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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Microsoft's Windows 7 Prices Include Early-Bird Discount

Free upgrades for Vista PC buyers starting Friday

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(Newser) – A pre-ordered upgrade to Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system will cost US customers $49 or $99 from tomorrow until July 11, depending on version: Home premium or Professional, CNET reports. Also starting tomorrow, anyone who buys a new Vista PC will get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it’s released in October, the AP adds. Full versions will sell for $199, $299, and $319 for Ultimate.

Boxed upgrade versions will cost $119, $199, and $219—prices are at or below those for Vista. The pre-release price is one “that we have never even come close to in terms of an operating system release,” said an executive. “We’ve still got a business to run.”

A wall showing the progression of the Windows start menu icons from Windows 95 through Windows Vista is seen at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash.
A wall showing the progression of the Windows start menu icons from Windows 95 through Windows Vista is seen at the company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash.   (AP Photo)
Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer talks about Windows 7 as he delivers the keynote address at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 7, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Microsoft Corp. CEO Steve Ballmer talks about Windows 7 as he delivers the keynote address at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Jan. 7, 2009 in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo)
A Microsoft booth showing Windows 7 is seen at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 8, 2009.
A Microsoft booth showing Windows 7 is seen at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Jan. 8, 2009.   (AP Photo)
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Reader65069154
Jun 25, 09 11:29 AM CDT
Slow economy, competition, Vista debacle. Microsoft actually has to cut prices to get people to buy their OS now? This is a good thing, maybe their proprietary reign is showing some signs of waning. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
2-bits
Jun 25, 09 11:37 AM CDT
I doubt it. It's true, Microsoft has bled a little. But for many people PC = Windows. Just check out how quickly Windows took over the netbook market once the demographic expanded from early adopters to the general consumer. Linux went from 90% marketshare to 10 over night. However, Windows 7 for netbook will be the gimped starter edition (unless they've changed their mind). The starter edition will only allow three running applications at a time, so my guess is that one of these will happen: 1) OEMs will include the price of an upgrade in the cost of the netbook. 2) The netbook market will die. 3)Linux makes a comeback. That's the only way I see Microsoft losing any more marketshare in the future. If you're a business, $100 more per computer is not a prohibitive expense for running essential applications.
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AClotfelter
Jun 25, 09 12:06 PM CDT
As an IT admin, there really is no viable alternative to Windows in the Enterprise. I have been running my domain on Vista for over 2 years, and it has been excellent. Windows 2k8 has also been very good. Apple and Linux have their place, that place just isn't in the business world. Small offices might run great on macs, but Apple has no answer for Active DirectoryGroup Policy, and doesn't seem to be interested in creating one.
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IN RESPONSE:
Ioptout
Jun 25, 09 1:05 PM CDT
*sings* Forever Windows.... My love____ I_ Will, Always love you_______.
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Reader65069154
Jun 25, 09 2:26 PM CDT
"Linux have their place, that place just isn't in the business world." You live in a bubble. We run Red Hat linux on everything we can, and we're a business. So did the last 2 Fortune 500 companies I worked at. We use Microsoft ONLY when we have to, as it's unstable, buggy and proprietary. Regardless, this article was more about consumer Windows.
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