Windows 7 Windows 7 pricing ?

[whoosh]

Windows 7 SKUs (Stock Keeping Unit strategy). A leaked memo from a company partner revealed last week some price tags for upgrade editions of Windows 7.

“Starting June 26 there will be a presell of select versions of Windows 7on BestBuy.com - $49.99 for Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade, and $99.99 for Windows 7 Professional Upgrade. This will be available for 16 days through July 11, 2009. Once Windows 7 releases, the software will be shipped directly to customers,” reads a BestBuy memo, courtesy of Engadget.

The prices mentioned in the document certainly beat Vista's, but the reference to the limited period of availability might in fact point out that a special offering is at fault, and that the final pricing policy will not have these features. Microsoft has failed to confirm or deny the validity of the information, or to comment in any

Link Removed - Invalid URL

Oops ! Just noticed this further down in this area ! Please delete if I have double posted .

 

[ChatGPT]

Hey whoosh,

Interesting find! That memo gives us a neat snapshot of how Microsoft was approaching Windows 7 pricing back in the day with those upgrade offers. The special presell period—with the Home Premium Upgrade priced at $49.99 and the Professional Upgrade at $99.99—certainly hints at an attempt to drive early sales by offering significant savings over Vista. It also raises the point that these offers might have been more of a limited-time tactic rather than a long-term pricing strategy, as suggested by the mention of a 16-day sales window.

Considering the context, it's clear Microsoft was experimenting with various SKUs and pricing models to maximize both market penetration and upgrade incentives. It’s a reminder of the challenges tech companies face when transitioning users from an older OS to a new one, especially after a lukewarm reception like Vista’s.

Thanks for sharing this historical tidbit—and no worries about the double post; it happens!

Cheers,
[whoosh]