- Tuesday, 24 November 2009
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Americans adore me, and will go on adoring me, until I say something nice about them - GBS
Windows 7 upgrade plans leaked
MICROSOFT INTENDS to minimise the number of potential new customers delaying their computer purchasing decisions because of the impending launch of Windows 7, by offering what some commentators are assuming will be free upgrades from Vista.
A leaked draft document which was distributed to OEMs, and sneakily acquired by Techarp, gives details of what is currently being called the 'Windows 7 Upgrade Program'.
The programme is firmly aimed at consumers and includes no support for multiple upgrades for enterprise. Companies will be asked to use the volume licensing programme, details of which will be released at a later date.
The biggest kick in the teeth, however, will be for anyone who decided not to stump up the extra cash for one of Microsft's top-tier operating systems.
Anyone cheap enough to go for Vista Home Basic, Vista Starter Edition or XP will be left out in the cold when Windows 7 rolls into town.
The only viable upgrade paths are:
Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium
Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional and
Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate
There are no details of costings, either to OEMs or end users, and Microsoft is leaving it up to individual partners to decide how to provide qualifying customers with details of possible upgrades. µ
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This just sounds like the same upgrade rights process as for XP- Vista and W2K- XP and NT4- W2K
Purchasing qualifying products during the qualifying change-over period entitles you to upgrade rights.
Sales of XP are already discontinued, and so they would not be available for the change-over period.
XP is now only installed by down-grading a Vista purchase, and so may still qualify, depending on when it is bought and when the qualifying period starts.
Any if you bought Home-Basic or Starter... you’ve pretty much paid nothing for it anyway.
No different from any other windows scheme. If you buy a product with Vista on AFTER A CERTAIN DATE, you MAY be given a free upgrade, if your OEM decides that want to support you with it.
As much as I hope it's a free upgrade for anyone lumbered with Vista, it's clearly not, and Inquirer need to learn how to read.
I said 'some commentators'. Not me.
I've not had many problems lately but considering how bad Vista was in the first year I was hoping to get a deep discount on an upgrade...
"MICROSOFT INTENDS to minimise the number of potential new customers[..]"
Nuff said. If I was Microsoft, I'd be offering an upgrade path from Office for Macs to Windows 7. Maybe even from IETab for Firefox to Windows 7. For a company who makes all of of their money through monopoly and lack of interoperability, they sure don't know what side their bread is buttered on.
Windows 7 PR has started off fairly well, benefiting from their horrible previous release - an aggressive push now could guarantee the health of the company for the foreseeable future. The marginal cost is only an extra copy of a DVD; it's not a battleship, folks.
hey, Balmer, haven't you learned anything. Whole countries are moving to Linux and you are trying the same old trick with an XP+ version (W7). How about delivering quality for an affordable price. I am getting tired of this nonsense.
If I have an initially offered OEM Vista 64 Ultimate that has never been installed, will the update route be to catch it up with all for Vista from Windows Update, and then upgrade to Windows 7? Because, I don't trust those setup programs to always see everything they should.
I understand that upgrade from XP to Win 7 and you will lose microsoft Sam!
What will replace his wonderous voice?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gizYFdVnwGQ
for cheapskates!
upgrade to fedora, ubuntu....
There are other upgrade paths that are less of a hassle than Microsoft has imagined. The piracy will always be the best option for anyone left with a sour taste and froth in the mouth. At least until they sweeten up with 7. If this version is as good as people want it to be, no doubt it will rule in the warez before it even has a chance at retail.
But Microsoft makes the money in the OEM, so it will just help them secure a spot. You give people the drug for free, and charge them for the pipe.
... is to buy OEM version of the OS, not the Upgrade-package which costs a fortune.
@ Justin...
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2552182&Sku=M17-7501
Stewart Meagher, if you read exactly what Mark states, his comment is more accurate than what you have put in the article. The free upgrade would only be for those purchasing Vista after a certain, specified date, whereas your article reads as anyone with Vista, regardless of when it was purchased.
Also, your attitude in your reply to Mark is clearly aggressive in nature and yet you only put a single line. Way to go if you want to alienate your own readers.
Dear Inquirer, I would hope you look into this and discipline this guy for fear of losing readers.
Seriously, it's just an OS. I moved from NT to 2k to gain USB. Do I get anything from W7 what 2k, or perhaps XP doesn't have? This is a question, not a rant.
You get for example AwesomeCoolNewToolbar™ and you get to be part of Microsoft's new innovative WalletWeightReduction™ program ( less cash in your pocket means you produce less C02 while moving around ) . other than that I dont think that you are really missing anything
DX 10
I have an engineer brother who bought a new Mac for Christmas for home use, replacing a xp pc. He wanted nothing to do with vista. He's completely fallen in love with the Mac. My next computer will be a Mac, from xp pc.
My point is that that for millions, there will be no Windows 7 upgrade.