OS and Software → Microsoft > Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if not upgrading from Win 8

Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if not upgrading from Win 8

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Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if you're not upgrading from Windows 8

If you already have Windows 8 installed on your PC, Windows 8.1 will be a free upgrade in the Windows Store. (But if you own a Windows 8 PC, you probably already knew that.) Now, Microsoft has revealed pricing for people who plan on installing Windows 8.1 on a system that currently runs some older version of Windows (i.e., Win 7). If you're just now making the switch (was it the return of the Start button that sold you?) you can expect to pay $120 for Windows 8.1 and $200 for Windows 8.1 Pro. Yep, the same prices you'd currently pay for a copy of Windows 8.

Interestingly, too, Microsoft will be selling so-called full-version software, which means you don't already need to have Windows running on your machine to complete the installation. All told, you'll be able to either download the software from Windows.com, or buy an old-fashioned box set in a retail store, if that's your thing. Whatever your preference, you'll have to wait until October 17th, just like the cool kids who'll be getting it for free.

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Re: Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if you're not upgrading from

I don't get what the big deal is, it's still basically a service pack for win 8, and if you didn't already buy win 8 you have to pay for it either way. I still wouldn't put Win 8 over win 7 anyway.

Now if they make Win 8/8.1 users pay for 8.2 in the future that might make some people grumpy, but Win 8 has an eol of 2023 so unless they cut that back severely it's not like you have to pay to keep using your computer securely.
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I distrust those people who know so well what god wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires- Susan B. Anthony
Yesterday we obeyed kings, and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to the truth- Kahlil G.

Re: Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if not upgrading from Win 8

Its all fairly predictable pricing although I had some small hope that Microsoft would have a small window of promotional pricing for the release of 8.1 that would mirror the Windows 8 introductory price of ~$39.99.

I have a number of licenses already and a Technet subscription (for now) so I don't need any more licenses. It would have been a nice gesture of good will and promotion on the part of Microsoft but whatever,........

The above pricing is a bit distasteful IMO regardless of how well or poorly received a given OS may be. Business as usual though I guess,...

Man did I get a deal at $14.99 when MS ran that promo on the Pro edition.

Re: Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if you're not upgrading from

I thought Microsoft had stated that eol for Windows 8 would be TWO YEARS after the release of 8.1. Thus effectively forcing all Windows 8 users to upgrade whether they want to or not. Is this not true?
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson

This should clear it up:
»windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind···ifecycle
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♬ Dragon of good fortune struggles with the trickster Fox ♬

In particular note:

So, 2024 as eol is meaningless if you have Windows 8 and do NOT upgrade to 8.1. Microsoft is forcing a meaningless, full of hassle upgrade (meaningless for those of us who ONLY use Desktop Windows 8 and who have third party software that fixes all the mess that Win 8 is if you want nothing to do with Metro side).
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson

Remember they are not calling 8.1 a service pack, therefore it's more than likely they will continue support for Win 8, but since it is a free upgrade they still might expect users to get it like it was a service pack. They said you would have to get it from the store so it probably won't appear on Windows Update.

If they don't make 8.1 mandatory in the future their support will get quite convoluted with an expected 10 years of support for every 8.x they release, at least those users who bought 8/8.1 should get it.
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I distrust those people who know so well what god wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires- Susan B. Anthony
Yesterday we obeyed kings, and bent our necks before emperors. But today we kneel only to the truth- Kahlil G.

Re: Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if not upgrading from Win 8

Windows Blog: Pricing and Packaging for Windows 8.1
»blogs.windows.com/windows/b/blog···8-1.aspx
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Gladiator Security Forum

I found this part interesting:

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For non-Windows 8 devices, here is how upgrading to Windows 8.1 using the retail DVD and download software will work:

Windows 7: Consumers can upgrade a Windows 7 PC which will bring along all their files, but will require them to reinstall desktop apps including Microsoft Office.

Windows XP & Windows Vista: Windows 8.1 is not designed for installation on devices running Windows XP or Windows Vista. Although not designed or recommended for devices running Windows XP or Windows Vista, consumers still wanting to upgrade from Windows XP or Windows Vista should buy the retail DVD instead of using the download and boot from the DVD to do a clean install of Windows 8.1. Note: files, settings and programs will not transfer – Consumers will need to back up their files and settings, perform clean installation, and then reinstall their files, settings and programs.

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I think the use of the word 'device' makes it clearer, especially for service providers that have been using the terminology 'user' and 'device' for licensing (CALs) for years, what with all the new technologies that aren't specifically a laptop or a desktop.

Got my Windows 8 at $39. It was a wise decision to upgrade!

I think MS is expecting 8.1 to be a better seller than 8.0, so they priced it accordingly. I have some experience with 8.1, and while it's definitely slightly different from 8.0 -- my opinion is that even if you put lipstick on a pig, it will still be pig.

Personally, I'd say there is at least a 50% chance that at some point there will be a sale at a lower price point. May not be at $40, however.
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Wacky Races 2012!

I think the term "device" in reference to a traditional computer obscures the boundaries between a traditional computer and nontraditional computing device like an ARM based phone / tablet.

But again its a relatively small thing.

Reminds me of Win 98 Second Edition.

Yes, it is very much like the situation with Windows 98 and then 98SE. I bought my first computer supposedly with 98SE but it came with 98 on it. Dell said Microsoft was late in releasing 98SE to OEMs. 98 was mediocre and I had to wait five months before Dell sent me a 98SE Updates disk free of charge. It had only the updates on it (but they were very important to me as I wanted themes). The downside was if 98SE ever needed reinstalling the user had to first install Windows 98 and then install the 98SE updates. It appears the same will be true now. You own a computer that came with Windows 8. You upgrade to 8.1 and then what? Irritating if you ever have to reinstall Windows. Microsoft should support Windows 8 with no upgrades for the full life of Windows 8 as those of us who don't use Metro side at all, and probably never will, and who installed third party software to fix the issues in Windows 8 desktop don't need to upgrade to 8.1 UNLESS Microsoft abandons support for security patches for 8.0 in two years. This sort of FORCED upgrade when Windows 8 is not even one year old is very unfair.

It is particularly confusing, and possibly even more messy, if the owner of a Windows 8 OEM computer got Media Center (during the free offer period) because that changes the owner's Windows 8 key so that it is no longer an OEM key but a Microsoft key and Microsoft has said nothing (in that blog or anywhere I have found) about how we are to upgrade and if Media Center comes along with the upgrade....and will the upgrade give us back our OEM Windows 8 key? Dell says I have an OEM key for Windows 8 Pro but Microsoft says no that I have a Microsoft key.

I'm disgusted.
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson

So people like me for example that have Windows 8 Pro on a usb stick. Will we be able to download 8.1 the same way for free? That would suck having to install 8 first then having to go to the store to install 8.1 on a new install.

Re: Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if you're not upgrading from

Oh come on ,it's a service pack in everything but name only.
Just like the R2 editions of the various server products, Microsoft has now figured out they can charge for what is effectively a minor update to a product.

I hear what you are saying.

However, a service pack is free and Windows 8.1 is free to Windows 8 users. So no one is being charged for the update regardless of what it is being called. People who don't have Windows 8 are being charged the same amount for Windows 8.1 as they would have for Windows 8. So again nothing odd going on there.

Microsoft is simply attempting to look and act like Apple in various ways and with varying degrees of success.

Re: Windows 8.1 will start at $120 if not upgrading from Win 8

I am curious how much better it will be than classic shell in making 8 more easier to use for most, and also what the experience will be like to uninstall it if needed. I think I will clone my harddrive pre-8.1 just in case.

I echo everyone else here in saying that buying that 39.00 introductory offer from MS for 8 was one of the best deals I've had in a long time, I'm thankful I got it then for that good price.

All I'll say is if my 8.0/8.1 has support until 2023 I wouldn't buy 8.2 just for IE 12

So if I understand this there's no upgrade path from W7, whether you have it or not you'll pay $120/200 for a full license W8. Is that correct ?

There *is* an upgrade path, it's just not free, or cheap ($40) any more.