Windows 7 prices revealed

Well finally the prices are out for the various SKUs for Windows 7, see below for a quick snippet of the info on the prices, their are some offers to come too, including a 50% off for pre-orders at selected dealers (note offers are country specific and not all offers are listed as yet).

Read full text at the WindowsTeamBlog


I would also stress that before ordering make sure your PC can handle Windows 7 to avoid un-necissary hassle and stress and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta to check (quick rule of thumb is if you can easily run Vista your pretty much ok with Windows 7), the UGA is a beta so will likely change nearer the release date so check for an update of the app.


I will comment on what I think at a later date, but would like your honest serious comments first.

 

Hi Speculant

Yes in essence the upgrade DVD is same as full retail justbhas a different installer route as it needs to see a previous supported OS before installing, however at this point in time I've not seen or tested any update version as the techbeta just has full. The method of upgrading had changed in Vista where you needed to have the actual previous OS already installed, pop in the upgrade disk and run it from within the GUI, gone was the route in XP where you booted to the upgrade disk and the at a prompt popped in the previous OS disk for validation (was convoluted workaround to install Vista from the upgrade disk without the need to install the previous OS)

So without being at this point 100% sure I would hazard a guess that Win7 will follow the Vista upgrade route in that previous OS be it XP or Vista is already installed, not checked if they updated the Win7 page at Microsoft yet to show all upgrade and install routes yet (on phone at present and doesn't lend itself to multipage surfing so will check later).

 

Is that judgement made on price alone or the fact that its Windows 7 (just reading into your post a hesitency with Vista and pre-judging Win7)?


If price alone then please do say what you feel is a true cause for not updating if price is the holdup? *a bugbear with mine and MSFT at present is pricing/licencing hence my asking*


Is your PC upto running Window 7 and thats a factor in your choice?

 

You tried Vista then to see these issues? while it can be troublesome and I will agree a PITA for some, I not had issue with it at all, actually really like it but will migrate to Win7 as thats me and I early adopt software generally if I like it and since Nov 08 I have been running Win7 one one PC and since RC release ruuning it on another desktop its running great and will when RTM run it on all PCs.

I agree with you Bill, and one thing I have been trying to get into the decision makers at MSFTs head that multi licences are needed with Windows, if not as standard like Office (one licence for desk and one for portable) then they should offer additional licences off main one for say $50 a shot.

 

Agree totally with you Bill and something I have been chatting to my connections at MSFT UK on for many months, sadly Corp in being Redmond are a whole different beast!

Darlene you are like many users in what you stated, dont think Win7 will be as much of a new learning curve as Vista was for many or like you mentioned going from 98 to XP.

Cost is a major issue here and one I fully appreciate and really dont think the team at MSFT have in this current financial climate.

 

Hi Bill

Think that family licence will become a reality, but it "may" end up a short lived thing like the early order discounts, I hope not as its been something I have been pushing for last 6 months with my contacts in MSFT UK, that to make a sucess of Win7 a multi licence option is needed as no way will many upgrade multiple PCs, they are likely if having multi PCs in the home upgrade NONE as likelyhood to stick with households main OS, which is likely XP or Vista, adding Win7 to that mix will in my chats with some, cause confusion on various menus and steps to do tasks.



@Fred if you have retail Vista 32bit you can if you decide to jump to 64bit Vista, get the Vista 64 DVD at a very cheap price, IIRC *and this is 2yrs ago* the price was for media and postage only $20+/- but once you install as it uses your 32bit licence key you dont get to install 32bit version on another PC, still same one licence per box.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/compare-editions/64-bit.aspx bottom of page is the link to getting the 64bit version.


But to be honest I would if wanting to go 64bit wait for Windows 7 release or later

 

Hi

its likely that Microsoft will announce a family licence which will likely cover 3 PCs for a undisclosed sum http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=1145

Plus you can pick up Windows 7 now on pre-order for 50% off on the upgrade disks, is a pity its not on Full versions as yet.

I do agree with you and to compete with Apples OSX, which has a Family Licence which covers 5 PCs for $199 last I looked, but maybe cheaper now with new version update due, Microsoft would need to have the Full Home Premium version match this price and multi licence.

Sadly what would you call affordable to stop illegal usage? the music industry has tried this for years offering music cheaper that it was 5yrs ago and no matter what price it was some folk would still want it free, so warez is a fact of life for now, but I agree a better pricing structure and the amount of illegal usage would be lower, but I feel with multi PC ownership these days a family licence is a great way for Microsoft to address pricing and warez.

Why as majority of us have at least 2 PCs these days, and no way would many of us want to pay $199 x2, whereas we "may" justify $199 + say 2 free licences and then extra ones at $50 each.


Just my thoughts and ones I have emailed to contacts I have at MSFT, but I would love to hear your thoughts on pricing and what levels and licencing if you get a moment?

 

Ed Bott has posted some leaked info on the family pack for Windows 7 here http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=1156

 

Hi Bill

Yes I do like you and the articles think that Microsoft may shoot themselves in the foot on pricing and harm what is a great os, think this one stands up with 98 and xp sp2 as being a good one and is likely to be and on my two test systems much more stable than xp.

But I generally just dismiss the source where you gained those articles as they are anti msft anyway!!! Always tell who's articles they are from the "vole" comment, about time they grew up

hahaha EU is always after and in talks with MSFT, but MSFT will have a buddy soon in Google as EU and US authorities are looking at them now as the new cash cow! [ot] need some place to get $bn's from to bail out the banks etc[\ot] just a pity the EU comissoners have no idea of tech, Windows 7 E is to come with no browser and thecaddition of being able to remove components easily is an option, if the commission didn't have that in mind then they need to learn more about computing and learn to speak properly and not in politicianspeak!

 

Hi Bill

So do I on the positive and negative, plus I dont always tow the MSFT line, thats not what MVPs do in the main and I certainly dont, just like and use own real life experience with MSFT products, majority of MVPs do really give MSFT a hard time over as this topic title is prices.... wish you could read the private MSFT newsgroups to see how much of a hard-ish time testers and MVPs do gibe MSFT, I actually filled the potential price issue of Win7 in the early beta as a bug/suggestion (gained a "wont fix" notice on that one), plus emailed my local contacts on this who took the suggestions I made on prices and licensing seriously and chatted to various different depts on this, but in the end its the highfliers at Corp that set the prices.

As I said from the outset, Win7 will be a success, if its pricing is competitive as its stability and usability is great!

As for OSX and I could be wrong here, this is just a build update and not a brand new OS, hence the lower price point, plus OSX 10.x has had 7 paid for releases in 9yrs (average rough price of each when new released in UK £85), Windows has had 3 in same period (added XP Pro x64 in this as its used, but removed any server versions as they are not desktop OSes), but they cost more as we know, so price OSX vs Windows is close-ish, but as Speculant points out hardware much more expensive for Apples, so its swings and roundabouts.

Totally agree with you and them on this, really do hope that a multi licence version does come out, think standard 2-3 licenses for $199 with additional at $50-ish is not bad, most users will be fine with the standard 2-3, only some nerds or geeks will need more *hands up*

 

It is now sold out in UK. It was also available in Germany but only for 7 minutes before the entire stock was sold out.

It is a new OS as much as Windows 7

 

Bill

not released early but placed like the USA did a few weeks back on pre-order, you'll still only get the final retail release on Oct 22nd

 

Bill, if you get from the likes of Amazon or direct from the Microsoft store your pretty safe, 50% off is not bad and well worth getting two copies.... I'm tempted, but then again its likely to be on MSDN and TechNet so I have subscriptions to those, but I may just get the Pro version as a just in case copy.

 

Better hurry. The special is already sold out in many places. At least Amazon.co.uk and Play have changed the pricing and offering Windows 7 Professional now for £179.97 / £179.99

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-W..._1_2?ie=UTF8&s=software&qid=1247829626&sr=1-2
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/4-/11051...-7-Professional-E-Retail/Product.html?cur=257

At least the UK offer lasted 24 hours. The Germany ones was only available for 7 minutes. That's right, it was only possible to order Windows 7 at the special pricing from 9:00 to 9:06 after the stock was very limited.

The pricing is now €309,99 (Ouch!) for Windows 7 Professional:
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463375153&pf_rd_i=301128

I guess no Windows 7 for my Netbook

 

Hi Philipp

Yeah I in email chat with contact at MSFT UK and they in a meeting which said the figures where amazing for sales of Pre-Order Win7!

I can though imagine that other offers will arrise within the next few months, suprised if they dont, MSFT need to capitalise on the surge of interest they have generated at this moment.

Win7 works superb on Netbooks so the techbeta testers are saying, not gotten around to getting myself a netbook yet, was looking at the Samsung a while back

 

HI Bill

Cheers, yes its quite common for MSDN, TechBeta testers and OEMs to get the OSes a bit earlier, I gained Windows Vista in Nov 06 when retail went live in Jan 07.... at present TechBeta testers are in a holding patten as nothing new and RTM will be likely last version we gain soon, then its off to Escrow and release.

The faimily pack is a welcome release and one I thought they would have to do in this current climate.

If UK/EU is similar priced then thats a good deal.

 

Windows 7 RTM leaves the building http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/wi...k-up-windows-7-rtm-code-today-in-redmond.aspx

 

I wouldnt have titled the story cracked as TBH they just retrieved the OEM key from a Lenovo ISO, not in the major relms of hacking but then again it sells a story well.

This is always going to happen, will likely find that OEM keys like for XP and Vista will be prevelent, although like the others over time blocks come out and then users of said cracked version find their Windows fails updates and authentication.

Choose a hacked or cracked Windows version then not only is it illegal but your opening yourself upto malware (as this version in some torrents will likely be malware infested) and also to many hardware/software issues which you may never have a fix for, see it today with users of hacked XP and Vista, they have more issues that legit users.

 

No Bill I agree its a eye catching story and with BlackHat 2009 just been in Vegas its a headliner, but as we both know it was only time before this happened, the problem is too much security in a OS and it will put users off (take UAC) but too little and its a malwarefest, so adding more blocks to authorisation would in my mind have put users off, so this leaked keys will happen.

And great that you posted it as it needs us to urge our members not to download any leaked torrent as it may come with suprises.

Neat on the 50% off, thats a great deal, which version you go for, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate.

 

Hahaha spoken like a true geek Bill, I'm likely to choose Ultimate as while I may not use all the options, they come in handy if I need to troubleshoot an issue someone else has, also will need Ultimate if I use my laptop for work stuff as will need Bitlocker.

Hardest part now is that my main PC with the i7 Intel CPU is running Vista x64 Ult perfectly, and this is the PC designed for Win7, so just as I have it with all apps I want in 5 days time, I will have the decision to jump to Win7 on it, TBH I'm likely to do a rebuild next weekend and jump to Win7 on my main PC and Laptop, may try it on the older Compaq laptop I have as Win7 uses less resources that Vista, so should be ok on a 1GB machine.

 

Hi Bill

Just an update on that article and a post on the Windows GA teams blog http://blogs.msdn.com/wga/archive/2009/07/30/windows-7-oem-product-key-leak.aspx