"My colleague Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is reflexively skeptical about my report of a Windows 7 Family Pack. In fact, he says, his "OEM contacts" are unaware of any such product and one "source that has been reliable in the past" tells him the language referring to that product has been pulled from the license agreement. Fortunately, some of Adrian's commenters have better sources than he does. One points to a product code, GFC-00236, that produces some very interesting search results. Like a set of product listings from Expercom that includes a WINDOWS 7 FAMILY PACK/ HOME PREMIUM UPGRADE (GFC-00236) with a listed price of $136.95."
There's not much more to say here - this price point seems to make sense. MSRP is probably $149 USD, and street price will be a bit less than that. It lines up nicely with the $50/copy of Windows 7 that's going on right now
"The most silly thing about the family pack is that it allows 3 upgrades. Our family of 4 has 7 computers (2 netbooks, 3 notebooks and 2 desktops) with 3 of them also running virtual machines from time to time for web security. How many families have only 3 computers? If MS wants to keep my business they have to do better. If I need to upgrade, Linux will look too attractive to ignore."
This comment made me chuckle - this guy is complainging about getting a new operating system for $50 per computer? That's a dramatic reduction from Windows Vista, and in my books a hell of a deal. This guy needs TEN copies of Windows 7 (if you count the three virtual machines) and he expects that for, what, $99 or something? Come back to planet earth buddy...
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This seems a bit suspect, only because the Windows 7 HP upgrade is so high (I think MSRP for the upgrade is $119). Still, if this is a true price, then yeah to MS for such a competitive pricing strategy. Oh, and I'm a complete computer nerd and I've only 3 Windows-based computers (1 Mac) at my home, and one of those is WHS. Sheesh! As Bugs would say, what a maroon!!
This guy needs TEN copies of Windows 7 (if you count the three virtual machines) and he expects that for, what, $99 or something? Come back to planet earth buddy...
Hey! He should load up on Linux and save all the money and see how far that gets him.
Better yet, he should move to MacOS and try griping to Jobs' mob.
Between my wife and I we have 6 computers, (2 laptops, 1 netbook, 3 desktops), 2 running Vista, and 4 running XP. I also have a couple of instances of virtual machines with XP, and various other OS's. As there is only two of us, and we can really only use one actively at a time. So I think the OS, like some other software should be installable on multiple computers (2), if it is for a single user. The cost of upgrading to WIN 7 is not something I see doing, even with the Family PACK, even if the PACK was $99.
I have to say that those of you with 5 to 7 computers are out of the ordinary.
I consider myself a tech geek and I only have two computers (1 notebook and 1 netbook) along with a home server. I would like to add an all in one but that still means that the upgrade pack would work for me.
I also think Ed Botts needs to check himself. Look at the history of Microsoft new OS releases. before you would have to purchase one upgrade for each computer at anywhere from $100 to $300 per upgrade (depending on the version). For them to release a three pack for under $150 is great and not normal for those in Redmond. You really don't expect them to give you ten licenses for under $100, do you? Lets be realistic.
I think Ed Botts is trying to copmpare this to Apple and you can't compare it to the new apple update coming down the line because if you seriously look at it, it is apples versus oranges (no pun intended). They are charging you $30 for new features, updates, bug fixes and security fixes that Microsoft would give you for free in a service pack. (they do the same thing with iTouch updates).
Now before any Apple fanatics throw me into a fire for my comments, I just want to say that I like Apple as a company, beleive they make quality computers, software, phones, etc. I myself own an iPhone, iPod, Apple TV. There computers don;t appeal to me, but that is more personal preferance.
This would be a welcome change for Microsoft. I was considering prepurchasing the upgrades, but it woul dleave me short one computer in the household (3 desktops, one laptop).
If Microsoft would officially announce this, I would preorder one license and pourchase the familypack later.
It would probably work out the best for me since I could test the configuration on my desktop before rolling it out to kid's and wife's compters
So I think the OS, like some other software should be installable on multiple computers (2), if it is for a single user.
But unlike software that you might use on one computer, then switch to using on another computer, the operating system is ALWAYS going to be used - unless you start getting into biometric verification and floating licenses, there's no way for Microsoft to know that it's one user using all the computers.
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My family has 4 computers. I think in most developed places 3-5 is the average if you're not a geek.
Really? You think it's that high? That seems far too high to me - I'd think the average in the developed world is probably two per household. When I think of my friends and family, many have one computer, and only a few have two. I can't think of anyone other than myself that has more than three (I have, uh, 16 in my house right now). I tried to do some research on this to see if any studies/surveys had been done, and couldn't find a single bit of solid info. I'm kind of amazed that no one has tried to get this information - it should be part of national surveys.
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Windows 7 Family Pack Pricing Leaked?
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