More new announcements from the Windows Vista team today! With the launch of Windows Vista and Office 2007, consumers who live in the United States will be able to go online to purchase and download both pieces of software. They’re clearly catering to the more tech-savvy crowd with this option, who would prefer it over going to the store to purchase it. If you’re wanting to do this, you’ll definitely need a great Internet connection, because it will be a large download.
I’m sure there are plenty of people who don’t want to go out and buy a new computer to experience Vista, which is why this option will be a great choice. This new download process uses a technology called Digital Locker. Software is securely stored, along with the license keys. When you begin your download, Digital Locker will know when a download has been interrupted so that it can automatically resume when the connection is restored.
Another update comes for the Windows Anytime Upgrade (available in US, Canada, Europe and Japan). As we have mentioned before, all versions of Vista will either be on a CD or embedded onto your computer when you make the purchase. At any point, you can upgrade to a better version. Here are the upgrade costs:
- Home Basic to Home Premium — $79
- Home Basic to Ultimate — $199
- Home Premium to Ultimate — $159
- Business to Ultimate — $139
As it stands, regular retail prices are:
- Home Basic – $199
- Home Premium – $239
- Business – $299
- Ultimate – $399
There’s a nice comparison chart that has been put together to give you a visual of what each version has. Obviously, the Ultimate edition has all of the bells and whistles which is why it’s the most expensive option.
Finally, the speculated “Family Pack” option will be available to those who have a need to purchase multiple copies. This will make it more affordable, and potentially provide Microsoft with additional revenue. You must purchase Windows Vista Ultimate for $399. After that, you’ll be eligible to purchase two licenses for Vista Home Premium for $49.99 each. This will be valid in the US and Canada only.
All of these options will make Vista more accessible to consumers; the consumers willing to pay that is. There’s no doubt that $399 may be enough to push someone over to Linux, especially because you can nearly purchase a computer nowadays for the $399 that will be charged for Vista Ultimate. And, unfortunately all of these options have restrictions on availability throughout the world. Regardless, Bill Mannion who is the director of consumer marketing for Windows says that these options are available “to give more flexibility to users.”
Seems nobody has made a simple test: Upgrading is far more expensive than buying the edition by itself. Upgrading from Business ($299) to Ultimate ($399) costs you $139!!
So you are paying 299 139= $438 instead of $399 for the same product.
I’ve pointed that on my own blog, that’s ridiculous.
Of course that is how it will work, Microsoft want’s you to buy the full version of the product…their not going to make upgrades cheaper. The reason they are offering this type of option is for people who get an OEM version of Vista, such as the Business edition, and then procede to upgrade. The OEM version will cost less than the actual retail prices. For example, Vista Home Premium will probably only cost $50 on a new PC so it would cost $209 to completely upgrade to Vista Ultimate…which is much less than the $399.
I’m glad to see Microsoft getting on aboard this type of distribution model. It should make things easier for at least a portion of the upgrade crowd.
I, too, like this type of distribution model, but the upgrade pricing needs to drop as they are too high,
I think it’s great that there are multiple options for purchasing and upgrading… but yes, the pricing is a bit high. Particularly as javipas mentions.. it’s more expensive to upgrade than it is to just purchase it right from the start. Something is not quite right with that.
I think if all of the prices were reduced by 20% it would seem much more reasonable to me. The Ultimate version would still cost $320 but that doesn’t sound quite as bad. I wonder if this will be the most pirated version of Windows ever simply because of its high prices? Once the consumer release comes around and more people get their hands on it I think cracks will start flying out like you wouldn’t believe. I’ve seen some cracks floating around already but they are like 25-steps long and that is way too much for most people. Luckily I get two free copies of Vista Business edition from my University.
Ryan: even if this ‘option’ is meant for OEM users, Who would by a new PC with Business Edition knowing that if they want to upgrade they are going to lose money? That’s absolutelly unfair from MS.
Well, the PC could either come with Business edition installed so they wouldn’t be paying anything extra or they could get it in some other way. I, for example, just got two Vista Business edition licenses from the University that I attend. Because my major is computer engineering I am able to receive these at no cost…so if I wanted to upgrade it would only be the $139 which is much less than $399.