Windows 8 = $39.99 upgrade

[neiltc13]

http://windowsteamblog.com/windows/...07/02/upgrade-to-windows-8-pro-for-39-99.aspx

We set out to make it as easy as possible for everyone to upgrade to Windows 8. Starting at general availability, if your PC is running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 you will qualify to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99 in 131 markets. And if you want, you can add Windows Media Center for free through the “add features” option within Windows 8 Pro after your upgrade.

When you use Windows.com to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant makes upgrading simple by walking you through the upgrade process step-by-step from purchase to download and then of course installation.

Seems like a good plan - I think they will have a hard time getting people to upgrade given how well Windows 7 works for most people.

 

[roadbloc]

Excellent. The cherry on the cake.

 

[smithrh]

I do wonder what the price would have been without a certain competitor offering OS upgrades for a fraction of what MS was charging for theirs...

 

[rhett7660]

I do wonder what the price would have been without a certain competitor offering OS upgrades for a fraction of what MS was charging for theirs...

My thoughts exactly. Glad to see MS coming down on the prices.

 

[maflynn]

I think OSX being offered so cheaply may have had some affect on this decision. Plus with the radical UI, perhaps a lower price will create an incentive for some

 

[SkyBell]

(Is just waiting for the thing to come out already so Windows 7 upgrade prices will fall. )

 

[AppleScruff1]

I do wonder what the price would have been without a certain competitor offering OS upgrades for a fraction of what MS was charging for theirs...

The same as it's been for the past umteen years. Apple makes money on hardware, Microsoft on software.

 

[smithrh]

The same as it's been for the past umteen years. Apple makes money on hardware, Microsoft on software.

Your comment has nothing to do with my quote.

Plus, it's wrong.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Your comment has nothing to do with my quote.

Plus, it's wrong.

Microsoft sold Windows in it's various editions from 99.99 and up for a looooooong time. All the while Apple charged much less for their upgrades. Evidently Microsoft didn't feel the need to drop their prices due to Apple. So it is entirely relevant to your post. More than likely, as has been stated by others in this thread, they want to entice people to switch to Windows 8. Maybe you're wrong?

 

[jav6454]

Your comment has nothing to do with my quote.

Plus, it's wrong.

May be the wrong quote, but in essence he is right. Microsoft is is a software company. They don't make computers.

All Microsoft does is make computer software and sell it. If they cut prices on their most popular software, something bad will reflect on the balance sheet. That is a fact. Perhaps there will be a rise in sales, but the lower price will hurt them long run since their only money income is that software they make.

Sure they have Office and all other enterprise or commercial software, but starting to undercut one piece of their software portfolio means a domino effect will soon take over.

Apple is different. They make money from the computer they sold you at $2000. Everything else is already paid for. OS X is not for sale for other computers, hence such a small cost per upgrade when one comes along. Also, Apple makes devices and other electronics that fuel their balance sheets. Selling OS X for $19.99 may be a loss (we don't even know if it is); but they more than make up for it in hardware sales of laptops.

The only part of Microsoft that makes money from devices is their Peripherals (Mice and keyboards, etc) and the Entertainment (X-Box) division.

 

[rhett7660]

Microsoft sold Windows in it's various editions from 99.99 and up for a looooooong time. All the while Apple charged much less for their upgrades. Evidently Microsoft didn't feel the need to drop their prices due to Apple. So it is entirely relevant to your post. More than likely, as has been stated by others in this thread, they want to entice people to switch to Windows 8. Maybe you're wrong?

Maybe MS needed to make some news about their product, since all you really hear about right now is Apple. Maybe they wanted to compete with Apple in the press. Especially now since MS is building hardware to compliment their software?

 

[AppleScruff1]

Maybe MS needed to make some news about their product, since all you really hear about right now is Apple. Maybe they wanted to compete with Apple in the press. Especially now since MS is building hardware to compliment their software?

These sound like good possibilities too. I think they are going to make a huge push for Windows 8, bigger than any prior version. They know there will be a lot of resistance to change, so the pull out all stops to get people to switch. Just my opinion.

 

[smoledman]

Color me unimpressed. Back in the early 80s nobody charged for an OS.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Color me unimpressed. Back in the early 80s nobody charged for an OS.

Maybe because nobody had computers?

 

[ChazUK]

Great price but the fact I barely use Windows now (unless gaming) means I'll probably pass on Windows 8.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Microsoft sold Windows in it's various editions from 99.99 and up for a looooooong time. All the while Apple charged much less for their upgrades.

Are you sure that's right? Up until Snow Leopard I remember new versions of OS X costing $129 and Apple not selling separate upgrade and full versions.

 

[Thomas P.]

Seems a bit nice to have the prices so down, I am liking this deal from microsoft, I hope this continues even for the complete version release of the MS Windows 8.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Are you sure that's right? Up until Snow Leopard I remember new versions of OS X costing $129 and Apple not selling separate upgrade and full versions.

Honestly I have no idea what the past Apple upgrades cost. If what you say is correct then you made my post even more relevant.

 

[kettlecorn]

May be the wrong quote, but in essence he is right. Microsoft is is a software company. They don't make computers.

All Microsoft does is make computer software and sell it. If they cut prices on their most popular software, something bad will reflect on the balance sheet. That is a fact. Perhaps there will be a rise in sales, but the lower price will hurt them long run since their only money income is that software they make.

Sure they have Office and all other enterprise or commercial software, but starting to undercut one piece of their software portfolio means a domino effect will soon take over.

Apple is different. They make money from the computer they sold you at $2000. Everything else is already paid for. OS X is not for sale for other computers, hence such a small cost per upgrade when one comes along. Also, Apple makes devices and other electronics that fuel their balance sheets. Selling OS X for $19.99 may be a loss (we don't even know if it is); but they more than make up for it in hardware sales of laptops.

The only part of Microsoft that makes money from devices is their Peripherals (Mice and keyboards, etc) and the Entertainment (X-Box) division.

Actually Microsoft makes 90% of their revenue from Windows phone.

 

[lannisters4life]

Actually Microsoft makes 90% of their revenue from Windows phone.

Are you a junior troll?

 

[juanm]

Usually for Windows I didn't bother, and just upgraded when it came bundled with a new pc. This time, I think I'll pay the upgrade! Thanks for sharing!

 

[neiltc13]

I think Microsoft may be going with this low price because they know that a lot of people are very happy with Windows 7 - it's the best version of Windows they've ever made.

 

[iMacFarlane]

Color me unimpressed. Back in the early 80s nobody charged for an OS.

Back in the 80s the most popular consumer computer in the world was the Commodore 64. It didn't ship with an OS, it shipped with a BASIC interpreter. But you could get GEOS, a GUI OS written by GeoWorks, for $150 (1985 money).

 

[0098386]

Nice move. I'd probably upgrade at that price, so long that they don't remove things from 7.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

Are you sure that's right? Up until Snow Leopard I remember new versions of OS X costing $129 and Apple not selling separate upgrade and full versions.

Just going to point out Apple only has a ever sold upgrade edition. It is impossible to legally install a new version of osx on a computer that did not run a privous eligible upgrade.