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Print 40 comment(s) - last by GotThumbs.. on Aug 23 at 2:06 PM
If you want to upgrade to Windows 8, do it quickly or stick with the digital download option

Back in early July, Microsoft announced that Windows 8 Pro would be made available for $39.99 via a download option. Those with slow internet connections (or those that just prefer to have fancy physical media) would have to fork over $69.99 to upgrade to Microsoft's latest operating system.
 
There's just one catch, however. The $69.99 pricing for the retail box copy is only available during Microsoft's "promotional period" which ends on January 31. After that point, according to The Verge, the price will jump to $199. To add to the confusion, Microsoft will also offer a Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro upgrade option in retail stores priced at $69.99 during the promotional period -- this price will then jump to $99 afterwards.
 
And if that isn't enough Windows 8 pricing madness for you, Microsoft kicked off its $14.99 Windows 8 upgrade program yesterday for customers that bought a brand new Windows 7 PC after June 2.
 
So for those that are looking to upgrade to Windows 8, your best bet is to score a physical copy soon after the October 26 launch, or simply stick with the digital download “upgrade” for $39.99. Regardless of which route you choose, we’re confident that Microsoft is hoping that the lower [initial] pricing will lead to blockbuster sales for Windows 8 coming out of the gate.

Source: The Verge


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Time constraints on download option
By DanNeely on 8/21/2012 3:54:22 PM , Rating: 3
Has MS clarified if the $40 download option requires immediate install; or if we could buy an upgrade license in the near future but not do the first install until significantly later?




RE: Time constraints on download option
By Akrovah on 8/21/2012 4:03:42 PM , Rating: 3
Or if the download option includes the ability to download an ISO and do a clean install?


RE: Time constraints on download option
By FITCamaro on 8/21/2012 4:06:51 PM , Rating: 2
Yeah if I get it, I'd want to do a clean install. Not an upgrade.


RE: Time constraints on download option
By Pirks on 8/21/2012 4:36:24 PM , Rating: 2
Ya I did a clean install of Win8 RTM and speed wise it pwns all Linux distros I used before, looks great and is very comfortable in real life usage scenarios. I'm shelling out $120 to upgrade my three home PCs the moment promo is on. It is that good.


RE: Time constraints on download option
By macdevdude on 8/21/12, Rating: -1
RE: Time constraints on download option
By Pirks on 8/21/2012 5:11:49 PM , Rating: 5
Doh, Windows rendering hardware could easily pwn your overpriced Mac shit, price and performance wise. What a dork :)) Use expensive hardware for bragging rights eh? I rendered my movie on a Mac Pro CLUSTER!!! OOhhh ahhh you making me all wet hot boy LOLOLOLL :)))) hahaha

As for "usability" of OS X - I tried once the 10.4 version when it just came out, immediately found out that I could not copy paste file path from the file properties dialog (a simple functionality existing in Windows for ages) and realized how "usable" OS X is in real life :P Good luck with that "usable" shit, Win8 is worlds above it now with regard to usability. The start screen that looks uniform across mobile and desktop is priceless, you Mac fanatics can only dream about real uniformity and consistency with your inconsistent mess of different OSes on different platforms :P


RE: Time constraints on download option
By EnzoFX on 8/21/12, Rating: -1
By Mitch101 on 8/21/2012 8:16:01 PM , Rating: 5
I can afford to buy a second PC just for rendering and whatever else I want it to do while playing one of a million games on my Main computer for less than the price of a single MAC.


RE: Time constraints on download option
By Pirks on 8/21/12, Rating: 0
By EnzoFX on 8/21/2012 9:20:05 PM , Rating: 1
On some fronts, you're misinformed in others, I don't know where to begin. The notion that anything is solved in Win8 is laughable. Intuitive can border on user preference, but when it simply requires less steps, yes it is more intuitive. You're also completely basing your argument on your usage, which sounds like it's hardly at the heart of most user's concerns. Also, MS is as guilty as anyone when it comes to pushing proprietary bs, and ignoring certain segments or standards, though theirs tends to be more on the software side of things, and you seem to be caught up on hardware when it comes to Apple. Actually if you think about it that way, there's logic there as to their business models that you probably don't see.

Lastly, it's just not much of an argument to say that OS X doesn't have TRIM or Media Center, or a 3D API (which in itself is a skewed argument) when it's not something Apple really cares to implement. It's like if I got on MS' case for how limited Media Center is, or for that matter, the entier Windows Live applications, which are garbage and can't imagine anyone here uses that trash, yet they choose not to do anything about. My point was strictly OS level, and usability.

If this were a discussion about Android, you'd be telling me how it's all about the specs, when it has the smallest impact on the average person's user experience, which is the key to Apple's success, and something that people just don't get here, and something you're clearly not capable of whatsoever.


By kaalus on 8/22/2012 9:10:30 AM , Rating: 2
Even in Vista you could still copy the path.

IMO OSX user friendlines is vastly overhyped. It is a mess, without a del key and horrible menu bar at the top that is reducing precious vertical screen space for no reason at all. It doesn't even have proper remote desktop functionality, only some half-assed kludges. I don't see much difference between close and minimize buttons on the windows - none of them actually closes the application. One moves it to the top section of the dock while the other to the bottom. Utterly pointless. Or how do you restore a window to the old size after you maximized it? I'm sure there must be a way, but you probably need PhD to find it. And how do you run two copies of the same application? Again, there must be a way but I've seen people who have been using Mac for months and they could not enlighten me.

Unfortunately I am forced to use OSX because I need to work in Xcode, which sadly cannot be done on Windows or Linux. And I must say - every day with OSX has been a day of pain and cursing. Why people expose themselves to this junk voluntarily escapes me.

Oh, actually I know. In every program on TV where there is a laptop visible, the laptop _must_ have the apple logo emblazoned across the back, or the producer will be history. I have even seen one TV program where an old Dell laptop running Windows XP (clearly visible as the front was shown) has been skinned to look like a macbook by applying a sticker with the apple logo to the back of the screen. I almost laughed my pants off.

I also think that the styling is hideous, with all these tacky wood and metal bitmaps. It's kitch, nothing else.


By GotThumbs on 8/23/2012 2:06:46 PM , Rating: 1
"typical biased, and blind loyalty "

Pot calling the kettle black....

You should have just NOT posted your attempt at bragging.

Were just not interested in what you have to say.

Best wishes and enjoy your Ramon Noodles.


RE: Time constraints on download option
By EnzoFX on 8/21/2012 7:04:09 PM , Rating: 2
as for you not being able to figure out how to copy a file path... I think I know what you're talking about, well that's something that was completely intuitive to me (hint, it's easier than in Win, and no copying is necessary), and that was in 10.3.


By Pirks on 8/21/2012 7:51:16 PM , Rating: 2
Stupid shit with drag'n'dropping file to a terminal window was even more epic fail than I thought. Most weird and uncomfortable way to get file path ever. "Think different" eh :))) hahaha


RE: Time constraints on download option
By Belard on 8/21/2012 7:35:23 PM , Rating: 2
You lost the argument when you said "pwn".


By Helbore on 8/21/2012 5:54:00 PM , Rating: 1
You better stop fapping over those Macs or they won't be working so well in 30 seconds or so.


By damianrobertjones on 8/22/2012 6:41:30 AM , Rating: 1
I read the first four posts which were on topic and sensible then reached yours.

What was your point exactly? That OSX is better? Check the support forums and you'll find legions of people with issues. Please just go back to rendering while the rest of the world carries on


RE: Time constraints on download option
By Uncle on 8/22/2012 11:08:07 AM , Rating: 2
I'm wondering, your piece sounds so much like an ad. Theirs been lots of legit stories of companies paying shills to hype their product. Your remark just seems so perfect compared to the majority.


RE: Time constraints on download option
By Pirks on 8/22/2012 3:09:07 PM , Rating: 1
That's because this "DT majority" is mostly XP using oldfags. Like that infamous dork who posted yesterday about how shitty Win8 is... and then he hyped up his XP 32-bit setup with 16GB of RAM, LOL :)


By Uncle on 8/22/2012 5:55:48 PM , Rating: 2
16 gigs ram that is LOL. Probably bought his computer for future proofing when he decides to move away from XP.LOL


RE: Time constraints on download option
By Wererat on 8/21/2012 4:09:24 PM , Rating: 3
Yes.

"You can create your own installation media on a USB or DVD. During the installation process you are presented with an option to: “Install Now, Install by creating media, or Install later from your desktop”. When you select “Install by creating media”, you will be presented with the options to create USB or DVD installation media. "

http://windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-US/Home/Faq


By Akrovah on 8/21/2012 4:12:19 PM , Rating: 2
Sweet. Thanks for the info!


By TakinYourPoints on 8/21/2012 10:46:52 PM , Rating: 2
You can download an ISO and do a clean install, yes


Even if they PAID ME...
By Tuor on 8/21/2012 4:38:16 PM , Rating: 2
Unless the sum was substantial, of course.

I have no intention of ever installing Win 8 on my machine.




RE: Even if they PAID ME...
By Varun on 8/21/2012 5:05:58 PM , Rating: 2
See you later then.


RE: Even if they PAID ME...
By dark matter on 8/22/2012 4:06:34 AM , Rating: 2
At $199

I imagine he won't be the first, nor the last.

You can buy a tablet for that price.

Show me the market for Windows 8 at that price.


RE: Even if they PAID ME...
By Targon on 8/22/2012 6:59:13 PM , Rating: 2
For Professional, it has always been more expensive than home, and you need to deal with THAT. For Windows 7 Home, it is $200 for Home Premium, and $300 for Professional when it comes to full retail versions. Now, you do have the upgrade editions which are less expensive than that(generally $100 or so for home).

You also need to accept that a tablet with Android has what price for the OS again? How about the iPad, you pay $500 or more, and since Apple does not sell iOS, the price of the OS is spread out in the price of the tablet. So, $200 for a tablet, Android costs $0, and for the iPad, that implies you are paying $300 for the OS?

If you buy a new computer, you will get Windows 8 Home pre-installed for the same price as a Windows 7 machine would cost, so again, where is this "huge" price you are complaining about?


I don't get it
By bug77 on 8/21/2012 4:10:43 PM , Rating: 2
Is the 39.99/69.99 the price of a retail or an upgrade copy?




RE: I don't get it
By Varun on 8/21/2012 4:52:47 PM , Rating: 2
No such thing as retail anymore. All copies are now upgrades or OEM.

So $40 is for an upgrade to W8 Pro from any previous version of Windows.


By dark matter on 8/22/2012 4:05:19 AM , Rating: 2
Yeah, sure, I'm going to spend the same amount on their Operating System as I can on a Google Nexus 7.

That's going to entice people for going with Windows 8, what with it's killer features and all.




Funny!
By Belard on 8/21/12, Rating: -1
RE: Funny!
By kingmotley on 8/21/2012 5:42:23 PM , Rating: 2
Microsoft should sell a line of PC's. Just take one dell system at random, mark it up $500, and then offer $20 OS upgrades for the next 5 years on it to compete with Macs.

Of course, we can compare the cost of Windows to Linux when it's the year of linux on the desktop. Until then, there is nothing to compare.


RE: Funny!
By EnzoFX on 8/21/12, Rating: 0
RE: Funny!
By Belard on 8/21/2012 7:39:26 PM , Rating: 1
MS is a rip off. They sell the OEM to small PC stores for $100~150 each. Yet companies like Dell/HP get to buy it for $30~35 a pop. That is not a leveled playing field. As such, I think it should be illegal.

And then for the end user, Windows is typically a $200~400 OS?! At most, Windows should be $50 with optional paid support.

Thing is, specifically Windows r8pe is over-price at any price.


RE: Funny!
By StevoLincolnite on 8/21/2012 10:40:07 PM , Rating: 2
You don't have to upgrade your PC to Windows 8 when you can buy a copy of Windows 7 much cheaper, Windows 7 is enough OS for years to come anyway.

Conversely you could go with one of the many Linux distro's as a free alternative, so it's not like you don't have choice.


RE: Funny!
By Ringold on 8/21/2012 7:29:36 PM , Rating: 1
OSX is $20 .. and $20 again for every large set of patches, or what MS gives away for free in a service pack. Also good for grandma and college girls that don't really want to use it for anything but facebook and Office, or like being sucked in to their App Store to pay for things that are free in Windows.

Linux is free.. if your time and sanity are worth nothing. People pay for Office over OpenOffice & LibreOffice because most people consider their time not worthless.

I was, until the past couple days, in the camp of people that didnt consider upgrading their existing Win7 machines to Win8. Since then though the reports of improved user experience (minus metro) and improved app performance, plus inherently updated and more secure code all around, has got me seriously considering it. I'm not a poor-ass, nor a sorority girl whose top website is pinterest, so $40 or whatever isn't a lot of money in the scheme of things, especially since I use my home desktop for work on occasion.


RE: Funny!
By Belard on 8/21/2012 7:55:14 PM , Rating: 1
A service pack is nothing more than bug-fixes and security patches. Apple OS does change / add features - some more than others. Those have little to nothing to do with bug-patches.

The feature set of Windows XP SP1 > SP2 > SP3 is not really different. Things like added support for USB2.0 and security functions, that's it. Vista SP1>SP2 changed how the UAE works (a bit) and fixed most of the bugs.

Windows 7 > SP1 changes nothing. Very tiny, not really needed. In fact, some programs don't like SP1.

Each Mac OS-X release is noticeable to the user. And lately, they build a tester with the OS, a person can choose to update the OS, it goes to the APP store, downloads it and installs. Not bad. (Still prefer an ISO IMHO).

I like real discs or flash keys. With a Disc, Win7 and Win r8pe installs in about 12~17 minutes depending on the hardware.


RE: Funny!
By EnzoFX on 8/21/2012 8:10:07 PM , Rating: 2
Oh wow, the service pack argument... way to show your ignorance and stupidity.


RE: Funny!
By Ringold on 8/21/2012 11:34:57 PM , Rating: 4
I've seen various tech blogs, even pro-Mac ones, make the same point/complaint, especially with the most recent release a couple weeks back. That Kool-Aid taste good?

At least I admit Mac's have a perfectly valid place; for social-status conscious college girls. Oh, and grandma.


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