Microsoft to offer Windows 8 Pro upgrade for just $15

[BrianBosworth]

Details leaked about Microsoft's $15 Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer earlier this month, and we are now able to confirm it will run from June 2nd to January 31st, 2013, according to one source familiar with the company's plans. Microsoft Store customers who purchase a Windows 7 PC from June 2nd will be offered a Windows 8 Pro upgrade for only $14.99. The limited-time "Windows Step-Up Offer" will run until January 31st, 2013 — providing upgrades for holiday and sales shoppers.

Microsoft Store customers who participate in the Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer will also be invited to exclusive workshops to learn more about Windows 8. Microsoft will also supply a $20 Microsoft Store gift card in exchange for attendance at one of its planned workshops. With the free Windows 8 Pro offer available for PCs running Windows 7 Home Basic or above, we'd expect this offer to be popular over the back-to-school and holiday periods.

Microsoft's $15 Windows 8 upgrade offer to run from June 2nd to January 31st, will include free workshops | The Verge

[whyme]

nice deal :) ....m i using pirated version of windows 7 ? lol

[Master Razor]

m i using pirated version of windows 7 ? lol

Aren't we all?
I'll never buy microsoft os. When the time comes, I'll switch to another os.

[cirulilu]

why don't they offer free upgrade for all the pc's bought from june 2nd. people should rather wait windows 8 to be released than paying for windows 7 + 15$ when windows 8 will probably be the same price as windows 7.
i will just download and install pirated version.

[Makeawish]

why don't they offer free upgrade for all the pc's bought from june 2nd. people should rather wait windows 8 to be released than paying for windows 7 + 15$ when windows 8 will probably be the same price as windows 7.
i will just download and install pirated version.

Not everyone can wait, and not since when Ivy bridge just launched in May. Many more notebooks are getting released in June/July as well. I'm personally waiting for one too :).

[BrianBosworth]

Microsoft has revised the upgrade options. The date when the pc was purchased no longer matters. If you're running XP, Vista or Windows 7, just about everyone can get an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99. Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99

[Makeawish]

What!? I was hoping to get a new laptop somewhere end of this month or next... $39.99 is really expensive! Hopefully I could just use my student MSDN account to upgrade!

[SealLion]

why don't they offer free upgrade for all the pc's bought from june 2nd. people should rather wait windows 8 to be released than paying for windows 7 + 15$ when windows 8 will probably be the same price as windows 7.
i will just download and install pirated version.

The reason MS doesn't offer a free upgrade, my friend, is b/c MS is a corporation and the purpose of running a business is to make money.

Microsoft has revised the upgrade options. The date when the pc was purchased no longer matters. If you're running XP, Vista or Windows 7, just about everyone can get an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99. Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $39.99

I think that move by MS was pretty cheap for them to revise their pricing. Though on the other hand for people who still use XP and Vista that is still a pretty cheap deal. 40 bucks is a good price considering that MS sells it's CDs for 7 at over $100 bucks.

[SBfreak]

Though on the other hand for people who still use XP and Vista that is still a pretty cheap deal. 40 bucks is a good price considering that MS sells it's CDs for 7 at over $100 bucks.

Something's not right.
I doubt that people that are still using Vista even know Windows 8 is coming
I doubt that people that still use XP have any desire to upgrade to Windows 8 especially when they see the marvelous Metro interface.
I'm talking about individuals here.
Rather critical thinking on my behalf I know.

[SealLion]

You mean it's not right that MS sells OS CDs at over 100 bucks?? I've seen them priced here at around 150 dollars or more. Is this what you mean, SBfreak?? For sure, it's expensive. I don't disagree with you there.
Or do you mean that it's not right that MS sells the upgrades for the price they're giving??

Maybe the ones that are using Vista are just content and not willing to shell out any more money if they are happy with what they've got. But then, it's just my opinion. And I guess maybe the same for people using XP. I have seen the Metro interface and it does look good and yes, I believe I understood that you were talking about individuals. Mind you there's always going to be 'hold-outs' just like there has to still be some small population that still uses some of the older Windows versions like Win 95 and 98 as examples.

[cirulilu]

$39.99 is not a lot for upgrade. many people still use windows xp and with that price they will probably upgrade to windows 8.
for me windows 8 is nothing but optimized windows 7. everything is smoother, uses less ram, menus and options are added on right places. metro for desktop is useless. this is nothing but windows 7 SP2. and they want more money for that.

[hellman]

why don't they offer free upgrade

business ... money is everything

[Saint]

Anyone considering M$ offer? Personally I am not sure at moment I am running win 7 just fine.

[Makeawish]

Not really considering it either. But would upgrade just for security purposes.

[SealLion]

Windows 8 is not any more secure than any other windows OS. Here's an example. YOu know that the Adobe’s Flash platform has pretty much been a long security issue on any Windows OS, yes?? I don't know for sure but I heard through the grapevine that iOS doesn't even have Adobe Flash. And if I'm not mistaken, that same Adobe platform was and is one of the chief reasons that Mac OS has gotten hit with some security issues in it's past. And so in having said that, Flash is probably one of the biggest threats Windows users face. And I believe that might be very difficult to change on the upcoming Windows 8 because I haven't come across any news that Adobe is not going to be on that OS. There are of course flash blocking extensions and other devices out there but not all Windows users are aware of such things.


Secondly, You know about Facebook, yes?? Well, Windows 8 might be a bit more secure, but you can't really tell if it's going to safeguard Windows users from all the different threats that come from social networkiong ( good reason to not even be a Facebooker to begin with). And since innumerable amounts of info are shared and given out pretty much every day on social networks, you can just imagine the amounts of malware that gets to sneak through to compromise your own and others security on computers. Let me give you an example, my friend, if some malicious link is shared on that service ( or some other social network service), you can't really tell what kind of havoc it can wreak. Beware the threats posed from social networks. But if you do go on social network sites and use Firefox, get the extension Dr. Web at least.

Also, there's the drive to go to tablets which is great; however, be still aware that some malicious hacker could turning his attention to your mobile space, since hackers and crackers can view this new market as the next frontier in thier money-making schemes. And because of that there does exist the chance that Windows 8 tablets can be the next target. Can Windows 8 stand up to such a threat?? I don't know. There's only one way to find out, I guess.

And of course, we have to also talk about IE. I'm sure your well aware of the dangers that IE has posed to the millions of users who don't know about alternative browsers. NOw in the past MS always said that IE was improved to bolster that browser's security and many, many times MS fell short of it's promises to increase IE's security issues. Bummer because IE always loads up much, much quicker than any Firefox browser that I've ever had and continue to use currently.

And about Window's Defender. That's a laughable issue IMHO. If Window's Defender is the sole defense that some people use against outsider threats, then Windows users aren't going to be as secure as they thought they were.

Finally, to put everything that I've put in brief above in perspective, there is the issue of complacency. The hype of Windows 8 being the most secure OS that MS has ever produced shouldn't be taken with complacent attitudes. If users think Windows 8 can't be attacked, that results in what I"ve already mentioned. Complacency. And users are going to targeted from all sides. Front, back, and sides.