will I have to reinstall all my programs again? If I don't have to reinstall I will be buying a new computer soon but if I will have to reinstall everything I will wait until Windows 7 comes out.
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4 Posted by jewelryczar on Thu Jun 25, 2009 2:30PM EDT Report Abuse
Interesting that the Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6) upgrade is so cheap for Mac users...I think I'll stick to XP (in dual-boot on my iMac) for as long as I can. I don't need to spend $120+ for the 1-2 hours a month I use Windows instead of OS X.
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5 Posted by lillgad on Thu Jun 25, 2009 2:57PM EDT Report Abuse
Well now, after windows 3.0, 3.1, 95, 98,ME, 2000, and now XP , at 73 years old will I outlive XP, and should I spend my kids inheirance ? and dole out 200 bucks? To heck with it, I should have stuck with Apple long ago.
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6 Posted by bluey_da on Thu Jun 25, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse
Free upgrade for Vista, that should that include those that have suffered since Vista was released several years ago. After all this is actually Vista SP3 or Vista that works, but sellers are not allowed to say that I believe.
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7 Posted by krywick@sbcglobal.net on Thu Jun 25, 2009 4:06PM EDT Report Abuse
I wouldn't install any of their new junk on my computers, not even if they paid me :-)
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8 Posted by bella77427 on Thu Jun 25, 2009 5:23PM EDT Report Abuse
Well for those who are about to purchase a new pc I suppose they should wait. I just got mine about a year so I suppose...its upgrade time for me when it comes out. Yet I am in no hurry at the moment to pre-order.
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9 Posted by lonbw on Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:26AM EDT Report Abuse
If windows 7 runs more of XP programs or more of XP hardware it might be worth it. But it does not I still can not run many programs on it that I run on XP and HP 1012 laser printer and Visioneer Scanner 7100usb will not work.My main computer is a dell 518 4gbs ram, 512 video card that does not support XP and took a lot of work to get running but it was worth it. Plus MS lets us see windows 7 Ultimate but what will home premium leave out? I am dual booting Windows 7rc and XPsp2 but do not use 7rc very much.
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10 Posted by rosregan66 on Sat Jun 27, 2009 7:35AM EDT Report Abuse
Just bought a new computer that had vista home premium and does anyone out there think its a good idea to upgrad to a windows 7 professional for compatibility of things that worked on the xp and not on vista? Any infor would be appreciated. And also is the deal that microsoft is giving of ordering now for $100. dollars for the professional upgrade a complete system windows 7 upgrade? for professional that is. What are the differences of professional and home premium. I would venture to say the professional would be complete as to exception all of the things that vista did not. Am I right in assuming this? Any information by you more experienced computer people would help me decide if an upgrade to this new program would be helpful. Thank You all so much.
1 Posted by dcsoccer25 on Thu Jun 25, 2009 12:24PM EDT Report Abuse
Geez, $220 for the Ultimate upgrade? An Upgrade, that expensive? I'll keep my RC version till it expires, thank you very much.