The case for the $50 Windows 7 upgrade
The $50 Windows 7 Upgrade?
(Credit: Microsoft)According to CNET News reporter Ina Fried, Microsoft might release Windows 7 in 2009, although the company's representatives still won't say whether that rumor is true.
In conjunction with that report, Fried also said that Microsoft is putting the "finishing touches on a program to offer Vista buyers a free or low-cost update to Windows 7. That program could kick off as early as July, sources said."
TechArp published what it says are Microsoft's latest plans for its Windows 7 upgrade. The publication says that anyone who purchases Vista between July 1, 2009, and January 31, 2010, will be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 7. Windows Vista Home Premium users will receive Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows Vista Business users will get Windows 7 Professional, and Windows Vista Ultimate users will receive Windows 7 Ultimate.
TechArp's findings are interesting, but they don't answer a key question: how will Microsoft treat all those Vista users who purchase its operating system prior to July 1, 2009? Ostensibly, they will be forced to pay an upgrade fee, which if it's anything like Vista's upgrade costs, could be as little as $99.95 or as much as $219.95.
That's expensive. This time around, Microsoft should set a flat fee of $50 for a Windows 7 upgrade.
When Windows Vista was released, XP had been on store shelves for five years and Microsoft's new operating was a stark contrast to the software it was replacing. Vista looked different, worked differently, and was expensive. Very expensive.
Microsoft needed to see a return on that investment and charged a relatively high price to upgrade from XP to Vista. It wasn't cheap, but it was understandable: Vista was a major upgrade.
But soon after its release, consumers and the enterprise realized that Vista wasn't an ideal operating system. In fact, more than two years after its launch, Vista has yet to capture 30 percent market share in the OS space, while XP still commands a 64 percent share. Worse, less than 10 percent of enterprise computers in North America and Europe are running Vista. Suffice it to say that Vista isn't very well liked.
And that's precisely why Microsoft should extend an olive branch to current Vista owners and offer them an upgrade to Windows 7 for $50, regardless of the version they purchased.
What would it hurt? Sure, Microsoft might lose some revenue initially, but once those Vista users migrate to Windows 7 and realize how much better of an operating system it is, Microsoft will ensure that all those users will be the first in line to buy the next Windows OS. In essence, that $50 upgrade is guaranteeing greater future revenue.
Over the past two years since Vista's release, Microsoft's public image has been hit hard. Part of that is due to Apple's successful "I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" ad campaign, and part of that is due to the fact that Microsoft lost support when it released Vista and consumers saw it for what it was: a bloated mess. What better way to repair its image than to offer a highly affordable upgrade to Windows 7?
Microsoft shouldn't look at Windows 7 as a money-maker when trying to capitalize on Vista users, but as an opportunity. Microsoft has an opportunity to say to Vista users, "hey, look, we screwed up with Vista and we know you may be upset with it, so here's our offer: buy up the comparable version of Windows 7 for $50. It's our way of saying 'Thank you for sticking with us.'"
Sometimes, it's better to acknowledge a mistake and extend an olive branch than continue on without considering the ramifications of doing nothing. Microsoft has an opportunity with Windows 7 to repair strained relationships with consumers and businesses. It can't miss it.
Check out Don's Digital Home podcast, Twitter feed, and FriendFeed.
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
- by TrantaLocked June 3, 2009 2:25 PM PDT
- Microsoft's gift to us is a free year of Windows 7. The RC is out and it is pretty close to the real, commercial deal. Getting to use a basically finished OS for free for a year is one thing, then adding free updates and support for an RC makes this deal amazing. Microsoft is so involved with Windows 7 right now they may even make a service pack for the RC before the actual Windows 7 launch. They are already making updates for the 7000 and 7100 builds, which is very kind on Microsoft's hand.
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<br />And the termination of the RC in a year foreshadows that Windows 7 will officially launch around that time (March-June range), because Microsoft wouldn't want to be making updates for the 7100 build and the actuall OS at the same time, and plus it would be unfair to users who buy the program and still be others using it for free. <br />
<br />I am hoping the upgrade package to Windows 7 will be cheaper, like $50 as you say, but Microsoft is not required to give us a gift of a completely free upgrade to the full release. There is the factor like you were saying that Vista let down many users and many people either stuck with XP or changed to a Mac. To get people to tag on to Windows 7 tight like every one did with XP, the OS needs to be fast, reliable, checked for bugs, and priced lower to attract a wider range of consumers. <br />
<br />I think, honestly, Microsoft is going to own this one and win back the hearts they lost. Vista is not a bad OS, in fact it is a great upgrade over XP, but all the first impressions happened before SP1 when the program really was failing. Now with SP1, (and the recent SP2) Vista is faster and much more compatible.
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<br />I KNOW Microsoft is doing really well with Windows 7 because 1) They are taking their time with the relase, 2) The RC is out, meaning what I said before AND for Microsoft to gain info WAY ahead of time to make sure the official release is perfecto, 3) Windows 7 RC is already almost completely compatible, with what I have been testing it with. 4) Windows 7 RC is faster than Vista, (requires less RAM) and has a more solid build, meaning Microsoft really put in the time to make sure the OS is lean, mean, and clean. <br />
<br />When Windows 7 comes out I predict that the market share numbers will go off the charts, and Mac OSX will bite the dust. Microsoft is back.
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<br />-Brian
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- by Rawnchie14 June 26, 2009 8:32 AM PDT
- Thank you, some sense in this web of crap.<br /><br />What ever will people do without Vista to bash? Dig really deep for something else to complain about I guess. Considering all the problems Microsoft had with all of their stuff over the last 3 years, I honestly think they've rebounded quite well - considering all of the propaganda strewn across the web/media and the "cool to hate M$" mentality.<br /><br />First the RROD, then Vista - what a mess (even though I dodged both bullets) to come out of it, minimizing the damage from their mistakes, and campaigns to tear them down. (Shoot even the EU tried to get theirs)
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