QOTD: Do You Think Windows 7 Prices Are Fair?

From what I've seen on other tech news sites, the general outrage is at the $320 price point on Ultimate... even though really, home premium is more than enough for the average user.

Plus, given the lifespan this OS will likely see (I'm expecting it to last almost as long as XP), the value is rather nice.

I'll be purchasing it on day 1, that's for sure.

Not worth the upgrade from vista IMO. I only ever use Windows for gaming, for everything else I use openSUSE. I have never really had any problems with Vista after i got the security disabled and correct drivers installed. I find that linux is just so much quicker than windows, makes simple tasks even easier and complex ones easier too.

If you're in the US perhaps...

once more though the EU does its best to destroy progress

next only allowed to buy PC's of a certain shape size and color or its not a pc?

I think it's fair. Provided people actually LET Windows 7 take hold, it should be here for the longrun. Innevitably though, the world will continue to clutch XP forever more. I dispair really.

I won't even begin to comment on your comment, Hammeh... needless to say I'd exercise extreme caution in putting the words 'Linux' and 'easy' in the same sentence. The demographics would argue.

I will probably buy the full retail home premium.

The prices may be right for U.S and Western Europe but in developing countries people will still download the illegal copy. The price of the Professional edition is around half their monthly salary (the average wage is 400 euros/mo in most eastern dev. countries). And now we can't even upgrade.

But who cares man... most of their sales are in the US and UK. They could, at least, offer some cheaper edition if they don't like us cracking their OS. Is that hard for a multi-billion dollar corporation? I know, I know... they don't give a rats a**. No one does.

Well I brought Vista. Don't really have a problem with it, and windows seven seems to be about interface, help sharing files and touch screens. None of which are things I care to pay for over what vista offers.

The prices are daft, I have a PC and a laptop, and my GF has a laptop that would be $360 to upgrade all 3 if i lived in the states... It will be a lot more for me here in the UK...

You know what I think we will just be sticking with Vista until we need to replace our machines....

I think half that price for a single license would be good value for money, and 3 keys for the stated price would make it a fairly straight forward decision to upgrade rather than a straight forward decision to stick with what we already have.

When is W7SP1 due? Might think about it then. You know it will be all be pain before then, it is just that Vista makes it look good.

No. If you compare the prices against what I've paid for OS X since 2001 Microsoft is hideously expensive.

Leopard was very good and the tweaked version is just 30USD.

Given Win 7 is a tune-up of a poor operating system, upgrading my Vista Box is a rip-off.

The prices of software like this are ludicrous! Windows pricing should range from £19.99 for the lowest version up to £99.99 for the dearest! They would sell way more, be pirated less and get a lot more respect from people. With Linux being free or nearly so, Mac OS X being offered cheap in many places and a global recession Microsoft needs to rethink it's sales strategy! The everyday home consumer can not justify spending that sort of money on software. For many home users software is seen in a similar vain to DVDs or games. Most people begrudge the high price of both of those and they are usually under £50 let alone the £200 Microsoft wants.

I am currently using the Windows 7 Release Candidate and loving it BUT at this price I am seriously considering going back to my old copy of XP.

At those prices, i'm definantly in no rush. My only reason to upgrade from vista to windows 7 will be for when the OS supports the new 6 and 12 cores from intel and amd, these cores processors supposedly are comming out around 2010-2011.

Even then I'll wait a yr or 2 after those cpus are released so they can improve on the power and efficiantcy.

No, but thats life!

I belive that they should dispense with the price tiering and provide full versions to upgrade prices. In reality, most buyers will be existing users and although entitled to the upgrade prefer the full version so installation can be made from scratch.

If they really want Windows7 to get it flying out the doors, maybe M$ should offer Ultimate Full version at £99 for the first three months. I'd but 3 copies on that basis.

Yes.
They can charge whatever they want...Dont buy it if You dont like it.

cby34....No m/s doesnt care....hmmm,how much did the Bill and malinda Gates foundation donate to 3rd world last year alone?
look it up.I bet its more than most EU members donate.
Gee i bet XP will work just fine for poor nations.

Cant really comment as Toms Worldwide has seen fit once again to only quote the mighty $ and all else go hang. Yes i can convert it myself but if i was publishing worldwide i would include more than one price on everything.
I don't understand why the upgrade and full versions are so different, you do end up with the same thing at the end of the day and the discs are all the same anyway. Or are upgrade discs different ? which would mean setting up different facilities to produce them and then it seems charge the people who are buying the cheapest most cost effective to produce discs more ???

Mactronix

I think MS knows something about US economy that is still secret... > $300 for an OS will either be close to nothing in October 09 or they just want to earn the money on "7" coz Vista was sooooo crap... either way - prices are NOT fair... as someone said - Ultimate should go for $99 full stop!