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MS To Offer Free Windows 7 Upgrade To Vista Users
crazyeyes writes "With Windows 7 set for release in Dec. 09, Microsoft is getting ready with their free upgrade program, which allows Vista users to switch to Windows 7 when it arrives. The folks at TechARP have consistently scored accurate scoops on Microsoft software releases. They have now revealed Microsoft's upgrade plans, schedules and even screenshots of the upgrade process."
Underling: Sir, here's the latest report on Vista Ultimate sales... it's pretty dismal.
...
Ballmer: Hmmm...I see. Alright, here's the plan: Revise the current Windows 7 Upgrade Program to allow OEMs to upgrade to Windows 7 from Vista Ultimate - for FREE! And leak this to the tech community right away!!
Underling: Uh...sir, pardon me saying so, but won't that appear as an obvious ploy to sell more of our most overrated - and least worthwhile - product?
Ballmer: Yes...you may be right. Those basement dwellers can be pretty sharp...hmmm...I know! Add that free option for Vista Home Premium and Vista Business! We should make up, in additional sales of those, what "loss" we incur with the free upgrades. We should be able to minimize that by frightening the OEMs with scary "Program Compliance" requirements. We can also limit large business deployments by restricting the number of upgrades per mailing address. Finally, send a memo to the developers: Remove all the previously most-desired-by-the-tech-community features planned for Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional, so that these features ONLY exist in Windows 7 Ultimate...
Underling: Right away, sir!
(Ballmer throws a chair at the back of exiting Underling)
Underling: Ou--I mean, thank you, sir! May I have another?
Ballmer: You'll go far here, son...
Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure everything I just said is completely wrong.
Fool me 12 times, shame on me
Engineering is the art of compromise.
and when we get frustrated by windows 7 not living up to the hype, will we get free downgrades back to XP?
-I only code in BASIC.-
Aren't service packs always free?
Similar to previous upgrade programs. The goal is minimizing the number of end users who may postpone purchasing a new computer because of the next version of Windows will be released soon.
Buy an eligible new PC with Windows Vista (Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate) and get a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it's released.
No free upgrade to anyone who currently has Vista, and the program doesn't exist yet so no free upgrade if you buy a new PC tomorrow.
No free upgrade for Windows XP...
Absolutely nothing unexpected here.
I'm going to go back in my box and will think within the limits of my box: MS Sucks Linux Good I read too much Slashdot.
* Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic, Windows Vista Starter Edition, and Windows XP (all editions) are not qualifying products under the program.
If you buy a PC with Vista pre-installed after July 2009, you'll get a free upgrade to 7. Everyone else will still have to buy the upgrade. This is a common practice for software (I think they did the same thing for XP -> Vista); there's really not much to see here.
1. This isn't for arbitrary XP or Vista users; it is (assuming the rumor holds) a program which they will start at some point, so that if you buy a new computer during that time with Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate, you'll get an upgrade to Win 7 when it comes out. This is to reduce the number of people who hold of on buying a new computer until that time.
2. It isn't for XP users at all. There are eleven occurances of "XP" on the linked page, and all but one is in an ad: "* Microsoft Windows Vista® Home Basic, Windows Vista® Starter Edition, and Windows® XP (all editions) are not qualifying products under the program." (emphasis mine).
It's a bit cliche to complain about the editors reading the articles before posting them, but did the poster even read this one?
Why is this getting so much play on /. recently? That's an edition that was available with XP and Vista, and had the exact same restriction. How soon people forget. And if XP and Vista starter editions are any indication, the Win 7 won't even be available outside of basically Asia and Africa.
You know, if you RTFA, it does state:
...and:
...and:
So let's recap: no free upgrades for XP users, you have to have bought a qualifying Vista-based system within an as-yet undetermined qualifying period, and even then you'll only be able to get a free upgrade from your systems OEM if they choose to participate in the program.
This looks like the standard upgrade protection that Apple typically offers to those who buy a new system just prior to the ship date of their latest and greatest OS. So in essence, there is nothing to be seen here. Please move along people.
Yaz.
I will wait for the "free upgrade" on the torrents
Since when can you charge for a service pack?
---- Booth was a patriot ----
So then why don't they just called it what it is, either a service pack for Vista or actual Vista, as Vista was just a glitchy beta.
Google's Super Secret Search Algorithm: SELECT @search_results FROM internet WHERE @search_results = 'good'
Because it seems that Win7 might actually be a decent OS and there has to be something to harp on. What? You expect people to admit that Microsoft is fixing something they screwed up?
11 was a racehorse
12 was 12
1111 Race
12112
archeologists opened a petrified copy of windows 7 and found hair from a vista
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
And if XP and Vista starter editions are any indication, the Win 7 won't even be available outside of basically Asia and Africa.
In Windows XP and Windows Vista, "Home Edition" (XP) or "Home Basic" was for cheap boxes in the developed world, and "Starter Edition" (essentially Home Basic with a 3-app limit) was for less-developed countries. Microsoft has reversed the roles of these SKUs in Windows 7: "Starter Edition" is for netbooks and "Home Basic" is exclusively for LDCs. See press release.
Maybe offer a free downgrade to XP for all OEM Vista users that couldn't get the downgrade from the manufacturer?
You know what's sad? I've been around here long enough to remember when people were cursing XP and swearing that they'd never leave 2000. God help us all if I see the day where we are bemoaning the new release and swearing that we'll stay with Vista.
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
Or offer a free upgrade to Linux.
And it's nothing special. Running it on a laptop and desktop. It has bugs (reported), but Ubuntu actually feels better imho. So I'm likely to dump it soon, and since WoW runs with Wine, I'm really close to getting rid of all the hassles with MS. I've gotten alot of co-workers to switch, but convincing "great-aunt Sally" types is another thing.
I'm only missing Windows 1, 2 and me. And, of course, I did not buy Vista. Can't I at least have a free upgrade to Win 7? Please Billy Boy.
Help end the use of Sigs. Tomorrow
Whatever it takes! Do what you have to! I don't care if you have to give away the next 3 incarnations of our operating system for free -- WE WILL NOT LET LINUX GET A FOOTHOLD!!!
You know what people don't miss one bit? Windows ME. When XP came along people abandoned ME like yesterday's roadkill sandwich. (And if that makes you hungry please seek help!) I don't know one person who misses ME and regretted moving to XP. XP was gold compared to ME, and while I haven't tried the beta I'm guessing it will be the same way for 7 vs Vista.
God, schmod. I want my monkey man!
But here is the $45,000 question -will they count the sales of those machines as Vista sales, or Windows 7 sales -probably both....
I just know that they didn't take into account all the 'downgrades' to XP when counting Vista sales...not that it helped much considering Vista's DOA status.
-I'm just saying
I used 2000 until 6 months ago.
I wanted to upgrade to 64 bit and vista seemed the best move*.
While there are parts of vista that drive me up a wall(most I've turned off), overall I don't mind it. I was surprised at how I enjoyed the GUI.
* I have demands that require MS Windows.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Its funny really. If they change the UI too much, people bitch that they changed it just for the sake of changing it, and thats its the same OS with a pretty face. If they change mostly the backend and whats under the hood, then people say "Its an overglorified service pack"
So I'll ask you. Have you actually looked at the extent of the changes they made to Windows under the hood? No, it didn't break much compatibility because they didn't change something that does, such as the driver subsystem. Still, the changes, for example the new service trigger engine, the user mode scheduler, the remoting system, the amount of new APIs added, the UI revamp (not like XP to Vista, but still quite significant), the software DX renderer, the upgrades to the enterprise service versions, the updates of many of the userland apps, the netbook and touchscreen features, yadah yadah yadah... overall, I'd dare say its one of the more massive updates to Windows in a long time, and greater than XP -> Vista in term of features. But yes, a lot of customers won't notice this, on top of people being comfy in the XP -> Vista release schedule (and their comfortable zone got shaken off as MS came back to the old release schedule), so they have to do this and give it.
Doesn't change how massive the update is, though.
* I have demands that require MS Windows.
Yup. WinAPI makes me horny as well.
*Ahhh*
MessageBoxW
*Mmnhhh*
gah..slackware 1.0..the pain, the PAIN~
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
Many of us would agree they could do no better. But that is not the same thing as thinking the product doesn't suck.
Help stamp out iliturcy.
"When XP came along people abandoned ME like yesterday's roadkill sandwich. " dude... i feel your pain. i was abandoned when i^2 came along. i was called useless and imaginary. :(
You know what I think is sad? It is how according to TFA this is only for the OEMs. Which unless they have announced differently means any poor sap who actually bought Vista at retail is getting boned twice. First by buying Vista at retail, second for getting stuck with it(which you know MSFT will dump Vista support faster than WinME thanks to its bad rep) while everyone who bought a Dell gets it free. Man that is just sorry.
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
This is not news at all. This is the same thing they did with the Vista launch. This plan was rumored months ago.
During a period before the next OS release anyone who buys a computer with the old OS will be able to upgrade to the new OS for free, via their OEM.
The are NOT giving all the Vista users a free upgrade.
Don't judge me by my spelling
abandoned roadkill sandwich? Who the hell goes through the trouble of making a delicious road kill sandwich and doesn't eat it when its fresh? If you don't like roadkill why make the sandwich?
Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
Lets look at your theory!
Windows 1.0: SUCKED
Windows 2.0: SUCKED
Windows 3.x: AWESOME (for back then)
Windows 95: REVOLUTIONARY (copy of apple)
Windows 98: SUCKED
Windows 98SE: GOOD (comparatively)
Windows 2000: OKAY, then later GOOD (initially lacked consumer/non-NT program compatibility)
Windows ME: SUCKED
Windows XP: GOOD (supposed apple knock-off eye-candy + consumer program compatibility, although by this time new versions of consumer programs were updated to also be compatible with 2000, turn off all eye-candy and it performs same as 2000)
Windows Vista: BAD? (Initially had bad driver support, still has 'ridiculous' hardware requirements. Although 64-bit version has better driver support than XP-64... and it runs really really awesome with a DX10 GPU, Core 2 CPU, 4GB+ RAM)
Windows 7: MAYBE GOOD? (Lower hardware requirements, almost like 2000 if you turn off all eye-candy? Beta doesn't have driver support as good as Vista yet... how much 'legacy' hardware will get cut off from driver support for 7 compared to Vista? Will nVidia only write drivers for 780i chipset and newer?)
Looking at this, if you cut off everything before ME then it looks like it might be following the Star Trek curse.
Windows ME = Star Trek: The Motion Picture (terrible)
Windows XP = Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (arguably the best Star Trek evar!)
Windows Vista = Star Trek: The Search for Spock (good but shunned because it wasn't as gritty awesome as Wrath of Khan)
Windows 7 = Star Trek: The Voyager Home (also arguably the best Star Trek evar!)...
Looks like we might have people arguing over whether XP or 7 is better... but one thing is for certain, Windows 8 should be the worst Windows since ME based on the Star Trek curse.
... and in the DRM, bind them.
I remember when people who ran Dos and Dos apps, were claiming Windows 3.0 was a lethargic, fat cow of a desktop, and anyone that would choose it over Dos, was insane. (Yes, I know, back when Dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.)
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe." Albert Einstein
The fact that this is modded interesting, is pretty disturbing. In fact, disturbing probably should have been a mod choice from the beginning. Its ... its not too late to do the right thing Taco.
Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
I originally installed the 6936 x64 beta and was very impressed, however, I then made the mistake of upgrading the beta to 7000. After that everything was sluggish and slow and unbearable (worse than Vista). My own fault, but it didn't really make a great deal of sense. If they don't sort out upgrading by release, they'll have a lot of angry users who tried upgrading from Vista.
Asides from that the main pet peeve I had was sound quality. For some reason sound quality on Windows 7 and Vista is just plain awful, lacking fidelity and bass. It's not a driver issue either as it's the same with 3 different soundcards I've tried on both Vista and XP.
At any rate I'm back on Windows XP now with Windows Fundamentals. Fastest version of XP I've ever used and isn't crippled like the tinyXP homebrew isos. When you use an OS for some time you realise that shinyness doesn't matter, and responsiveness does. Starting your computer, loading programs and switching between tasks needs to go as quickly as possible, otherwise it becomes a frustrating barrier on your creativity.
Actually, I've never seen Microsoft do this with any other version of Windows
Really? They did it with Vista:
http://labnol.blogspot.com/2006/08/free-windows-vista-upgrade-coupons-for.html
"Windows XP Users will be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows Vista if they purchase a Vista-enabled PC starting October till the time Vista formally hits the store shelves."
They did it with Windows 2000:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/WorkingGroups/Users/CUC/2000/csejan00.htm
"We have been told by our suppliers that a Microsoft technology warranty will apply to all copies of NT Operating systems bought after 1 January, 2000 and before the launch date (expected to be 17 February, 2000). So new system purchasers within those dates will have a free right of upgrade."
They did it with Windows Mobile 2003 from PocketPC 2002
"PDAs bought between 23 May and 23 September can be upgraded to the updated OS for free."
I'm having trouble digging up articles about upgrade rights or free upgrade programs from 2k to XP, and I honestly don't specifically remember there being a program for that one, but the point stands; while it might not be universally true, its certainly not uncommon for Microsoft to offer a free or 'cost of shipping' upgrades to people who buy a product in the weeks or months immediately before a new release is expected.
Yes, but there's one thing you can say about Windows 8...
Resistance is futile. Your biological and technological distinctiveness will be added to our own.
GLaDOS for President 2016! "Well here we are again. It's always such a pleasure." -- GLaDOS, 2011
Of course, i^2 was too negative, and its replacement, i^3 was imaginary AND negative... luckily i^4 had none of those problems...
GLaDOS for President 2016! "Well here we are again. It's always such a pleasure." -- GLaDOS, 2011
I take it you never had to develop using ME. That piece of binary compost had a "feature" that would cause any window to crash when it's menu bar was touched by the cursor after running a debug program. One of my co-workers had to reboot up to 20 times a day until we found a workaround.
Most everything in the summary is wrong. :(
The article does not state that Vista users are getting free upgrades to windows 7. It says that people who buy new PC's after the upgrade program takes effect will be eligible for a free upgrade to windows 7 if those new PCs came with Vista installed.
That is the exact same upgrade program they have offered in the months preceding the release of every version of the windows operating in recent memory.
There is no news here.
In a minute there is time For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse. -T.S. Eliot
Which version will they allow the upgrade to? 7 Ultimate? Or the crippled Windows 7 starter version, which allows you to run only three applications at a time?
Open Source: Eroding the Digital Divide
The funny thing is that you seem to be chanting the mantra of "Vista sucks", based on old negative press. I and many others who have been running Vista since July or so of 2007 have not found Vista to be all that bad on new hardware.
The key to the whole Vista sucks issue is looking at a system with bad drivers as an example of how good or bad the OS is. People with Creative Labs sound cards may assume that problems are due to Vista, without even thinking that Creative Labs can't write a driver to save their lives. Look at Windows XP at launch and those who had a Sound Blaster Live sound card. People without any common sense might have bashed Windows XP if they didn't know that the drivers were at fault.
With 2GB or more of RAM and decent drivers, Vista runs decently. The pre-caching of software makes it seem like Vista is more memory hungry as well, but it isn't THAT bad. I am not saying that Vista is perfect, but too many people do not make an analysis of why they are having problems.
Did you try running Windows XP with only 128MB of RAM and then assume Windows XP sucked because it ran slower on your computer? Then later, running XP with only 256MB of RAM, but you put Norton Internet Security on your machine and then tried to play games, only to find the machine ran slower than Windows 98?
Microsoft is moving to Windows 7, not because Vista isn't good, but because there are has been so much regurgitated negative press from Feb 2007 that people without a clue are avoiding Vista.
The only real negatives in Vista that I have run into include some software compatibility issues relating to the Network and hardware layers, DOS applications can not run in full screen mode without DOSbox, and UAC being a nuisance. Most problems come from those with under 1.5GB of system memory, drivers either not being available or poorly written for some applications, or just bad software that wasn't written well in the first place but SOMEHOW managed to work.
Oh, and of course, there is no BartPE for Vista, which I still prefer to WinPE.
As I read it, they're not offering free upgrades to people who already have Vista, they're offering free upgrades to people who are going to buy Vista between some point in the future and the release of Windows 7. It's the same thing they did with XP before Vista was released.
I'm not if they think as few people will take advantage of the offer this time around.
Fanatically anti-fanatical
Well, Taco Bell just calls them "tacos".
Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.