No upgrade to windows 7 in Europe

Money_Grabber13579

According to the BBC, there won't be any upgrade versions of Windows 7 in Europe, supposedly due to European competition issues. Here's the full story.

Unfortunately, this also means that anyone buying a new computer in Europe won't qualify for the free upgrade to Windows 7, and will have to buy a full version instead. This will be priced at the same price as a normal retail version, which is £79.99 for Windows Home Premium. However that price is discounted from what the normal RRP will be in the shops.

This all means that Microsoft has actually screwed up and is limiting the open market further as only those in America will be able to get the free upgrade.

Damm.:mad:

[Deleted User]

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

According to the BBC, there won't be any upgrade versions of Windows 7 in Europe, supposedly due to European competition issues. Here's the full story.

Unfortunately, this also means that anyone buying a new computer in Europe won't qualify for the free upgrade to Windows 7, and will have to buy a full version instead. This will be priced at the same price as a normal retail version, which is £79.99 for Windows Home Premium. However that price is discounted from what the normal RRP will be in the shops.

This all means that Microsoft has actually screwed up and is limiting the open market further as only those in America will be able to get the free upgrade.

Damm.:mad:

Maybe you should read the article you post more thoroughly in future;

Microsoft will make an upgrade offer to buyers of new PCs but will send them a full version of the software rather than an upgrade version.

:rolleyes:

Money_Grabber13579

anewhope wrote: »

Maybe you should read the article you post more thoroughly in future;



:rolleyes:

Yea but it's not going to be the free upgrade offer that Microsoft are offering in America. So I have read it right.:rolleyes:

Maybe you should read the entire article before just pulling a section out of it that is totally out of context and doesn't apply.

Anyone outside Europe buying a new PC between now and then - running Windows Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate - will get the chance to upgrade the operating system on it, at no cost, to Windows 7.

Microsoft said these upgrade options will not be available to Europeans.

[Deleted User]

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Maybe you should read the entire article before just pulling a section out of it that is totally out of context and doesn't apply.

@Ars

Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program
Waiting to buy a PC until Windows 7 is released can be frustrating (especially given the upcoming back-to-school season), so Microsoft is making an upgrade offer similar to what it did for consumers buying XP but who wanted to secure a copy Vista: buy a Windows Vista PC as of June 26 and receive the equivalent edition of Windows 7 when it comes out. If the June 26 date sounds familiar, that's because it was rumored earlier this month via a leaked Best Buy memo (contra the rumor pointing to July 1 being the date). Microsoft will be offering the program globally until January 31, 2010 but OEMs can cut it off early if they choose to.

The offer will be available only from participating OEMs or retailers and encompasses Windows Vista Home Premium, Windows Vista Business, and Windows Vista Ultimate. For example, if you purchase a computer with Windows Vista Home Premium on it, once it is available, you will get a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium to upgrade to. Further details will be available soon at windows.com/upgradeoffer and windows7upgradeoption.com.

Ybarra told Ars that Microsoft would not charge consumers for Windows 7 if they purchased a Vista PC between tomorrow and the day of general availability. He did admit, however, that OEMs can choose the price of the upgrade, possibly charging for shipping and handling fees. Furthermore, it will be up to OEMs to decide which computers the upgrade offer will be available on, so it's unlikely that low-end computers like netbooks or PCs on sale will have this offer.

Money_Grabber13579

So the 2 sources totally contradict each other then? Wonder which one's right?

Marty_J

Windows 7 E versions

Because of the recent decision to meet Draconian European Union (EU) antitrust actions with versions of Windows 7 that do not include Internet Explorer (IE), Microsoft will not be offering retail Upgrade versions of the product at GA. But rather than punish customers in the EU for their overzealous antitrust regulators, Microsoft will instead provide the Full retail versions of Windows 7 in EU countries at Upgrade pricing. That's actually a significant cost savings, though those users will, of course, be unable to perform in-place upgrades of Windows Vista to Windows 7 (because that functionality is not supported by the Full versions). Microsoft expects this situation to last until at least December 31, 2009. At some point, traditional Upgrade packaging will be made available in the EU as well.

Note that these "E" versions do not apply to the UK.

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/pricing.asp

[Deleted User]

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

So the 2 sources totally contradict each other then? Wonder which one's right?

They don't, you've just misinterpreted the admittedly poorly written article.

The only difference to what was expected is that instead of being given an a disc to upgrade Vista to Windows 7 you'll be provided a full copy that will require a clean installation so you will have to backup your files and reinstall your programs. A minor inconvenience for the overall benefit that a clean installation gives.

Stay tuned tomorrow at http://www.microsoft.com/uk/upgradeoffer

Money_Grabber13579

So the free upgrade offer will actually be available in Europe?

Oh, and if the E version doesn't apply to the UK, does that mean that our versions will still be bundles with IE8?

Marty_J

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Oh, and if the E version doesn't apply to the UK, does that mean that our versions will still be bundles with IE8?

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Money_Grabber13579

Marty_J wrote: »

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Good stuff. So the stupidity of Europe hasn't fully encompassed us yet then!:D

Marty_J

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

Good stuff. So the stupidity of Europe hasn't fully encompassed us yet then!:D

Why is it stupid?