Microsoft has announced its Windows Upgrade Offer allowing consumers to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.
Microsoft Windows 8 Release Preview
The new of the bargain upgrade price comes hand-in-hand with the launch of the Windows 8 Release Preview. The Windows Upgrade Offer will start tomorrow, 2 June, in 131 markets including the US and Canada. See also: Install Windows 8 Release Preview.
Microsoft said: "Are you really excited about all the new PCs available today but thinking about waiting for Windows 8? Well you don’t have to."
The move brings Microsoft more in-line with how rival Apple handles upgrades with its Mac OS X operating system. For example Mac OS X Lion is available for $29. See also: Windows 8: the complete guide.
Consumers who buy a PC with Windows 7 Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate pre-installed and have a matching and valid OEM certificate of authenticity will be eligible for the $14.99 upgrade price.
This will take users up to Windows 8 Pro, the more advanced OS of the two desktop OS versions and includes 90 days of support from Microsoft. The Windows Upgrade Offer will end on 31 January 2013.
The upgrade will be fulfilled when Windows 8 is fully launched. Although there is no set date for this, the firm said that Windows 8 will enter the final phases of the RTM (release to manufacturing) process in about 2 months.
"If we are successful in that, then we are tracking to our shared goal of having PCs with Windows 8 and Windows RT available for the holidays." it said.
Comments
Jeff said: Surprisingly I am really impressed with Win 8 I have been in the windows arena for too many years 15 or so and like this as well or better than 7 The Metro takes a little getting used to at first but as long as you setup the desktop as the first icon you can quickly drop to desktop just by hitting Enter Stability and compatibility with all of my toys has been excellent Speed is amazing My only gripe was the lack of a Start Button but that took me about 15 minutes to get over Unfortunately I do not have a touch screen yet but that hasnt affected use at all I am on the mfr version now but have been on the beta since April
Kelly said: Unless you use windows 8 on a tablet it looks more like a downgrade to me roll on windows 9
Maccyroo said: This is a similar type of offer to when Vista was firstreleased If you bought a new PC with XP after a certain date you got a voucher that allowed a free update to Vista when it was released Microsoft dont want to upset big system builders like Dell and HP who may think their sales of new Pcs will decline if people are holding out for the full Windows 8 releaseI dont think a majority of home desktop users that already have Windows 7have any interest in an upgrade to Windows 8 even if is heavily discounted though Time will tell but I installed and evaluated Windows 8 consumer previewfor a few weeks and decided that for my desktoponly the new Explorer ribbon menu aping that in recent MS Office releases was a must have feature SoI revertedback to Windows 7 but am nowusing the free Better Explorer software which is a big improvement As Microsoft used the new ribbon menu first in MS Office 2007 I dont know why Windows 7 never received this upgrade when it was originally released anyway
Johnsmwright said: I have Win amp Ultimate and looking at your article am I correct in asking if there is not to be an Ultimate in Win 8Also if I took up this offer is that it or will I have to pay something else in the future when Win 8 is on general release