Vista: Digital Downloads, Anytime Upgrade & Family Pack Speculations

Published on January 18, 2007 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

InfoWorld is reporting that starting January 30th, you'll be able to purchase a copy of Microsoft Windows online, download it to your PC and install it without ever going to a store to get a DVD. The Windows Marketplace site, the new digital storefront being pushed as part of Microsoft's huge Live suite of products and services, already allows users to purchase and download software and games, where registrations are stored for users in their own Digital Locker.

Microsoft Office 2007 will also be available for purchase and download.

On top of that, Microsoft is expected to announce today pricing plans for the Windows Anytime Upgrade plan, as well as details on a "Family Pack" deal for buying multiple copies of Vista for users with multi-PC homes. The InfoWorld article speculates the price for additional copies of Home Premium for users who buy Ultimate will be $49/license.

Comments

Jafo

on Jan 18, 2007

The InfoWorld article speculates the price for additional copies of Home Premium for users who buy Ultimate will be $49/license.

Sounds too sensible to be true....

Zoomba

on Jan 18, 2007

Considering how they've been giving Vista away at every opportunity, it wouldn't surprise me. It's a limited time deal too, so they're going for that early adopter market, the people who influence their friends on what to buy etc.

Island Dog

on Jan 18, 2007

I have always said a "family pack" is a wise way to go, but I still don't like the way they are going with it.

ZubaZ

on Jan 18, 2007

How would you do it oh wise dog of the islands?

I am very happy with the family pack. And the upgrade anywhere feature is awesome.

I'm going to try to do both of those and then Windows Home Server. That thing could be amazing!

Paul Thurrott Windows Home Server Preview

Zoomba

on Jan 18, 2007

The trick is to get a free copy of Business Edition (which there have been many opportunities to do the last few months), do the upgrade to Ultimate, and then get the super-cheap copies of Home Premium. Great loophole.

ZubaZ

on Jan 18, 2007

The trick is to get a free copy of Business Edition

Which I did!

Aquamonkey

on Jan 18, 2007

If I were going to fork over the buckaziods for Vista (which at this time I'm not) I'd atleast want a DVD for it. Lets face it your going to be installing it on more than one occassion in it's lifetime!

Since the retailer is cut out of the equation does this lower the price of the software i.e. the retaillers "share" of the price?

thomassen

on Jan 19, 2007

There's another article realted to this story here: http://www.windows-now.com/blogs/robert/archive/2007/01/18/microsoft-and-customers-the-story-behind-the-family-discount.aspx

MarkSnyder61

on Jan 19, 2007

I like the family pak option. I plan to get Ultimate for my super pc that I use for my home business then the Home Premium for my media center and other pc's, so this will save me some big bucks.

Island Dog

on Jan 19, 2007

How would you do it oh wise dog of the islands?

Well Mr. Smarty Pants I would make a 3-pack family license for a reasonable price.

donanimhaber

on Jan 19, 2007

no link pls

Kamafucktra

on Jan 19, 2007

I'd expect that the download is an ISO that is to be burned onto a disc. The price of a blank DVD is rather small.

Hapkido

on Jan 19, 2007

I wonder if this family pack deal only applies if you buy the Full copy of Ultimate online at the suggested retail price vs. buying an Upgrade version of Ultimate at a local retailer?

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