Pre-Order Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $49.99, Limited Time Offer

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHLUWK?ie=UTF8&tag=thoughtsmedia-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002DHLUWK' target='_blank'>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ASIN=B002DHLUWK</a><br /><br /></div><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1246033766.usr1.jpg" style="border: 0; float: left;" />You'll have to excuse the network-wide broadcast (well, except Apple Thoughts of course), but I thought this was something that everyone would want to know about: Microsoft is offering the forthcoming Windows 7 at a steep discount, but only for a limited time. Until July 11th, you can purchase <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHLUWK?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=thoughtsmedia-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B002DHLUWK" target="_blank">Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $49.99 USD</a>&nbsp;(that's an Amazon affiliate link, so your purchase helps support Thoughts Media). The normal price of Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade is $119.99 USD, so that's a very significant level of savings ($70 to be precise). You can also pick up <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-GFC-00020-W7HPU/dp/B002DHGM50?tag=thoughtsmedia-20" target="_blank">Windows 7 Business Upgrade for $99</a> if you want that version. When Windows 7 is released on October 22nd, Amazon will ship you the software.</p><p>The Windows 7 upgrade will work on a computer with Windows Vista or Windows XP installed. If you have an older computer, you may want to run the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/upgrade-advisor.aspx" target="_blank">Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor</a> to make sure your computer is ready for Windows 7, but in general any computer built in the past four years should be able to run it just fine. Windows 7 is lighter on resources and works well across a broad spectrum of hardware.</p><p>Got a netbook? Then you'll want to take advantage of this offer as well - I'm running the Windows 7 Release Candidate on an MSI Wind, and an HP Mini 1000, and it works really well on both of them. I think Windows Vista is a fine operating system, but Windows 7 is even better - it addresses many of the concerns that people had with Windows Vista and adds a degree of polish that means everything is easier to use.</p><p>Unfortunately, this offer is only valid in the USA and Canada (Canadians can order from <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/b/ref=amb_link_84689331_1?ie=UTF8&amp;node=1288320011&amp;pf_rd_m=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&amp;pf_rd_s=center-3&amp;pf_rd_r=1CKWQD8RZ2KFKY5NRVW2&amp;pf_rd_t=101&amp;pf_rd_p=482313071&amp;pf_rd_i=3198021" target="_blank">Amazon.ca</a>, <a href="http://www.futureshop.ca/marketing/windows7/default.asp" target="_blank">Future Shop</a>, and <a href="http://www.bestbuy.ca/marketing/windows7/EN/default.asp?logon=&amp;langid=EN" target="_blank">Best Buy</a>). as far as I can tell. Europe is getting a different version of Windows 7 due to the lawsuits Microsoft is undergoing there.</p>

[sundown]

And you can get in on this even if you're out of cash today. Stores like Amazon.com don't charge until it ships.

[Felix Torres]

Worth considering: The Win7 upgrade can be installed on top of an existing Vista config but it requires a virgin install on an XP system.
Which is another way that if you have an XP license around, the upgrade is equivalent to the full version.
If you're planning on building a replacement box any time soon...:cool:

[Jason Dunn]

And you can get in on this even if you're out of cash today. Stores like Amazon.com don't charge until it ships.

Great point! This is more like a no-charge layaway plan... :D

[Phillip Dyson]

I pre-ordered 3 upgrades for Home Premium this morning. At $165 USD (including shipping and tax), It just a little more than one upgrade at regular price.

I was tempted to make one of them a 7 Pro, but I could think of a good justification.

Currently I have 2 Vista Home Premium notebooks, one XP Pro notebook and two XP Pro desktops. One is my HTPC (SageTV) and the other is my file server. I'll probably eventually replace the latter with a WHS box.

[Fritzly]

I am very pleased (irony) to see that MS keep screwing Vista Ultimate owners.
The saga goes on, and on, and on...
Great thinking MS, great thinking.....

[virain]

I got Prof. Edition for $99. It has great features that I need, but are missing in Home Premium Edition

[Jason Dunn]

I am very pleased (irony) to see that MS keep screwing Vista Ultimate owners.

I agree completely that people who paid extra for Vista Ultimate didn't end up getting enough to make it worthwhile - the "Ultimate Extras" were all kind of lame, and not worth the upcharge that Microsoft did on Ultimate.

But how is this program "screwing" Ultimate owners? Because there isn't a special price for Ultimate owners? I don't know how you can get much better than 50% off MSRP - well, unless it was free. :D

[Phillip Dyson]

I got Prof. Edition for $99. It has great features that I need, but are missing in Home Premium Edition

I would be curious to know what features prompted the Pro decision. The 3 differences checked in the comparison box were nebulous at best.

[Jason Dunn]

I would be curious to know what features prompted the Pro decision. The 3 differences checked in the comparison box were nebulous at best.

Yeah, that list is pretty lame - I'd guess it's Remote Desktop, that's the feature that a lot of people really like. But there are many great, and free, options to get that.

[Fritzly]

I agree completely that people who paid extra for Vista Ultimate didn't end up getting enough to make it worthwhile - the "Ultimate Extras" were all kind of lame, and not worth the upcharge that Microsoft did on Ultimate.

But how is this program "screwing" Ultimate owners? Because there isn't a special price for Ultimate owners? I don't know how you can get much better than 50% off MSRP - well, unless it was free. :D

I do not see a "Special Pre-order", "Limited time" offer for Vista Ultimate owners; that is why IMO Ultimate owners are penalized.

[Jason Dunn]

I do not see a "Special Pre-order", "Limited time" offer for Vista Ultimate owners; that is why IMO Ultimate owners are penalized.

Are you sure that you can't go from Vista Ultimate to Home Premium? Given how Ultimate owners got burned last time, why would you WANT Ultimate? :eek:

[Fritzly]

Technically speaking I think it is possible to do it.... with some workaround; personally I would always prefer to perform a clean install so my guess is that it would be possible to install XP and then install an "upgrade" copy of W7 Home Premium or Professional wiping out the "old" XP folder.

My point is that people who got "burned" by Vista Ultimate should be offered, at least, the same kind of "deal" offered to the ones who bought one of the cheaper and "less controversial" version of Vista.

Besides I personally need the ability to join a Domain and BitLocker.

[Rob Alexander]

I would be curious to know what features prompted the Pro decision. The 3 differences checked in the comparison box were nebulous at best.

I'm not the one you were asking, but I bought the pro version and so can answer for myself. There were three features that were useful to me that are in Pro but not Home.

1. Remote Desktop. I don't use it all the time, but I do use it sometimes when I travel. I'll set it up before I leave and can then access my full system from an Internet Cafe. Yeah, there are still places in the world where you can't get Internet in your hotel room and so you have to go that route.

2. The XP Virtual Machine is supported in Pro but not Home. I know I could work it all out myself with a free solution from elsewhere, but I like the idea of having them have it all set up for me. (I still have to download it, but I don't have to learn all about virtual machines, set up separate partitions, etc.)

3. Presentation mode is only on Pro and not on Home. That's very useful to me, though I know it wouldn't be to some others.

Those three things are worth an extra $50 to me.

On the discussion about Ultimate, from the best I can tell from web sites about the different versions, there is really no reason why anyone outside of an enterprise should even want it. The extra features over Pro are really obscure and there is nothing like the Vista so-called Extras. It's effectively the same as the Enterprise version, but licensed to individuals. I can't see why anyone not trying to lock down a company's computer systems would want it.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Are you sure that you can't go from Vista Ultimate to Home Premium? Given how Ultimate owners got burned last time, why would you WANT Ultimate? :eek:

As Rob says, get the Pro version. Ultimate 7 isn't really that compelling, and the saying about fooling me more than once comes to mind...

[efjay]

Yeah, that list is pretty lame - I'd guess it's Remote Desktop, that's the feature that a lot of people really like. But there are many great, and free, options to get that.

For someone with a Windows Home Server having RDP means you can connect to your pc's without having to go through a 3rd party.

[doogald]

2. The XP Virtual Machine is supported in Pro but not Home. I know I could work it all out myself with a free solution from elsewhere, but I like the idea of having them have it all set up for me. (I still have to download it, but I don't have to learn all about virtual machines, set up separate partitions, etc.)

It's not just that it's supported - it's that you get license to use XP within the VM. You could do the same in Home Premium, but then you'd need to have a legal license of XP, and most people - who buy Windows with an OEM license on that machine, that allow it to be used on that machine only, do not have that without buying a license elsewhere.

Technically, you can probably do so. Legally, most likely you cannot. If being legal is important to you, and you need XP support within a VM for whatever reason, an extra $50 for a license of XP is extremely reasonable.

(Unless I am reading Microsoft's web site's description of XP Mode incorrectly, and Pro does not bundle a license for XP. If that's so, then never mind. . .)


On the discussion about Ultimate, from the best I can tell from web sites about the different versions, there is really no reason why anyone outside of an enterprise should even want it. The extra features over Pro are really obscure and there is nothing like the Vista so-called Extras. It's effectively the same as the Enterprise version, but licensed to individuals. I can't see why anyone not trying to lock down a company's computer systems would want it.

If you have a laptop and travel with it, Bitlocker looks extremely interesting; why not encrypt all of your personal data? That said, you can probably just use Truecrypt whole disk encryption for free (assuming that Truecrypt supports Win7 when it comes out, which I cannot believe they will not) on any version of Win7.

[Damion Chaplin]

I bought the Pro version, just for the XP mode.

My real question is this: I currently run Vista Ultimate Upgrade. I am assuming that it's OK to upgrade an upgrade version (e.g. Vista Upgrade version to Win7 Upgrade version), but can I then re-use my Vista Ultimate upgrade on a different machine??? Boy, would I really like to know that...

[Jason Dunn]

My real question is this: I currently run Vista Ultimate Upgrade. I am assuming that it's OK to upgrade an upgrade version (e.g. Vista Upgrade version to Win7 Upgrade version), but can I then re-use my Vista Ultimate upgrade on a different machine???

Assuming that's a retail copy of Vista Ultimate, and not an OEM copy or one that was pre-installed on that computer, then yes, you can install that copy of Vista Ultimate on another computer.

[Damion Chaplin]

Assuming that's a retail copy of Vista Ultimate, and not an OEM copy or one that was pre-installed on that computer, then yes, you can install that copy of Vista Ultimate on another computer.

It's a retail copy, but it's an Upgrade version.

Oh, that's so cool...

NOW I feel like I'm getting my money's worth from that Ultimate edition (Add the price of Vista Ultimate to the 50% off price of Win7 Pro, then divide by two...). ;)

[Phillip Dyson]

Assuming that's a retail copy of Vista Ultimate, and not an OEM copy or one that was pre-installed on that computer, then yes, you can install that copy of Vista Ultimate on another computer.

Why would it matter if its an OEM copy? If I'm replacing the computer that it's installed on, can't I transfer it to a new machine?

[doogald]

Why would it matter if its an OEM copy? If I'm replacing the computer that it's installed on, can't I transfer it to a new machine?

An OEM license is tied to the hardware with which it is purchased [edit - actually, it is tied to the motherboard of the PC on which the license is first installed - see Microsoft OEM Licensing FAQ (http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=885079)]; only the full retail license can (legally) be moved to different hardware. Upgrade that OEM license of Vista or XP with a Win7 upgrade, and that OEM license is still tied to the PC and cannot be used anywhere else. Upgrade the original license of XP (that was then upgraded with a retail Vista upgrade) with Win7, then, I think that you can say that the Win7 upgrade is upgrading the original XP license, freeing the retail Vista upgrade for another XP license on different hardware.

[Felix Torres]

Which version to get?
Turns out Ed Bott has a nice table highlighting the differences:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Bott/?p=1128&tag=nl.e539

Bottom line, most of us will do fine with Home Premium.

[Jason Dunn]

An OEM license is tied to the hardware with which it is purchased [edit - actually, it is tied to the motherboard of the PC on which the license is first installed

Bing. This is correct. Retail copies of Windows have more flexibility than OEM copies in terms of moving to another PC.

[asims]

I've read quite a lot of positive reviews about Win7, but I've also grown quite attached to all the programs I currently have on my XP SP3. If I have to purchase upgrades to those programs, this $50 deal suddenly doesn't look so great.

I can almost predict that someone is going to suggest that I download the latest Win7 RC and try it out on my DELL laptop (which is less than a year old), and it would be a good idea. If you do, could you also direct me to a website that will show me how to partition the hard drive and make my laptop dual bootable; and, once I'm finished testing Win7 out thoroughly, how I can return my laptop back to single booting? (Would restoring the laptop to a previously saved image be the simplest way to do that?)

Hopefully, I'm not asking too much!:o

[Reid Kistler]

If you do, could you also direct me to a website that will show me how to partition the hard drive and make my laptop dual bootable;

Just do a search on "Dual Boot Windows 7 with XP (or Vista)..." and you will find a number of articles.

FWIW, we followed one from lifehacker.com, as that site often has worthwhile content.

That guide also suggests using GParted to partition your HD under XP - personally would rather use Partition Magic (or perhaps try Partition Commander).
Afraid we cheated & simply added a new HD to my wife's Desktop system, as she needed the extra space. (Not an option with most notebooks - although think some allow replacing built-in CD/DVD ROM with an extra HD....).

Don't know how new / old your Dell is, but her machine is running an AMD SEMPRON, with 1GB of RAM + an nVidia 5700 based graphics card: thus far Win 7 seems to run GREAT on it!

Based upon this result we have ordered two copies of the Win 7 Home Premium upgrade - along with a 2GB RAM kit for her system to bring things fully up to speed.

Good Luck!

[asims]

Thanks for the information, rkistler!

Here's another question for those of you who have tested Win7 Home Premium:
- the Product Comparison chart shows that the Professional version has the ability to run "...many existing Windows XP productivity applications in Windows7", but not the Home Premium version. Have you found this to be true? If so, what productivity apps have you found to not work in Home Premium?

[Jason Dunn]

If so, what productivity apps have you found to not work in Home Premium?

It's really just old software that the developers haven't updated to work with Windows Vista. Anything that runs on Vista will run on Windows 7, so we're talking about applications that haven't been updated in 3+ years.