Windows 7 Confusion....

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TheOrangeJuicer

Gawd
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"When boxed copies of Windows 7 go on sale on October 22, Microsoft plans to charge $119 for Home Premium, $199 for Professional and $219 for Ultimate. The Home Premium upgrade is down $40 from the product's original price, although the Vista product had already gotten a price cut along the way. The Professional and Ultimate versions are priced similar to where Microsoft was with Vista. The upgrade prices apply to those moving from a previous version of Windows to Windows 7, but only those from Windows Vista will be able to upgrade without doing a clean installation of the product.

The full versions of Windows 7--the editions for those without a copy of Windows--will be priced at $199 for Home Premium, $299 for Professional and $319 for Ultimate. The Ultimate and Professional editions are again on par with their Vista counterparts, while Home Premium is down from the $239 that Microsoft had charged with Vista. Microsoft also plans to offer the operating system in an easier-to-open box."

This is a quote from cnet about the windows 7 pricing. Here is the link.

This
is a link to NewEggs buy windows vista to get windows 7 upgrade for free later page. Now when reading Cnets pricing info on windows 7, it states the full version of Windows 7 Home Premium will be $199.99 for people who don't have a copy of windows. This is my category since I do not have a copy of windows. Now if I go to NewEgg, Vista Home Premium is $109.99 and it states on the page by purchasing this I will get windows 7 upgrade for free when it gets released. This is giving me the idea to grab windows vista home premium now from new egg for $109.99 and save $90 since I will be getting windows 7 for free. I am wanting to get Windows 7 so I was going to just wait but after all these discounts and stuff Microsoft is doing I think now would be a better time to buy.

Can anyone clarify this? I know I created another thread similar to this but that was before Microsoft decided to do the upgrade for 50% off or whatever.

If this is in the wrong thread I apologize. I was not sure where to put it.
 
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Sorry, but I really don't know the answer to your question. However, I can tell you that, in the past, upgrading MS OSes has lead to some wonky, unstable results. It has been better to buy the full version rather than to upgrade. Not sure that this will be the case, but you know that history does repeat itself..... I personally would not do an upgrade.

Just my 2 cents
 
I'm going to throw this in there. But can't you take a Vista upgrade disk and install it as though it's a full version if you have the install disk of an earlier version of windows ie XP?
 
kilgore777 said:
Sorry, but I really don't know the answer to your question. However, I can tell you that, in the past, upgrading MS OSes has lead to some wonky, unstable results. It has been better to buy the full version rather than to upgrade. Not sure that this will be the case, but you know that history does repeat itself..... I personally would not do an upgrade.

Just my 2 cents
Click to expand...

I would usually say the same thing, but MS has fixed that problem with Vista -> Win7 upgrade. I've done several Vista -> Win7 RC1 upgrades and they have been flawless. This could be just the fact that Vista and Win7 are so damn similar under the hood that it doesn't matter. YMMV
 
86DRIFTER said:
I'm going to throw this in there. But can't you take a Vista upgrade disk and install it as though it's a full version if you have the install disk of an earlier version of windows ie XP?
Click to expand...

This has been the case in the past. You just put the older cd in during setup and it verifies it then you put the newer upgrade disc back in installs as if it was a fresh install. I'm not 100% sure if they still do that tho..
 
Not sure that this will be the case, but you know that history does repeat itself..... I personally would not do an upgrade.
Click to expand...

I'll second that emotion.

Even if the initial upgrade goes smoothly, there's still too many ifs, ands, and buts when it comes to repairing, troubleshooting, and reinstalling.

The difference in money was no where near worth the aggravation.
 
Can't you install a copy of Vista without entering a cd key (so you don't end up buying it), and then buy the Windows 7 upgrade disk and get Win 7 for a fraction of the price if you don't have a previous os installed.
 
Salavat23 said:
Can't you install a copy of Vista without entering a cd key (so you don't end up buying it), and then buy the Windows 7 upgrade disk and get Win 7 for a fraction of the price if you don't have a previous os installed.
Click to expand...

That would be against the licensing terms.
 
thepawn said:
Vista's upgrade disc won't install a clean install.

Win7 will though.
Click to expand...

sure they will... all you have to do is ignore the CD-Key section... it installs a "trial" version on your computer... then all you do is run your disk again from windows and "upgrade" that trial to full

its how i install my vista everytime... works perfectly

probably be the same case with 7... but we wont know till it comes out really...
 
win 7 RC1 installs in like 15 minutes. i cant see installing XP and vista on a system just to use an upgrade to 7 when the base install is so quick. i normally reinstall my OS at least once a year on my computers and a 15 reinstall is too nice.

guess i will just buy a few retail copies, maybe they will drop in price by time RC1 expires.

i would like to upgrade all my systems but no way i can afford it right away.
 
Okay well I guess I am still looking for some clarification on this subject because I am looking at newegg right now and Windows Vista Home Premium is $109.99 and it states that includes the free upgrade to windows 7 once it is released. OEM or not this is the price it states. When going to the cnet pricing for Windows 7 it states that the full version of windows 7 home premium will be $199.99. Doesn't state if its OEM or not. So from seeing that type of information leads me to want to buy Vista Home Premium for $109.99 now and get the upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium later for free. I DO NOT have a copy of Windows Vista or XP anymore. (I do have Vista but its on my laptop so I am not going to use this as an upgrade to Windows 7 on my new build.)

I am going to be building an I7 rig so I need to get a copy of Windows for it. I was going to hold off till Windows 7 was released but that was before they are doing these discounts and stuff. I just want to make sure I am not getting confused as to what is going on because I do not want to get Vista unless it is going to let me go to 7 once it is out. And according to NewEgg, Vista Home Premium will cost $109.99 with free 7 upgrade. This seems to be the cheapest and most logical route.... Some are saying Upgrade's from Microsoft in the past have been iffy but my laptop came with a Vista Upgrade Anytime CD and I have done several Clean Installs for my laptop with it so as far as it being an "upgrade disc" I don't know why they are calling it this. I mean if I can save 90 bucks for the same product I am in but if it I am getting confused I don't want to be stuck with Vista and have to buy Windows 7. Although now that I am reading it even if I don't get the "Free Upgrade" through this NewEgg deal I was referring to, it looks like the upgrade form Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium is only $49 so either way I would be saving money.
Let me just clarify I know the $49 upgrade applies to people who ALREADY own Vista and are using it. The NewEgg deal I am referring to applies to people wanting to buy a new computer/build a new computer and were holding off till 7's release. This is the category I am in.

Hopefully this makes sense to people trying to help me out. I feel like this is really confusing for unecessary reasons. I feel like I shouldn't be confused about this but at the same time I am thinking Microsoft should clarify what they are offering or something?

Any thoughts?
 
Why bother messing around with Vista at all if you're going with Windows 7 anyway?

Just install Windows 7 "now" and for free, like many people are doing (I've got build 7229 and can confirm that it is very stable for most users). Then when it gets officially released "upgrade" to the official Windows 7.

If you really feel like spending money, I suggest you go for the Windows 7 special pre-order discount. You'll be able to get Windows 7 Professional for USD $99.99 or Windows 7 Home Premium for USD $49.99.
 
echn111 said:
Why bother messing around with Vista at all if you're going with Windows 7 anyway?

Just install Windows 7 "now" and for free, like many people are doing (I've got build 7229 and can confirm that it is very stable for most users). Then when it gets officially released "upgrade" to the official Windows 7.

If you really feel like spending money, I suggest you go for the Windows 7 special pre-order discount. You'll be able to get Windows 7 Professional for USD $99.99 or Windows 7 Home Premium for USD $49.99.
Click to expand...

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/pre-order.aspx

This is what I am confused about. If I buy this "Upgrade" is it the full version of 7 or...... is this the price to get an existing computer "upgraded" to windows 7 when it gets released?

That is what I am confused about. I am going to run the RC but i want to take advantage of this low pricing so that' why I am looking to get some clarification.
 
There is zero difference bit-for-bit between the upgrade and the full retail versions. In fact, with Vista, all discs were the same for all editions and licenses (but not bit-version). The key told setup what to install.

What makes the Upgrade version different is the licensing terms. You have to own a legitimate previous version of Windows that's on the list of upgradeable OS's in order to have a legit install of the new version.

So if you want to take advantage of the special pricing for Windows 7 Upgrade, and you don't have Vista or XP already, then you'll have to buy a copy of one of them to have remain compliant with the license.
 
As mentioned, it is the full version, but to remain compliant with the fine-print of the licence and avoid being sued by Microsoft lawyers you should own a copy of Vista or XP. Now, if you've ever owned a computer in your life, you probably have a Windows license somewhere. Now as long as that computer is not working, that's a legit version available to you. (In case any lawyers are reading this, I do have legit versions of XP or Vista somewhere in the attic, not installed on any working computer, so I am "compliant"!)

Look if you're really worried and have "zero" tolerance for risk, perhaps you should just buy a pre-built computer with Vista, some sort of upgrade package, and technical support from the vendor. Or avoid OEM/enthusiast deals and pay full retail price.
 
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Looks like you can use the 15% discount from Bing & Tiger Direct to get it a little cheaper.
 
So in other words buying this from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/pre-order.aspx will not work for me because I don't have a valid cd key to use.

Which means I need to take this route and buy this from http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677 because it is only $109.99 as opposed to the full version of Windows 7 Home Premium at $199.99 according to cnets pricing review of Windows 7 when it gets released n Oct 22nd. Doing this will get me the same product in the end while saving me $90.

This is exactly what I was confused about but now I know. Thanks for helping to clarify this.
 
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