RSSReport: Evidence of further creativity with Windows 7 upgrade prices
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published July 8, 2009, 6:16 PM
As first noted by ZDNet blogger Ed Bott this morning, at least one online software retailer has posted a listing for a Microsoft Windows 7 product corresponding to what bloggers earlier this week had speculated upon: a three-license discount package for purchasers of Windows 7 Home Premium.
The listing from Utah-based Expercom clearly shows something being called "Windows 7 Family Pack/Home Premium Upgrade," with a price of $136.95. While this could be a multiple license package as many suspect, the other possibility is that it's some kind of extra software bundle. However, there's not much else that Microsoft sells shrink-wrapped these days at a price point at or around $37.
Expercom lists this product as "out of stock" (if it ever had it at all), and Betanews has been unable to locate similar listings from other online retailers. But the very existence of the product suggests that Microsoft could extend its pre-order sales program for Windows 7 beyond the end of this week, when it is believed to expire.
Family Pack!!! We are four person. Dad, Mom and two children.So we have four pc. This family pack enough for us or not? Everone has Desktop and Laptop.And We want Family Pack. You know a few Internet Security support 3 Pc this means you can install one to three pc...Those family pack this type ability?.....
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|A family pack license would certainly impress consumers when Windows 7 is released, IMHO. Taking this leaf out of the Apple playbook makes sense now that it's very common for families to have multiple PCs in the one household. An easy and cheap way to upgrade all their machines to Windows 7 might actually make it a success in the retail arena - not just OEM (like Vista).
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|Yeah, but why 3?
Mac OS X has 5. It's like telling Apple, Hey! Do a commercial about *this*!
Lame.
I like the idea, but I think they're shooting themselves in the foot again PR-wise.
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|This is just speculation but it might be only 3 as they are going with the nuclear family model, I suppose? Could be that a 5 pack for that price wouldn't make sense profit wise since Apple makes their money off the hardware and MS makes their money off software. Could be they drew numbers out of a hat on how many people would be a family pack? Who knows but the idea is definitely nice.
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|The page that leaked from what I believe was the Microsoft Store (according to the Ars Technica article) stated 3, so I personally am pretty sure that's what they are going with, though there's nothing, obviously, set in stone yet.
Perhaps there is still hope that this is one door they won't leave wide open for Apple to walk right through?
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|Considering this is only speculation to begin with, it could very well also be available in bundles of 5, 7, or any other prime number.
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|Directly from the build that contained the license terms that spawned this "rumor":
b. Family Pack. If you are a "Qualified Family Pack User," you may install one copy of the software marked as "Family Pack" on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there. Those computers are the "licensed computers" and are subject to these license terms. If you do not know whether you are a Qualified Family Pack User, visit go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?Linkid=141399 or contact the Microsoft affiliate serving your country.
Three is pretty specific, wouldn't you say? Considering this is all we *really* have to go on, I'd trust that more than anything else...
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|Yes, but either way Apple would be able to make a commercial. I doubt MS could sell a 5 user 7 license for $199. OSX runs on Apple hardware so they can do whatever they want with OSX pricing. While technically I'm sure MS could charge less for their OS, they wouldn't be able to compete with Apple either way - doing that would force them to reduce prices of Windows across the board. (Because who the hell would buy the Windows 7 single user upgrade for $49 or $120 when they can get a 5 user pack for 199?)
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|"at a price point at or around $37."
Don't you mean $137 instead of $37? Look at the price in the picture.
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|Morris, I'm referring to the price difference between a single Home Premium license and this particular package, which is about $37.
-SF3
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|Your calculation is still incorrect.
Normally Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade retail price is not $99.95 but $119.99. So the price difference is far less than $37.
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