"Upgrade" in the sense of "change" one o/s for a " better" o/s.
Not upgrade in the technical sense that you can perform an in - place or upgrade install.
Exactly the same is true if you buy 7 separately:
There will be pre order deals - you can upgrade ( i.e. change ) from your existing o/s to 7.
You will a get a somewhat reduced price on the pre order deal - for the FULL version.
That will be £99 ( $160 USD ) in the UK for 7 Pro.
That is why it so much more expensive in the EU - you are buying the FULL disc/license.
MS have unilaterally decided not to include IE8 in the discs they ship to Europe.
They are not sure it is safe to perform an upgrade install for those already have IE8 on their current install.
Therefore they only supply Full versions - not upgrade versions.
Not upgrade in the technical sense that you can perform an in - place or upgrade install.
Exactly the same is true if you buy 7 separately:
There will be pre order deals - you can upgrade ( i.e. change ) from your existing o/s to 7.
You will a get a somewhat reduced price on the pre order deal - for the FULL version.
That will be £99 ( $160 USD ) in the UK for 7 Pro.
That is why it so much more expensive in the EU - you are buying the FULL disc/license.
MS have unilaterally decided not to include IE8 in the discs they ship to Europe.
They are not sure it is safe to perform an upgrade install for those already have IE8 on their current install.
Therefore they only supply Full versions - not upgrade versions.