Microsoft Plans Vista Upgrade Coupon For Holiday PC Buying

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Microsoft later this month plans to roll out an Express Upgrade program that gives buyers of Windows XP-based PCs a coupon for a free or discounted upgrade to Windows Vista through March 15. As part of the deal, designed to drive PC sales though the holiday season, Microsoft will include coupons in each Windows XP SKU that will entitle users to a free or discounted Vista upgrade when the next-generation operating system ships in the first quarter of 2007, industry sources said.

For instance, customers who buy PCs equipped with Windows XP Pro, Windows XP Pro Tablet PC Edition and Windows XP Pro x64 Edition are entitled to a free upgrade to Vista, sources said. Customers will be responsible for fulfillment costs. Not all of the coupons will be for free upgrades. Customers who buy systems running Windows XP Home Edition can upgrade to Vista Home Basic Edition for a flat $49 fee and to the higher-end Windows Vista Home Premium Edition for a cost of $79.

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News source: CRN

#1 Brandon on 05 Oct 2006 - 11:43

I just bought a PC on oct 1st.. i better be getting one

#2 Lasker on 05 Oct 2006 - 12:43

if this going to work if you bough your system in 2002? :p that's is my mother PC, I build always my pc's

(1 reply) #3 RangerLG on 05 Oct 2006 - 13:24

What about people that are going to buy systems with XP MCE?

#3.1 stifler6478 on 05 Oct 2006 - 14:07

I was wondering that too. XP MCE is built off of XP Pro, so hopefully we get it for free

-Spenser

#4 Boxster17 on 05 Oct 2006 - 13:38

So if I were to buy a laptop at around x-mas with XP Home, does that mean I'll be able to upgrade to Home Premium for $79 bucks? And if I were to order it from somewhere like Newegg would I still get this deal?

#5 Co_Co on 05 Oct 2006 - 15:33

darn I bought my laptop less than a month ago and I'm going to get burned. Maybe they'll give discounts or somethng for beta testers.

#6 larz on 05 Oct 2006 - 15:46

YAY!! Now I can buy that laptop sooner, rather than waiting til the end of January...

#7 ibear on 05 Oct 2006 - 15:57

seems like only NEW systems built with the SKUs are eligible.

#8 bostonfanx on 06 Oct 2006 - 04:56

DAMN IT! Just got my laptop a month ago. don't see how i'm gonna get vista now... o wait... IRC

#9 NeoTrunks on 06 Oct 2006 - 08:06

My concern would be if we buy a PC with XP Pro. Would we be able to upgrade to the Vista Home editions? I have heard that XP Pro could only be upgraded to Vista Small Business edition (which I believe is missing some media features that the home versions have). Please correct me if I am wrong.

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