Windows 7 Upgrade Pricing and Box Art
When Redmond-based software giant Microsoft announced to the world that Windows 7 will reach RTM (Release to Manufacturing) status by the middle of July and GA (General Availability) on precisely the 22nd of October, the company, through the voice of Brandon LeBlanc also announced that it will allow some of you who purchase a PC with Vista preloaded onto it to upgrade to Windows 7 as part of a “technology guarantee program.”
“Some people may not be able to wait for Windows 7 to arrive before having to order a new PC (like parents who are sending their sons or daughters off to school who need of a PC to take with them). Fortunately, there is no need to wait. Soon, customers will be able to take advantage of the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program. This program enables participating retailers and OEMs to offer a special deal to upgrade to Windows 7 for customers purchasing a qualifying P,” explained Windows Communications Manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, Brandon LeBlanc, at the time.
Thanks to a leaked BestBuy memo, we now know precisely how much the upgrade will cost and when the “technology guarantee program” will start, so without any further ado, here it is:
- The “technology guarantee program” will debut in June 26th and will end on July 11th.
- Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium upgrades will cost $49.99
- Windows Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional upgrades will cost $99.99
- If you purchase a PC with Vista during this time-limited offer you will receive a free Windows 7 upgrade.
Below you can view the image of the leaked BestBuy memo, but you should take all this with a grain of salt as Microsoft has yet to confirm any of this. On a little side note, I have to ask one question: with Microsoft flaunting the affordability of PCs in its Laptop Hunters ad campaign, how come a Windows 7 upgrade costs more than a Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard upgrade? And if we are to take history as a reference point, then we can only assume that the price for Windows 7 will go up. Some of you may remember that when Vista came out, Microsoft launched an offer entitled Vista Express Upgrade which offered 50% discounts on Vista upgrades. Going by that reasoning, we can assume that when the time-limited offer expires, Win7 Home Premium and Professional prices will double.
Moving on, it seems that the windows 7 retail box images that leaked online last month (details here) are genuine – the images area already displayed on the official Microsoft Store web page here.
“Some people may not be able to wait for Windows 7 to arrive before having to order a new PC (like parents who are sending their sons or daughters off to school who need of a PC to take with them). Fortunately, there is no need to wait. Soon, customers will be able to take advantage of the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program. This program enables participating retailers and OEMs to offer a special deal to upgrade to Windows 7 for customers purchasing a qualifying P,” explained Windows Communications Manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, Brandon LeBlanc, at the time.
Thanks to a leaked BestBuy memo, we now know precisely how much the upgrade will cost and when the “technology guarantee program” will start, so without any further ado, here it is:
- The “technology guarantee program” will debut in June 26th and will end on July 11th.
- Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium upgrades will cost $49.99
- Windows Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional upgrades will cost $99.99
- If you purchase a PC with Vista during this time-limited offer you will receive a free Windows 7 upgrade.
Below you can view the image of the leaked BestBuy memo, but you should take all this with a grain of salt as Microsoft has yet to confirm any of this. On a little side note, I have to ask one question: with Microsoft flaunting the affordability of PCs in its Laptop Hunters ad campaign, how come a Windows 7 upgrade costs more than a Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard upgrade? And if we are to take history as a reference point, then we can only assume that the price for Windows 7 will go up. Some of you may remember that when Vista came out, Microsoft launched an offer entitled Vista Express Upgrade which offered 50% discounts on Vista upgrades. Going by that reasoning, we can assume that when the time-limited offer expires, Win7 Home Premium and Professional prices will double.
Moving on, it seems that the windows 7 retail box images that leaked online last month (details here) are genuine – the images area already displayed on the official Microsoft Store web page here.
