Windows 7: Are you going to buy Win7 at these Prices

If you didn't already know... Your allowed to use your Vista Ultimate license on 3 machines but any more than that and the Activation will start failing, I say the same will be for Windows 7 Professional (Ultimate) but they might raise the limit

The reason you require a license for each machine you own is because your running multiple copys of their software, A company with 300,000 machines would only need to purchase one License, spending just $300 for their entire corporation if these restrictions where not placed on the software.

$300 for Window 7 = 3 machines, the price they are asking is still quite fair.

If you guys actually go to the store and purchase Windows 7 at those prices (if they're true) you must be dumb. Go buy a tech net account, I did when I found it for $350 + 100off coupon so I only paid $250 which is damn good for all Windows Operating Systems.

Live Free!! You got the picture right Jimbo!!

You have to remember, Apple is primarily a hardware vendor. They're not looking to make money off the OS, they're raking in huge profit margins on the hardware. MS makes its money from the software. Completely different model and trying to compare Apple and MS is a non-starter.

I think that Apple provides a great amount of dis-information in their ads. They are small potatoes, so they get away with it. Think Coke and Pepsi. Coca-cola was by far the biggest seller, but you never saw coca-cola directly adverise against pepsi, while on the other hand, Pepsi regularly made crazy comparisons to coke. They were the little guys and they could get away with it.

On top of that, Apple had the backing of the computing media. The amount of utter cr*p that came from "Tech" Mags regarding Vista was unreal. And when questioned, there were more than a few occasions where the writer had not even tested Vista themselves, they were reporting what they "heard" from a collegue.

Again, these prices are rumour only, but even so, MS made clear early on that Starter and Basic would not be seen much in the West. It was designed for use in less developed nations on OLPC style stystems. If you walk into a store and look to purchase Windows, you will have 2 choices, Home or Professional. That is all. Go to a (insert favorite computer store) and there will be only 2 choices on the shelf.

It will do that. Look at Vista's install, you choose which version you are installing. the product key on the software packaging will only work on one version, so if you bought Home premium but choose Ultimate, you'll get an error when activating because the product key won't work.

Also, Win 7 will have Anytime Upgrade, so if you bought Home Premium and you decide you need Ultimate, you can go to the Anytime Upgrade control, hook up to MS, and upgrade to Ultimate.

Like I said before, Apple and MS are fundamentally different. Apple is a hardware vendor with an attached OS. They make their money off of the insane margins they are able to get suckers to pay for bog standard hardware. The OS is thrown in. MS sells an OS that goes on an infinite number or hardware configurations. They make their money off the sale of that software, not any hardware. They have to put additional effort into creating drivers of at least a driver model that vendors can use. They have to test an infinite hardware mix. Then they have to support that hardware mix.

And I for one appreciate the choice. If i am building a media center PC, I don't need all of the professional add-ins. I appreciate that I can spend less for the package i need. If I want to move to Professional for some reason, I'll use the Anytime Upgrade and do so.

What you are forgetting is that each and everyone of those different add-ins needs to be supported. Through their exhaustive marketing research, I'm pretty sure MS has figured out demographically, which features are used most. By selling a known product with only those featurs available, they can man the support infrastructure most efficiently. If they sell a single version with all the bells and whistles, they will have plenty of users, playing with add-ins that they don't need or understand, but MS must support them.

And you'll never see an advertisement like that from MS. They are the front-runner by far. They have 89% of the user base in the US and 96% of the user base in the world. They won't stoop so low as to attack Mac so directly. You'll see more of the Laptop Hunter style ads (hopefully they are less dry and more humorous) where they are touting how much cheaper PC hardware is. Bang for buck, that's where the PC wins.

PhreePhly

Might as well stick with my Technet Plus subscription. With all the other downloads on there &, I assume, eventually the final Windows 7, it actually saves money.

Your logic here is a little off. A business has multiple people that will be using the machines at the same time. Therefore they need to purchase a license for each machine that will be in use simultaneously.

I am a single individual, I can not be in my bed room using that box, AND in my living room using that one, AND in my den using that one ALL at the same time.

And you are just WAY off base, comparing tangible things to intangible digital IP. I do copy the crap out of the DVD / BD that I buy so that I can have a copy for my various devices -- because once again, I will only be watching it in ONE place at any ONE time -- just like with Windows 7...

-- Brian

So I'll take that as a yes to my questions?

This option (Upgrade to itself) should be available just as it was with Vista, therefore the going price should be about 1/2 the amount of the full retail version.

You get the same OS, but you only pay half the price.

BUT if that option is not available & I have too, I'll pay for the full retail version of W7U once the price comes down a bit. I got till March 1st 2010 using the RC I have on my system now before it starts the shutting down every 2 hrs.
I guess I could do the re-arm route too for 30 days at a time for 3 times to extend the time left on it as well.

Hi
I am running the windows 7 rc on my pc

is it not possible to keep it running after the free period,would i be able to pay Microsoft for the copy i have now ?

no. you would have to get the final version