Windows Vista - upgrade costs?

[Parm]

With Windows Vista's launch just around the corner now, have the prices been listed for the upgrade versions? I could have sworn I saw it on these very forums at some point but can't seem to track it down again.

I'm currently using Windows XP MCE and I'm itching to get my hands on Vista and will be upgrading at the soonest possible opportunity. I don't know what it is about new OS's that gets me so excited but I'm really looking forward to it.

[ExceededGoku]

Yeah Vista is really awesome, but prices are looking extortionate atm...

[Silent Shark]

I have my Vista disk in my hands (MSDNAA subscription), but apparently, there is a problem at Microsoft, and I can only get a key for the 'N' version!

I'm not sure what to do now. My current XP installation is dying and getting worse by the minute. I really need to re-install but I don't want to put XP on again, just to take it off a few days later :S . I really really want to get on Vista now. I know there will be troubles to begin with, but I'm prepared for that. I'll dual-boot a small XP installation to get me through the transition period.

Anyway, upgrade prices roughly converted from the US price are:
Home Basic - £50
Home Premium - £81
Business - £100
Ultimate - £131

...add the customary £20 "magic UK conversion" increase on that and you're looking at about £80-£150 for an upgrade.

Just my less-then-educated guess.

[TheAnimus]

don't forget the RAM.

2gig absolute minimum personally i think.

There where some upgrade voucher OEM versions of XP going around the bargin forum a while back, might be worth seeing if those are still going?

[Parm]

Silent Shark, those Upgrade prices don't sound too bad.

I only purchased Windows XP MCE a few months ago, should have just waited really. Oh well, at least I'll be able to use it to take the cheaper upgrade path to Vista.

Has an actual retail date been set for consumers yet? Last I heard it was January 2007 but that's a little vague now that it's only a month away.

[Steve B]

i think theres some pricing on amazon thats got dates, not sure though

[Silent Shark]

Dates I believe are locked in at January 30th 2007 for all versions bar Business and Enterprise, which have technically already been released (to Microsoft partners etc (that includes me ). They will be on general release at the January date).

[ajbrun]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-Wi...TF8&s=software

£369.99 retail for vista ultimate on amazon .

[Parm]

Is it possible to pre-order the upgrade version from anywhere?

[Koolpc]

Check out this price!! Yikes:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Microsoft-Wi...TF8&s=software

Rediculous price. I want to get Vista but not at that price!! Hope that is wrong and it comes down a lot.

[TheAnimus]

You know thats the "premium" edition right?

[ExceededGoku]

premium edition might as well be the basic edition in my eyes.. im still set on getting ultimate edition but I cannot afford it at that price.

[Koolpc]

You know thats the "premium" edition right?

Yea. Stupidly high price.

[ajbrun]

Any idea how much the OEM versions will be?

[TheAnimus]

Yea. Stupidly high price.

yup!

Myself I will probably use premium, as i assume i will get a license for it from one of my MS memberships, but propbably only 1 license... tight fisted people!

The rest will be business basic, except for my media PC.

I really hope they give home customers encryption support in NTFS, as if you've got that, home basic is probably all you need.

But even then, one thing i like about MS OS's is they last quite a long time.

RISC OS, for instance used to require very expensive upgrades all the time. MAC OS charges £100 a whack for what really should be a free service pack.

What i'm getting at is assuming a 3 year life span (XP has had 5 now) Its not a bad price at all, £70 per year is very reasonable.

[ikonia]

well consider Redhat Enterprise 4 workstation at roughly £35 per year to get the updates, and how dated thats been. If you had had that for its life span I would be unhappy paying £35 per year for the last two years with all the features its lacked.