Will MS sell version-to-version upgrades?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Barry Watzman
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B

Barry Watzman

Since all Vista versions come on a single DVD, will MS sell
version-to-version upgrades? That is, if I have one version of Vista
and I want any one of potentially several higher versions (for the same
machine, effectively replacing the lower version), will there be a place
I can go to on the MS web site, pay a "version difference" fee and get a
product key for the higher version?

If so, does anyone know the version-to-version upgrade pricing?
 
As Chad pointed out the upgrades will be available from various sources, the
OEM's and retailers will sell upgrades
 
I'm not talking about the current "technology assurance" program. I'm
just asking if, in general, a Vista licensee has some version of Vista
(below ultimate) and wants to upgrade to some higher version, will he be
able to do so without buying an entirely new copy of Vista?
 
I'm not talking about the current "technology assurance" program. I'm
just asking if, in general, a Vista licensee has some version of Vista
(below ultimate) and wants to upgrade to some higher version, will he be
able to do so without buying an entirely new copy of Vista?
 
And what about my question leads you to believe that it has anything
whatsoever to do with the current "technology assurance" program? I'm
just asking the question with regard to anyone who has any version of
Vista below ultimate and who wants to upgrade to a "higher" version. It
has nothing to do with upgrades from XP.
 
Again again the EULA is under discussion by MSFT--it's not final so I would
stay tuned if you're concerned in the context of the EULA. This message was
posted on the Vista team blog yesterday. Underdiscussion means it ain't
final yet, and I don't have a hotline to Ashleigh the lapdancin' fortune
teller in that trailor off Route 38. So stay tuned.

It's under discussion --EULA isn't finalized for Vista yet. And until it's
made clear by MSFT ain't no body gonna be able to make it clear for you.
Google the Vista EULA or read Robert McLaw's site, Ed Bott's site--I have
posted the latest EULA links dozens of times. What you seem to want is
eduated speculation and you can find plenty of that on the web, but under
discussion means it's being bounced around.

I predict the Kill Switch which many of us object to because it can often
kill the wrong box will be modified. But that's a prediction.

CH
 
Barry Watzman said:
I'm not talking about the current "technology assurance" program. I'm
just asking if, in general, a Vista licensee has some version of Vista
(below ultimate) and wants to upgrade to some higher version, will he be
able to do so without buying an entirely new copy of Vista?
Click to expand...
 
What about your question led me not to understand it Barry was your use of
the English language to form it.

The answer to that question is easy. If you get your hands on a retail DVD
YES. On the DVD you get retail you'll be able to upgrade from versions
below Vista Ultimate to versions with more features. They will have keys
that can be unlocked by paying the appropriate premium. It's your job if
you buy a computer from one of the OEM named partners to check and see if
you can get the OS on a DVD. Most people didn't do much of a job of that
during the reign of XP--those of us who have helped with hundreds of
recoveries of no boot BSODs have gotten a good idea of that.

As you can see from tons of sites on the web, and an OEM partner site you
go to, there will be different upgrade paths with Vista for EDITIONS which
is what you're talking about available also from OEM preloads apparently.
Check them out. I think much of this is still in a work in progress.

I have a tip for you though--that goes to the difference between being
streetwise and a real chump.

Since new computer fever is in the air, or what I consider much smarter,
building your own new computer if it's a desktop, I wouldn't pay a cent to
an OEM without insisting you get a Vista DVD. Dell is apparantely taking a
new step to ensure every purchaser gets one. From the Dell blog in the last
10 days:

http://www.direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2006/10/17/3132.aspx

"Also, though this been in the works for some time before now, it's now
official. For U.S. consumer and small business customers, all systems will
now ship with an operating system disc. This change will take effect in
Europe by later next month. In Asia, things are unchanged-we've always
shipped OS discs."

CH
 
Yes they will... if you right click on 'Computer', select 'Properties',
under where it says "Windows edition" there is a link to "upgrade my version
of windows". There you can upgrade your version without re-installing.

Of course, if you have the Ultimate edition, that link will not appear. I
suppose that's why you haven't seen it :)

Robert Firth
http://www.winvistainfo.org
 
Indded so. It is called 'Windows Anytime Upgrade', and will allow someone
with Home Basic to upgrade to either Home Premium, or Ultimate. Business
Edition can be upgraded to Ultimate. Somebody using Home Premium can
upgrade to Ultimate too.
 
Dell has for years offered an OS CD as an option for an extra $10, and
I've made sure that every Dell order I was involved in included it
(whether the computer was for me or anyone else). As you note, they
have within the last 30 days or so just made that standard in every
system (no longer have to pay extra or, more than the money, take the
care to include the item). On other computers, if they don't have
media, I burn the recovery files to a cd or dvd (mfgrs are required by
MS to provide either restore media or the files necessary to restore
Windows on the hard drive ... which, however, is of little use if the
hard drive has failed).

What I was asking ... what your response indicates is available (if this
is accurate) ... is whether, when one has a Microsoft Vista media, they
can upgrade the version (or perhaps edition is the correct term). Your
response says that they can. Do you have a link to where on the MS web
site this can be done, and in particular the version-to-version price
schedule? [Of course I do realize that since Vista isn't out yet, this
might not be available yet.]

One point being, I'm thinking of buying a Dell laptop that will come
with XP Media Center. Dell is offering a subsequent free upgrade from
MCE to EITHER Vista Home Premium or Vista Business (buyer's choice, both
free (ignoring a possible shipping charge). On the one hand, of those
two, I'd rather have Home Premium for actual personal use. But in fact
what I might most want to do is upgrade to Ultimate, and the upgrade
from Business to Ultimate may cost less than the upgrade from Home
Premium to Ultimate. So it would be nice to know the various
version-to-version (edition-to-edition) upgrade prices before this
choice has to be made (at the time of ordering the laptop, apparently).
[Note, there is no option, as far as I know, to get ultimate from
Dell; Dell is offering Home Premium or Business. What the buyer will
actually get from Dell, I belive, is Microsoft generic upgrade media
with the appropriate activation key, more or less the same as you would
get in a store (althought the kay may be OEM instead of retail). Any
upgrade from that to Ultimate would be done later, presumably via
Microsoft directly.]
 
Ok, now where can I get the version-to-version (or perhaps more
correctly the "edition-to-edition") pricing?
 
As far as I know, those have yet to be announced, but I think I heard
someone mention the prices the other day, so I could be wrong.

If you are looking at buying a new PC, their is more information on "Express
Upgrade", the program that allows you to upgrade to Vista for free or
reduced cost if you buy a PC from now until Vista's launch:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/expressupgrade.mspx

I realize that this doesn't really answer the question, but it is somewhat
related...

Robert Firth
http://www.winvistainfo.org
 
Every OEM has their own upgrade program ... there isn't a single
program. But I'm looking at Dell and Toshiba (and, in fact, at retail,
the retailers are in some cases further modifying the program of the OEMs)
 
Barry--

I'm in US so I am listing this in US dollars:
Pricing for full retail versions of the software will be Windows Vista
Ultimate, $399; Windows Vista Business, $299; Windows Vista Home Premium,
$239; and Windows Vista Home Basic, $199.
Upgrades from Windows XP are priced at Windows Vista Ultimate, $259; Windows
Vista Business, $199; Windows Vista Home Premium, $159; and Windows Vista
Home Basic, $99.

hth,

CH

________
 
Barry--

Here is additional license pricing. I don't have pricing on upgrading Vista
editions from one edition to another and as to what OEMs will do, this still
is in early stages. I can't repeat enough if you do buy any OEM boxes,
insist they give you an OS DVD. Don't be left high and dry like the
majority of XP OEM box buyers without the XP CD.

http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/ro...s-Vista-Pricing-and-Launch-Date-Revealed.aspx

http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=124

An additional incentive seems to be that the Vista DVD will have
availability as well to upgrade editions.

CH
 
I'm in the US also, but that doesn't answer the question. What I want
is the upgrade price from one version (edition) of VISTA to higher
versions of VISTA.
 
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