Windows 8 Pre-Orders Start; $39.99 Download Option on October 26th
by Ryan Smith on October 15, 2012 12:10 PM ESTWith Windows 8 officially launching in under two weeks, Microsoft and its retail partners have finally begun taking pre-orders for Windows 8. As with prior Windows pre-order promotions, several retailers are participating, including a number of brick & mortar retailers along with e-tailers such as Newegg, Amazon, and even Microsoft’s own online store.
Microsoft will essentially be handling the launch of Windows 8 in two phases: pre-order and launch. The pre-order phase is primarily geared towards buyers looking for boxed copies of Windows and with delivery on the 26th; unsurprisingly these boxed copies are priced notably higher than Microsoft’s download options. As for buyers looking to take advantage of Microsoft’s previously announced $39.99 download offer, that promotion will not begin until the launch on the 26th when Windows 8 actually ships. On that note, as previously announced both the boxed and download copies will be offered with promotional pricing, with Microsoft and its partners selling the upgrades at a significant discount until January 31, 2013.
| Windows 8 SKUs | ||||||||
| Windows 8 Upgrade | Windows 7/Vista/XP Upgrade | Full Version | Price | |||||
| Windows 8 Pro Pack | X | - | - | $69 | ||||
| Windows 8 Pro Upgrade (Boxed) | - | X | - | $69 | ||||
| Windows 8 Pro Upgrade (Download) | - | X | - | $39 | ||||
| Windows 8 (Core) OEM | - | - | X | $99 | ||||
| Windows 8 Professional OEM | - | - | X | $139 | ||||
For buyers looking for physical copies, retailers are taking pre-orders for both upgrade and full editions of Windows 8. For Windows X/Vista/7 users Microsoft is offering a single upgrade package, the Windows 8 Professional Upgrade, which has a list price of $99 but is being offered at $69 for the life of the promotion. Meanwhile the download version that will be made available on the 26th will have a $39 promotional price, putting a $30 premium on boxed copies.
As for Windows 8 (core) users – primarily those who buy computers with Windows 8 pre-installed – Microsoft is offering the Windows 8 Pro Pack upgrade for upgrading a Windows 8 (core) installation to Windows 8 Pro. Like the Win7 upgrade, this too is being offered at a promotional price of $69 with a list price of $99.
Finally, full versions of both Windows 8 (core) and Windows 8 are also being offered for pre-order, but only in OEM form at this time. There isn’t a publicly announced discount on these, so the list price of $99 for Windows 8 (core) and $139 for Windows 8 Professional should be the final price, which also closely matches the price for OEM copies of Windows 7. We haven’t seen retail full versions of Windows 8 appear for sale yet, and while there are rumors going around that Windows 8 will be OEM-only, it has not been confirmed by Microsoft.
Source: Microsoft
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steven75 - Monday, October 15, 2012 - link
My favorite is the ads shown in the Metro (Modern) weather app even though you paid for the OS.atata - Monday, October 15, 2012 - link
I want to know whether they will offer full retail box version.I know there's been some information that they won't, and that is not good.
OEM version basically forbids you from changing motherboard forever according to license. I want actual full version.
vicbee - Monday, October 15, 2012 - link
Isn't $39.99 closer to $40 than $39?Belard - Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - link
Yep! But it seems to fool stupid people!colonelpepper - Monday, October 15, 2012 - link
Vista --> Win 7 Professionalthat's what i'll be using this "Win 8" upgrade for.
The upgrade key can be used to activate a Windows 7 License.
My home theater PC is going to be so nice with Win 7... and for $39 only!!!
B3an - Monday, October 15, 2012 - link
Win 8 is FAR better than 7 for a home theatre PC. And if you get the $39.99 upgrade from MS you also get the Windows Media Center add-on for free.You'd be a fool to use Win 7. It's slower, uses more RAM and there will definitely be many Win 8 apps for video/media coming. Netflix already have an app.
Belard - Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - link
That is only your opinion.Uh... other than boot up, in WHAT way is Win7 slower or uses more memory? I just dropped 16GB of RAM into my 1+ week old new WIN7 setup for $80.
Oh, it came with Media Center on the disc / during install.
B3an - Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - link
No it's more a fact.Win 7 uses more memory for EVERYTHING as it uses more memory by default. If you have a fresh install of both OS's then get up task manager you'll see that 8 uses considerably less memory and processes. This is well known. With just 1GB RAM win 8 will use roughly 125MB less. With 16GB is will use way less. And with 32GB like i have it uses a ton less than 7.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/archive/2011/10/07/redu...
And 8 is faster at many things, as benchmarks show. Even web browsers perform faster on Win 8. Video acceleration for certain file types also uses less CPU.
Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer - Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - link
http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2001/12/10As relevant then as it is now. :-P
imaheadcase - Tuesday, October 16, 2012 - link
You have ZERO idea what you are talking about. The benchmarks dont' show it faster than anyone will even know. Its like comparing 150fps to 145fps in a game. Its nill.You lost all credit when you said web browsers will perform better.