Microsoft plans free Vista upgrades

[Harper]

http://www.crn.com.au/story.aspx?CIID=60891&eid=4&edate=20061005

Microsoft plans free Vista upgrades

Microsoft later this month plans to roll out an Express Upgrade program that gives buyers of Windows XP-based PCs a coupon for a free or discounted upgrade to Windows Vista through 15 March.

As part of the deal, designed to drive PC sales though the holiday season, Microsoft will include coupons in each Windows XP SKU that will entitle users to a free or discounted Vista upgrade when the next-generation operating system ships in the first quarter of 2007, industry sources said.

For instance, customers who buy PCs equipped with Windows XP Pro, Windows XP Pro Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP Pro x64 Edition are entitled to a free upgrade to Vista, sources said. Customers will be responsible for fulfilment costs.

Not all of the coupons will be for free upgrades. Customers who buy systems running Windows XP Home Edition can upgrade to Vista Home Basic Edition for a flat US$49 fee and to the higher-end Windows Vista Home Premium Edition for a cost of US$79

The Windows Vista Technology Upgrade Program runs from October 26, 2006, through 15 March, 2007.

Distributors are expected to have the new SKUs in house for system builders by 15 October. News of the planned coupon and promotion emerged in June.

System builders must meet certain requirement to sell the new SKUs of Windows XP. The Technology Upgrade Program, for example, states that only systems running Windows XP that meet Windows Vista requirements will be eligible for the Express Upgrade, sources said.

Each of the new SKUs will ship with an amended system builder license that requires PC makers to ship the coupons only with complying systems. System builders also must agree to support the systems after the user upgrades to Vista.

Microsoft would neither confirm nor deny that a coupon program is in the offing.

“We are talking with all of our partners about plans for an offer. But those discussions are ongoing, and we have nothing more to share at this time," a Microsoft spokesperson said.

Considering that January Release of Vista, this is good news for poeple that are looking at purchase a new computer system over the upcoming christmas period.

Like all ready I have been getting customer that just purchase a new computer with Windows Xp complaining how there is a new Operating system coming up in the new year.
However I am always reminding them that just because an OS is new and the lastest version does not always mean that it's better. And that is some times better just to wait 3 to 6 months after release just to make sure that they have better hardware and software support.

 

[Harper]

http://www.crn.com.au/blogs.aspx?CIaBEID=49

It's starting to look like a PC-free Christmas and everyone is blaming it on Microsoft's delayed shipment of Windows Vista.

Reports from the USA have PC shops offering Vista upgrade coupons with any new computer but until this thing ships the jury is still out on exactly how much grunt will be required.

Nobody wants to splurge on a new PC only to find they've got junk it in January or stay with WinXP. And the US data also suggests 70 percent of PCs will be in the sub-$1000 category which will likely not have what it takes to make Vista fly.

All this uncertainty isn't good for reseller business, and if we can't sell a few more tech toys at Christmas things are really looking dire.

Rabid for one is looking harder at becoming a full Apple reseller. After all, those cute boxes can now run WinXP if required, and Mac OS X looks a lot like, well, Vista actually. But it's here now and shipping.

**** you very much microsoft. Even with your January 2007 release of Vista and your coupon, it making this christmas 2006 so far as been rather quiet as every one is just sitting back waiting for the Vista.

And these "free upgrades" that they talked about earlier are not actially free. Like Microsoft still expects you to pay for at least the shipping.

Ho Ho ******* Ho Microsoft!