Windows 7 to Windows 8 upgrade info revealed?

[visualbuffs]

It's not exactly a shock to learn that Microsoft is preparing a way for people who will buy a new Windows 7 desktop or laptop in the near future to upgrade to the upcoming Windows 8. Microsoft has made similar upgrade paths available to consumers whenever a new version of Windows was close to launching.

News.com reports that, according to their sources, consumers who buy a Windows 7 PC running Home Basic or higher will be able to get an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro when it is launched later this year. The story claims that the program will begin either on or around June 2nd.

The update to Windows 8 Pro won't be free; Microsoft will charge users some kind of fee for the upgrade from Windows 7, according to the story. So far, there's no word on what that upgrade fee might be. The Windows 8 Pro update program is reportedly to last until sometime in January 2013.

The story adds that Microsoft wants to launch the program during the summer so that PC makers can benefit from sales for the back-to-school time period, even though Windows 8 itself is not expected to launch until after the fall school sessions begin. Microsoft has not officially commented on its Windows 8 upgrade plans.

Source

[rajeesh]

Microsoft to Kick Off Windows 8 Upgrade Program in Early June

Redmond-based software giant Microsoft is preparing the launch of Windows 8 Release Preview in early June, when it might also debut the Windows 8 upgrade program, recent reports on the matter suggest.

When launched, the program will provide purchasers of Windows 7 computers with the possibility to upgrade to Windows 8 at heavily discounted prices.

Through the program, customers acquiring new PCs are usually provided with coupons that allow them to upgrade to the new operating system for free as soon as it becomes generally available.

Apparently, the deal will be available for all users buying a machine running under Windows 7 Home Basic or higher and will enable them to get the Windows 8 Pro flavor of the upcoming platform.

According to Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft might be set to kick off the promo on June 2nd, around the same time that Windows 8 Release Preview is expected to become available for download.

The program should last until January, 2013. Through launching the deal in early summer, Microsoft ensures that sales of Windows 7 PCs are high during the back-to-school timeframe.

Windows 8, however, might become available for purchase in fall. It might not be on shelves by the time students start school, it seems.

This is not the first time that Microsoft put up such deals for its customers, though this year’s program is expected to mark some changes from previous approaches.

Given the fact that users will be offered with upgrades to Windows 8 Pro, which arrives with additional features when compared to the basic SKU (encryption, virtualization, PC management and more), some fees might be included.

No specific info on the matter has emerged until now, but we can expect Microsoft to offer exact details on this closer to the moment when the program is set to officially begin.

Source - softpedia