Windows 7 pricing announced - cheaper than Vista‏

[apollo911]

Great, but what is the difference between the upgrade and full versions?

 

[jw12345]

Microsoft's in such an awkward position. Microsoft couldn't survive by pricing at Apple's level, because all their money is just from the OS sales and not hardware. I think Apple is trying to force MS's hand - either make MS look out of touch for charging 3-7x as much for an upgrade, or be forced to lower OS price so much as to damage MS's finances (because, of course, it's not like MS is going to be expanding market share with a loss leader OS.)

It's brilliant on Apple's part. Cue the "I'm a Mac" ad in 3...2...1...

 

[baarod]

VAT?

Have to remember that in the US price is BEFORE tax though sales tax is still only anywhere from 0 to 8-9% based on state.

Nope. US still doesn't tax on mail or internet orders.

 

[baarod]

Microsoft's in such an awkward position. Microsoft couldn't survive by pricing at Apple's level, because all their money is just from the OS sales and not hardware. I think Apple is trying to force MS's hand - either make MS look out of touch for charging 3-7x as much for an upgrade, or be forced to lower OS price so much as to damage MS's finances (because, of course, it's not like MS is going to be expanding market share with a loss leader OS.)

It's brilliant on Apple's part. Cue the "I'm a Mac" ad in 3...2...1...

Microsoft makes most of their cash on Office. The vast majority of the rest comes from corporate Windows and OEM deals. This is just what Microsoft needs to make some cash on the early adopters who they know are their most influential salesmen. They also keep the Windows 7 "Good Feelings" going by giving us a price break. It's not like Apple and Microsoft are really at each other's throats -- Apple is and forever will be a niche player for the luxury crowd -- and that's a crowd rapidly diminishing in the US due to the economic woes. Microsoft will be seen as the good guy here by putting out 7 at a low price in tough times. No one can really compare the updates between Vista to 7 and Leopard to Snow Leopard with a straight face. So what if it's cheaper? Microsoft's been providing service packs for free forever -- and that's all Snow Leopard is.

 

[DJG]

Nope. US still doesn't tax on mail or internet orders.

It's by state. NY requires tax on internet orders based on certain rules, and some do tax, e.g. Amazon charges NY tax.

 

[jw12345]

Microsoft makes most of their cash on Office. The vast majority of the rest comes from corporate Windows and OEM deals. This is just what Microsoft needs to make some cash on the early adopters who they know are their most influential salesmen. They also keep the Windows 7 "Good Feelings" going by giving us a price break. It's not like Apple and Microsoft are really at each other's throats -- Apple is and forever will be a niche player for the luxury crowd -- and that's a crowd rapidly diminishing in the US due to the economic woes. Microsoft will be seen as the good guy here by putting out 7 at a low price in tough times. No one can really compare the updates between Vista to 7 and Leopard to Snow Leopard with a straight face. So what if it's cheaper? Microsoft's been providing service packs for free forever -- and that's all Snow Leopard is.

I don't think dropping the price of 7 Home Premium (the consumer version) by $10 is going to keep the good feelings. SL and 7 are about equivalents in their OS families. SL is much more than a service pack, just like Vista was more than a glossy XP and 7 is more than a warmed-over Vista. But Home Premium Upgrade is 4x what SL upgrade is and MS doesn't offer any family packs of upgrades. This is going to cause a problem when a family has 5 computers (not that odd) - MS wants $580 to upgrade, Apple wants $50.

Apple is making a strong play for the mid-range market. A $1000 laptop is not "luxury". The 13" MBP is one of the best notebooks I've ever touched, and is relatively cheap for that sort of construction. And Apple is making a play toward the enterprise, with free exchange support and iPhone business features just being introduced.

What kind of upside down world is this when Apple computer might end up being a huge bargain? I don't think they'll ever win the market like MS has, as desktops and even notebooks as we know them have a limited life, but they're in a position to throw a wrench into MS's gravy train. It isn't all about the facts that MS makes its cash through OEMs and Apple through hardware. MS is just setting themselves up to be played as out of touch.

 

[holo88]

It's by state. NY requires tax on internet orders based on certain rules, and some do tax, e.g. Amazon charges NY tax.

thats cuz NY taxes the piss out of everything (i hate this state)

 

[djfirestorm]

Sill looks like we should bend over and take it in the ***. WAY WAY WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR AN OS. Microsoft is only cheap with the upgrade and rapes with the Retail...for one reason: Most people can't use the upgrade because they are using pirated copies...and the irony is the only reason people use pirated copies is because we got raped on the last version of windows. When the F is Microsoft going to learn? If they made it affordable to everyone, they would make double the profit due to people actually buying it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Slimy]

When the F is Microsoft going to learn? If they made it affordable to everyone, they would make double the profit due to people actually buying it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I doubt that. People would still pirate and the select few that would actually go out and buy instead of pirating would not make up the difference in revenue Microsoft would lose by cutting the price.

 

[Baatfam]

So the upgrade is for both 32bit and 64bit on the same disk?
Since the only offer the one, I'm assuming that is the case.

 

[TechOutsider]

Great, but what is the difference between the upgrade and full versions?

You can go from XP/Vista to 7 with an upgrade version. With the full version, you can go from scratch (after a format) to 7.

 

[apollo911]

so if you buy the upgrade version and then need to re-install at some point.. you can't?

 

[fseal]

You can, just keep your old XP disk/reg# handy (like in the same case as your W7 disk) You don't need to have an installed XP, just the disk or the reg code.

 

[Sammy]

So the upgrade is for both 32bit and 64bit on the same disk?
Since the only offer the one, I'm assuming that is the case.

Probaly not Vista 32/64 Bit came on 2 different disk

 

[apollo911]

right so you just need an XP or Vista key and not an installed system to use the 'Upgrade' in exactly the same way as the 'Full' which would be double the price.

How odd.

 

[Muad Dib]

right so you just need an XP or Vista key and not an installed system to use the 'Upgrade' in exactly the same way as the 'Full' which would be double the price.

How odd.

One of the reasons to collect COA keys of older "throw-away" computers before they are recycled. Been doing it for years....

Win7 will make available another "generation" of XP COAs as people buy new computers to replace their old one which can't run Vista/Win7.

Unfortunately many of the throwaway COA keys are OEM keys, but you never know when even those will be fine under the right circumstances.

 

[Muad Dib]

So the upgrade is for both 32bit and 64bit on the same disk?
Since the only offer the one, I'm assuming that is the case.

Probaly not Vista 32/64 Bit came on 2 different disk

This one has me puzzled as well.

Has anyone actually ordered the "pre-order" upgrade offer yet? At what point does the buyer specify a 32 bit versus 64 bit install kit (if necessary)?

The Win7 Install CD will be for all versions (Home Premium, Pro and Ultimate) differentiated only by the Product Key/COA.

Will they ship the upgrade kit with both the 32 bit and 64 bit kits?

I don't really care personally as I now have a Technet subscription but I know I will be asked....

 

[Baatfam]

So the upgrade is for both 32bit and 64bit on the same disk?
Since the only offer the one, I'm assuming that is the case.

Probaly not Vista 32/64 Bit came on 2 different disk

Yes Vista did...

But the preorder page at Newegg did not have a choice of 32 or 64...

 

[myzr7]

This one has me puzzled as well.

Has anyone actually ordered the "pre-order" upgrade offer yet? At what point does the buyer specify a 32 bit versus 64 bit install kit (if necessary)?

The Win7 Install CD will be for all versions (Home Premium, Pro and Ultimate) differentiated only by the Product Key/COA.

Will they ship the upgrade kit with both the 32 bit and 64 bit kits?

I don't really care personally as I now have a Technet subscription but I know I will be asked....

yes I did. this is a portion of a page I viewed after buying. at the bottem it says 64 and 86 on this product,

Reasons to buy

• •
• Record TV on your PC: Watch, pause, rewind, and record TV, movies, and other video content with Windows Media Center, updated to manage a single TV guide containing both standard and digital high definition TV shows.1
• •
• Personalize your desktop: Easily change backgrounds, window colors, and sounds to reflect your personal style. You can even turn your desktop into a slide show of your favorite photos.
• •
• Enjoy better Web browsing with Internet Explorer 8: Get impressive new features such as Web Slices, which lets you track information such as auction items, sports scores, and weather reports without revisiting a site.
• •
• Access recently used files with just two clicks: Right-click the relevant program icon (such as Word) on your taskbar and Jump List will show your most recent, frequently used, and pinned Word documents.
• •
• This product includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Buy, download Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade from Microsoft Store

 

[Baatfam]

• This product includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.

Ah...thanks!