Microsoft Promises Vista Upgrades

Written by Adam Gosling

Wednesday, 25 October 2006

In an attempt to avoid a Christmas shopping debacle Microsoft and its hardware partners have confirmed that buyers of new PCs will be able to upgrade to the Vista operating system when it becomes available next year. Microsoft is offering free or low-cost upgrades for both Vista and Office 2007 for those buying Vista Capable personal computers between now and March 15, 2007. The cost of the upgrade will depend on the operating installed by the OEM (shipping and handling charges may also apply). "Our customers can shop for a new PC with confidence this holiday season because of the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista and Office Technology Guarantee programs," said Mike Sievert, corporate vice president of Windows Client Marketing at Microsoft. White box makers can also get into the program by providing upgrade discount coupons with qualifying Windows PCs. Microsoft also noted that the offer will vary by region, but in the US upgrades from Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 to Windows Vista Home Premium, and upgrades from Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Business 64, will be offered for a nominal fee. Upgrades from Windows XP Home Edition to Windows Vista Home Basic and to Windows Vista Home Premium will be offered at a 50 percent discount from the boxed product upgrade price, plus the cost of shipping and handling. Final deals will be subject to what the vendor actually offers, though. Related news items Free iBurst Broadband In Sydney -16/08/2007 Nokia Adds PlayReady -06/08/2007 iPhone Gets Enterprise Credibility -16/07/2007 Microsoft Flexes Its Muscle -06/05/2007 Microsoft Reports Record Profit -29/04/2007 Newer news items Future Mobile: Samsung P9000 -07/11/2006 Archos To Enter Mobile TV Space With Alcatel -07/11/2006 Hitachi's 2007 HDD Outlook Includes 250GB -05/11/2006 Acer Planning Smartphone Despite Assurances -30/10/2006 Alcatel, Samsung To Develop Dual Mode TV Phones -30/10/2006 Older news items Not Just A Flash In The PRAM -11/09/2006 Vodafone First To Trial HSDPA In Aus -07/09/2006 As Precited: The End Of WLAN Standards Has Arrived -29/08/2006 Concept Phone With A Touch(less) Of Class -22/08/2006 Ericsson Invests In Aussie Wireless Smarts -22/08/2006 Tag This Now: