Article by George Norman

On 26 May 2009

The big Windows 7 release this month was Win7 RC, which any Microsoftie that wanted to get it and test it could do so for free. But as Windows 7 moves to RTM (Release to Manufacturing) and GA (General Availability) status, the Redmond-based software developer will no longer provide the operating system free of charge. So how much will us regular users have to take out of our pockets in order to use Windows 7 when it comes out later in the year? We don’t know right now, but we will reportedly know in less than a month’s time.

According to technology oriented site TechARP, the same site that brought to light the reportedly maximum hardware specifications for small netbooks powered by Windows 7 (low end versions, mainly Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Starter for Small Notebook PCs, and Windows Home Basic for Netbook PCs - China only), Microsoft will disclose the Windows 7 pricing according to this schedule:


- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) pricing will be disclosed in mid-April, the current year.
- FPP (Full Packaged Product) pricing will be disclosed to retailers in mid-May, the current year.
- Public pricing announcement to be made mid-June, 2009.

OEMs and retailers are already aware of how much Windows 7 will cost, but they are bound by a NDA (non-disclosure agreement) and consequently are keeping quiet about it. Back in February we were reporting that an unofficial price list for Windows 7 leaked online and according to it Windows 7 Starter would cost $199, Windows 7 Home Premium $259, Windows 7 Professional $299 and Windows 7 Ultimate $319. There is no way of saying if that list is accurate, as it has not been confirmed by Microsoft.

The most recent indication on how much Windows 7 will cost came from Director of Product Management with Dell’s Business Client Product Group, Darrell Ward, who expressed his worries about Windows 7 costing more than XP and Vista. “If there's one thing that may influence adoption, make things slower or cause customers to pause, it's that generally the ASPs (average selling price) of the operating systems are higher than they were for Vista and XP. In tough economic times, I think it's naive to believe that you can increase your prices on average and then still see a stronger swell than if you held prices flat or even lowered them. I can tell you that the licensing tiers at retail are more expensive than they were for Vista," he said in an interview for CNet’s Brooke Crothers.

If you would like to get Windows 7 Release Candidate, download locations and activation keys available here.



Tags: Microsoft, Windows 7, Pricing, SKU

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