Microsoft has announced that its Windows 7 Upgrade Option Programme will start tomorrow, enabling customers to go out and buy a new PC with Windows Vista on it "with confidence", safe in the knowledge that they can soon upgrade "to the Windows PC they wanted".
In a phone briefing with PC Advisor today, Microsoft said the upgrade scheme will run from 26 June until January 2010 and enable PC and laptop customers to dump Vista for free or for a nominal fee.
A global initiative, the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Programme is designed to encourage PC customers to buy a new Windows Vista PC or laptop now with the promise of an upgrade to Windows 7 for free or for a nominal shipping fee once the OS launches on 22 October. The fee is set by the vendor, rather than by Microsoft.
All the major PC and laptop makers are participating in the Upgrade Option scheme, says Microsoft, as are all major PC retailers. Amazon UK, Currys, Dixons, PC World and Comet are among the UK retailers that will participate in the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Programme.
Alan Dardis, senior category manager for Dixons Store Group said "There is growing excitement around the launch of Windows 7 as a result of the beta trials that have been taking place, both from within the industry and from our customers.
"Putting this upgrade program in place so early means that the people who want to buy a new PC now won't miss out on the on the new advances that Windows 7 will offer."
Details of the vendors and PC makers that have signed up to the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Programme can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/uk/upgradeoffer.
Curran told PC Advisor that, as was the case with Windows Vista, PC users buying a new machine in the run-up the launch of the new OS will receive a voucher that can be redeemed in return for upgrade media enabling them to receive a "like for like" upgrade to the equivalent version of Windows 7.
For example, someone buying a Vista Home Premium PC between tomorrow and 21 October will get a voucher they can swap for a DVD containing Windows 7 Home Premium. This can be used to perform an "in-place upgrade" to Windows 7.
A Home Premium user wishing to upgrade to another version of Windows 7 will need to redeem their code and perform the like for like upgrade and then pay "an incremental amount" for the relevant Anytime Upgrade. Anytime Upgrade is the phrase Microsoft uses to describe the ability to unlock features in Windows, turning a Home Premium or Business OS into a copy of Windows Ultimate.
The scheme to shift Vista PCs and laptops will run until 31 January 2010, with vouchers redeemable until the end of February.
Windows 7, Microsoft's next operating system, will go onsale in the UK and the US on 22 October and will initially be available in 14 language editions. In a one-on-one briefing with Microsoft today, PC Advisor was told that Windows 7 will be available in all the other languages Microsoft supports from 31 October. This, said the Microsoft spokesman John Curran, is the quickest the company has rolled out an OS globally.
Comments
Squillary said: Not sure if Im being dumb but when you bought Vista Ultimate what you got was Vista Ultimate Why would you expect anything else When I bought a Cortina I didnt expect a SierraAlso why panic to buy a new OS anyway You already have an OS that for all the constant whining does its job perfectly well Youll need new hardware long before you need a new OS so just wait until you need a new machine and the latest OS will come free This is all a non-issue that will right itself on its own
Peter Ashley said: Microsoft are still ignoring the point as only Microsoft can do that they offered customers a unique Vista Operating System called Vista Ultimate when Vista was launched This would come with many additional features which would be added to as time went by - not so Ultimate brought you absolutely nothing we were coned I bought two copies - money down the drainIt has been suggested that Microsoft should consider a special deal when changing to Window 7 but it looks as though this has fallen on deaf earsWhy cant someone from Microsoft at least be bold enough to address this problemPeter Ashleypjsa01ashleyadsldemoncouk
LB said: Thanks Rosemary Do you have any idea how long it is likely to take for the PC companies to release details of covered products You would have thought they would have sorted this in advance
Rosemary Hattersley said: Yes that is interesting that the BBC have said that Heres what Microsoft emailed me today after my phone briefing Its by Microsoft Corporate VP for Windows Consumer Marketing Brad BrooksStart quoteYou dont have to wait until GA General Availability to get a new Windows PC In fact we know many people need that new PC sooner for back to school specifically And we have the answer for people who need a new PC now but still want to get Windows 7 and thats the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program which kicks off tomorrow June 26th Anyone who buys a PC from a participating OEM or retailer with Windows Vista Home Premium Business or Ultimate on it will all receive an upgrade to the corresponding version of Windows 7 at no cost from Microsoft The Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program will be available until January 31 2010 and is global For more information on taking advantage of the Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program visit wwwmicrosoftcomukupgradeof
dms05 said: I can see MS problem with selling an Upgrade within the EU MS are no longer allowed to bundle IE with Windows within the EU but if they sell an Upgrade DVD for going from XP or Vista to Windows 7 then IE will already be present and one assumes available for use So in the EU people will have to install a completely new OS that will be minus a browser
LB said: You have to admit though BBC have very directly said that the free upgrade option isnt avalible in the EUQuoteWindows 7 is due to go on sale on 22 October around the world Anyone outside Europe buying a new PC between now and then - running Windows Vista Home Premium Business or Ultimate - will get the chance to upgrade the operating system on it at no cost to Windows 7 Unquote
LB said: Phew Thanks Rosemary
Rosemary Hattersley said: Hi LB having looked at the BBC story I see its talking about a different thing Microsoft will only be selling full versions of Windows 7 in Europe as stated in my story on this as it isnt allowed to bundle Internet Explorer with Windows and is using this as an excuse not to offer EU customers upgrades from XP or Vista However Microsoft is also launching a scheme called Windows 7 Upgrade Option Programme that means that if you buy a new Vista PC or laptop from tomorrow you get a voucher allowing you a free upgrade to Windows 7 once it launches in October Details of this will be on the Microsoft UK website shortly - search for Windows 7 upgrade offer
Rosemary Hattersley said: Thanks for your comments Frustratingly Microsoft wasnt able to get the UK Upgrade Offer link live in time for the NDA on the launch lifting at 2pm today When its up and running youll be able to see what offers there are and which companies are offering it for freeMy discussions with Microsoft this morning stated that the Upgrade Option programme would involve upgrades for Vista users buying from tomorrow until the year end getting a voucher entitling them to an upgrade to Windows 7 for free or nominal cost Any such cost would be for providing a DVD containing the Windows 7 code and would essentially be a handlingshipping charge levied by the PC vendor or maker rather than Microsoft
LB said: There is a lot of conflicting information suddenly released about the upgrade option This arcticle is what I want to hear but the BBC News are saying that the free upgrade option is only avaliable outside the EU EU member states have to pay 80 for a full discounted version What do we believe
CJB said: And what will the cost be for those of us who already bought a computer with Vista on it and might want to up grade to Windows 7 Got the feeling that we will be caught in the middle and will have to shell out big bucks for something that may or may not be better