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By George Norman - Software News Editor

Added on 03 Aug 2009(463 Views)

The next iteration of the Windows-based operating system will come in six different flavors, each meant to address the specific needs of a certain category of users: Windows 7 Starter -> Home Basic -> Home Premium -> Professional -> Enterprise -> Windows 7 Ultimate. Each version is superset on the previous one, meaning that as you move up the OS ladder you can expect to get more and more features (Windows 7 Ultimate is feature-complete). Out of these Windows 7 SKUs, in the US and Europe, Microsoft will focus on just 3: Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Ultimate. Windows 7 Starter for example is meant for emerging markets, not for the US market.

The thing is that when you will purchase Windows 7, you will certainly want to get the SKU version that best meets your needs. But in time those needs may change, pushing you to switch to another version of Windows 7 – and this is where Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade (WAU) comes in. We already know that WAU allows you to move up the Windows 7 SKU ladder seamlessly by either upgrading online or by purchasing a Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade disk from a retail store. What we did not know until now is how much the whole process would cost.


Microsoft has now come out to officially announce the pricing of Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade, and here it is:
Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Home Premium: $79.99
Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional: $89.99
Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Ultimate: $139.99

“After Windows 7 is released to market on October 22nd, you will be able to buy a retail package that contains an upgrade key at a store near you for any of the 3 paths I highlighted above. If you live in Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK or the US (13 countries) – you will be able to purchase the upgrade from Microsoft online directly within Windows 7. Whether you buy a WAU retail package from a store or online directly within Windows 7, the upgrade takes as few as ten minutes. This is because it only requires an upgrade key (no media). Your current programs, files, and settings will remain intact,” added Windows communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team, Brandon LeBlanc.

This info should complement the official pricing details about how much Windows 7 (full package and upgrade package) will cost, info that Microsoft released about a month ago, but it bears to be mentioned once more:

Estimated retail prices for upgrade packaged retail product of Windows 7 in the US of A
Windows 7 Home Premium (Upgrade): $119.99
Windows 7 Professional (Upgrade): $199.99
Windows 7 Ultimate (Upgrade): $219.99

Estimated retail prices for full packaged retail product of Windows 7 in the US of A
Windows 7 Home Premium (Full): $199.99
Windows 7 Professional (Full): $299.99
Windows 7 Ultimate (Full): $319.99

Moving on, the Redmond-based software giant put all rumors about a Windows 7 Family pack to rest late this July when it confirmed that it will indeed market a “family pack” that will allow a Microsoft customer to install Windows 7 on up to 3 PCs. Microsoft has now put to rest another rumor, mainly the one about how much Windows 7 Family Pack will cost – in the US it will set you back $149.99 for 3 Windows 7 Home Premium licenses. The offering will become available as of October 22nd, and will save you more than $200.





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Tags: Microsoft, Windows 7, Windows Anytime Upgrade, WAU, Windows 7 Family Pack, Pricing

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