• Free Windows 7 Upgrade to be Limited

    Free Windows 7 Upgrade to be Limited

    Techtree News Staff, Jun 29, 2009 1356 hrs IST

    Research analyst says Microsoft will limit free upgrade to 25 PCs for businesses

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Last week Microsoft announced its Windows 7 Upgrade pricing plans. It is cheaper than Windows Vista, as Microsoft really wants wider acceptance of Windows 7. However, Gartner's research analyst Michael Silver has published in his research note that Microsoft will be limiting the 'free' Windows 7 upgrade option.


 


Under the recently announced Windows 7 Upgrade Option, anyone who buys a new computer from the 'participating OEMs' with Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, or Ultimate pre-loaded, will get free upgrade to Windows 7. Nevertheless, the upgrade will start shipping only after the operating system is officially announced for all on October 22.



In the research note titled 'Enterprises Should Demand Windows Upgrade Option', Silver states that Microsoft has limited free upgrade requests to 25 PCs or fewer. This means that organizations buying PC in bulk might not get free upgrade to Windows 7 on more than 25 PCs. Silver also mentioned that in order to sell more Software Assurance licenses to businesses, Microsoft might be limiting the number of PCs eligible for unlimited upgrade at no additional cost for three years.



Of course, the blame again comes on the economic downturn for poor business segment sales. So those companies that need to buy more than 25 PCs will have to communicate the same to respective PC makers for free upgrade option. Silver in his research note said, "Larger OEMS who administer their own programs have latitude to do this and have made exceptions for organizations in the past."



So how does it affect the common man? Well if more businesses sign up for the Windows 7 Upgrade Option with Software Assurance licensing, then obviously Microsoft's first preference would be them. For the consumers, there won't be any direct effect, but a cascading one is quite possible. Hopefully Microsoft has taken due care to avoid the havoc created when Windows 7 beta was released.

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Windows 7 Upgrade Microsoft Windows Windows Vista Gartner Michael Silver



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