Best Buy spills Windows 7 upgrade details

Robert Hallock (Thrax)

June 8, 2009 1:19 PM ET in News, , , ,

windows7A leaked Best Buy internal memo has helped to resolve some of the speculation regarding Microsoft’s pricing and upgrade plans for Windows 7.

  • Beginning June 26, Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Ultimate editions are eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7 once the operating system launches on October 22.
  • Eligible licenses include those bundled with new PC purchases and retail box SKUs.
  • Best Buy and other retailers will offer a Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade and Windows 7 Professional Upgrade presale for $49.99 and $99.99 respectively.

While we can only speculate, we imagine that Windows 7 Home Premium will be offered in exchange for Vista Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional will stand in for Vista Business, and Ultimate will be a direct trade for ultimate.

It has also not been determined whether or not the prices offered during the presell are in fact the legitimate long-term prices or if the presell is a limited-time offer.

13 Comments:

  1. MiracleManS
    8 Jun '09, 5:42 pm

    If those prices stay put, I don't think that's too bad all things considered...

  2. Cliff_Forster
    8 Jun '09, 5:55 pm

    $49.99 for an upgrade copy of premium, not shabby. I would like to see where they price the OEM system builder copy's.

  3. Callred
    8 Jun '09, 6:17 pm

    And still they punish those of us who didn't buy into Vista and kept our old and faithful XP pro. BASTAGES!

  4. Cliff_Forster
    8 Jun '09, 6:28 pm

    Hmmmmm,

    Will you be able to upgrade a windows 7 RC to the full retail when it comes out? Somehow I doubt that will only be $49.99, but if it were, its hard to argue with that price.

  5. Gargoyle
    8 Jun '09, 11:11 pm

    I don't think the RC can be upgraded, I think it has to be a fresh install.

    I'm wondering if we can upgrade from a Vista upgrade version? 'Cuz a Vista upgrade via the Ultimate Steal is only $65.

  6. MiracleManS
    8 Jun '09, 11:35 pm
    Quoting Callred

    And still they punish those of us who didn't buy into Vista and kept our old and faithful XP pro. BASTAGES!

    I'd say they're apologizing to people who bought the Vista hype...I'm fairly certain they're going to offer an XP -> 7 upgrade route.

  7. Zuntar
    9 Jun '09, 11:06 am
    Quoting MiracleManS

    .....................I'm fairly certain they're going to offer an XP -> 7 upgrade route.

    Yea, but prepare your lube.

  8. Callred
    9 Jun '09, 1:08 pm
    Quoting Zuntar

    Yea, but prepare your lube.

    LMAO ...

  9. Callred
    9 Jun '09, 1:11 pm
    Quoting Cliff_Forster

    Hmmmmm,

    Will you be able to upgrade a windows 7 RC to the full retail when it comes out? Somehow I doubt that will only be $49.99, but if it were, its hard to argue with that price.

    Cliff, the users of RC 1 have to uninstall it and start over fresh with a "pure" Win 7 build. I'm backing up the two I'm running right now as I go along. That way I won't have to worry. You may wish to do the same since RC 1 will be shutting itself down every two hours or so anyway.

    My main system is back to XP Pro already until the release of the gold version.

  10. brandon
    27 Jun '09, 10:42 am

    What make anyone think Windows 7 will be any better than Vista. Im going to mac.

  11. Snarkasm
    27 Jun '09, 2:48 pm

    Personal experience is what makes everybody think 7 is better than Vista. Enjoy your Mac.

  12. Thrax
    27 Jun '09, 4:04 pm
    Quoting brandon

    What make anyone think Windows 7 will be any better than Vista. Im going to mac.

    Running Windows 7 for six months tells me so.

  13. ardichoke
    27 Jun '09, 4:50 pm
    Quoting Thrax

    Running Windows 7 for six months tells me so.

    It didn't even take me that long. Seeing that it actually ran with 512M of RAM in VirtualBox and was still smooth and responsive even with the pretty themes turned on was enough to convince me that it was better. Of course playing with it much further was what finally made me decide it was worth it to upgrade.

Troll-free since 2003 ®