Microsoft Planning Windows Vista Upgrade Coupons

[dbarrow]

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4452


...Microsoft is planning an upgrade program for those who purchase new PCs this holiday season. According to Information Week, the upgrade coupons will either be free or provide discounted pricing:

Customers who buy systems running Windows XP Home Edition can upgrade to Vista Home Basic Edition for a flat $49 fee and to the higher-end Windows Vista Home Premium Edition for a cost of $79.

The Windows Vista Technology Upgrade Program runs from Oct. 26, 2006, through March 15, 2007. Distributors are expected to have the new SKUs in house for system builders by Oct. 15.

Microsoft has not officially announced the coupon program, but has commented that it is currently working with its partners on a plan for such an offer.

*Otherwise to be called "Buy now, farkle later"
Wonder if they plan to have a "returns window" for the week after Christmas return of things that don't work.

[dbarrow]

MS to Offer Free, Discounted Vista
http://www.betanews.com/article/MS_to_Offer_Free_Discounted_Vista/1160157828

Microsoft is set to offer either free or discounted Vista upgrades to those who purchase new computers during the holiday season, press reports indicate. To qualify for the coupons, a PC would need to be purchased after October 28 of this year, and the upgrade would be good through March 15, 2007. ...
...For example, those who have Widows XP Professional, XP Tablet PC Edition, and XP x64 Edition would be entitled to the free upgrade. Those using Windows XP Home would be permitted to upgrade to Vista Basic for $49 and Premium for $79. No upgrade price was specified for Media Center Edition. ...

*Clever move by M$
Buy a new machine with XP now and get free move to Vista later

Or... do they fear XP users won't migrate to Vista and see this as a means to ignite the fire?

[Pi rules]

Not a bad move, but it won't increase sales to what they were expected if Vista would have shipped during the holiday season.

But, what about those who build their computers. :ohwell: ;)

[dbarrow]

Vista Holiday Promotions Announced
http://www.betanews.com/article/Vista_Holiday_Promotions_Announced/1160667536

*In an effort to make Santa's trip a little more fuel efficient this year, M$ hopes he will be carrying a lot of empty boxes containing an IOU for Vista. Or as Gates must have put it to staff "Oh crap! we missed Christmas!"