Vista buyers could get free Windows 7 upgrade
A leaked Microsoft document suggests the firm will allow computer manufacturers to offer customers a cheap or even free upgrade from Vista to Windows 7. The deal would likely apply to people buying a Vista machine after July 1.
TechARP, a Malaysian site with a good reputation for accuracy on Microsoft stories, says it has a copy of a draft document outlining the scheme. It doesn’t yet have an official name, but the firm is using ‘Windows 7 Upgrade Programme’ and ‘Windows 7 Technical Guarantee Programme’ for the moment.
The scheme doesn’t involve Microsoft offering the upgrade itself. Instead computer manufacturers and retailers will be able to buy upgrade discs from Microsoft. These won’t be supplied when the customer gets the computer; instead the retailer will ship the disc as and when Windows 7 gets its initial release.
Retailers won’t have to offer the deal, and will be allowed to choose whether or not to charge a fee to customers for the upgrade. It appears there will be a closing date for the deal, but it won’t be set until the Windows 7 release date is confirmed.
The deal would be a like-for-like upgrade: buyers of Vista Home Premium and Ultimate would get the same respective edition of Windows 7, while those with Vista Business would get the equivalent product Windows 7 Professional. However, the Basic and Starter editions of Vista wouldn’t be eligible.
Clearly the deal is an attempt to overcome the problem of people putting off buying a Vista machine and waiting for Windows 7’s release. That’s already happening and is only going to get worse as Windows 7 draws nearer.
There are two notable benefits for Microsoft if it does launch such a deal. First, it looks good in statistics: the firm can chalk up a Vista sale now, and then add the same user to the number of people running Windows 7 upon its release.
Second, it has a much more practical effect: it brings in cash immediately. As much as firms may like to manage their sales so that every quarter’s figures look as healthy as possible, even a giant like Microsoft would rather have money today than tomorrow.
Related Posts:
