Microsoft today announced the price for current Windows users to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, and the news is rather startling. If you’re a current Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 user, you will be able to upgrade your current version of Windows to Windows 8 Pro through an online upgrade process for just $39.99! If you prefer to have your upgrade on physical media, you will be able to purchase a DVD backup as part of the online upgrade process for an additional $15 or buy an upgrade pack in retail stores for $69.99. This pricing will be in effect with the initial general availability of Windows 8 through January 31, 2013.
Windows Media Center users should also note that Media Center will be available for free to those who purchase this upgrade using the “Add Features” option in Windows after the upgrade is complete.
Microsoft has not yet released it’s suggested retail pricing for Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro, but with this initial promotion in place, they’ve eliminated one of the biggest hurdles for consumers to upgrade: the price.
Source: Windows Team Blog
I’ve lost all perspective about the media center add-on. What’s the point? What’s the point of removing DVD playback and making people add it back in for free? I don’t get it. Don’t get me wrong, I love the price, but why are they making this so complicated? If Microsoft doesn’t want to include Media Center, then it should just be an app that you purchase from their fancy new appstore, done deal.
One of the first things I said when we learned that Microsoft was going to offer Media Center as a paid add-on was Great! If I’m paying for a specific product, then i can expect them to support it like I expect any app developer to support a product I pay for. Do you think they are not charging so they can reduce the expectation of support?
Microsoft leaves me in a state of utter bewilderment.
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