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What Price Point Should Microsoft Set for Windows 7?

January 22, 2009 4:06:16 PM from JoeUser ForumsJoeUser Forums

The momentum for Windows 7 continues to build, and it seems so far that Microsoft is doing a  good job at redeeming the Windows name after Vista.  Windows 7 is fast, seemingly very stable, application compatibility seems good, and the reaction from the tech community and media is far more favorable than it has been in the past couple of years.

So the technical side of Windows 7 is going pretty well, and we haven’t seen much out of marketing yet, but there have been many discussions online about how much Windows 7 will actually cost consumers.  Some have suggested it should be free, which is quite ridiculous, and others speculate it will be similar to what Windows Vista was.

One of my biggest displeasures with Windows Vista wasn’t so much on the technical side, as it was with the actual price and the lack of license bundles.  With some Vista licenses averaging out around $200, it just wasn’t economically feasible to outfit my entire house with copies of Vista, which I would have liked to have done.  I have roughly 5 PC’s in my house, so give or a take a bit, it could have easily cost over $1000 to get my home setup with Vista. 

Now I certainly don’t expect Windows 7 to be free, but I’m now wondering how Microsoft will set the pricing for new and upgrade purchases.  I really hope it reasonably priced, because going too high will have a real negative impact in my opinion.  I would like to see a simple upgrade from either Vista or XP for $99, with a 3-license family pack for $150.  I think that would be very competitive, and get even more people to upgrade.

What do you think?

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Island Dog
Tailsgirl
Join Date 12/2008
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Reply #1 January 22, 2009 4:14:23 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I can answer that ID---> GRATIS

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Island Dog
HG_Eliminator
Join Date 07/2002
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Reply #2 January 22, 2009 4:18:12 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

With having to deal with the agony of win ME and now fighting with Vista half the time over control of my PC, I think they owe me one.

But I would settle for it being reasonably priced rather than the few hundred dollars they typically put on an OS.

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Island Dog
Spartan
Join Date 03/2006
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Reply #3 January 22, 2009 4:18:42 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

The bastards charged me over one thousand dollars for two copies of Ultimate Vista. The next version of that type had better be far cheaper. As far as I'm concerned I have not gotten my monies worth. M$ should give me a free copy of W7.

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Tailsgirl
Join Date 12/2008
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Reply #4 January 22, 2009 4:27:30 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Spartan,
reply 3
The bastards charged me over one thousand dollars for two copies of Ultimate Vista.
whoa................ that's a little steep!

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Island Dog
Spartan
Join Date 03/2006
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Reply #5 January 22, 2009 4:35:56 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Quoting Tailsgirl,
reply 4
whoa................ that's a little steep!

Day one early adopter - gouged on price; always...

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Island Dog
Windexglow
Join Date 07/2007
+3
Reply #6 January 22, 2009 4:37:12 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

You're fault for getting it.  It's only worth the cost if you really need it.

 

But yes, vista probably sold enough to make up the production cost and than some - since windows 7 is largely based off vista, it should be a bit cheaper. 

 

Besides, our economy isn't doing too well, edging near 'suicical' if you want everyone to upgrade again and costing them several hundred $$

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Island Dog
CarGuy1
Join Date 03/2007
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Reply #7 January 22, 2009 4:54:01 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

It should be a service pack for Vista but I doubt that would happen.

I would think the price would be alot less than Vista. Microsoft needs a large volumn of sales to help them through the recession. 

If you have'nt heard, Microsoft layed off 5000 employees today.

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Island Dog
Spartan
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Reply #8 January 22, 2009 5:06:32 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

I would love to see a full license upgrade* for VU users for less than $100. That would make things alright in my mind between me and M$.

 

* I want to be able to install W7 cherry from the disk with ONLY the UV key and the W7 key needed. I cant stand the "install the old system first then install the upgrade" crap they have going now. This is especially irking when the entire system is on the disk in the first place.

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Island Dog
Lord Reliant
Join Date 03/2006
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Reply #9 January 22, 2009 5:21:32 PM
from Stardock ForumsStardock Forums

My preference would be:

*Exisiting Vista users- smaller upgrade cost, maybe $50 or so;  this would help to redeem Microsoft in the light of how poor of a job they did releasing Vista

*XP users- a much higher cost, since 7 will be a much more improved OS, having the good things of Vista combined with the improvements in 7, too.  Maybe no real migration path here, or not much different than an outright purchase?

My hope would also be that there aren't tons of different flavors.  Vista Home Basic is a joke, and does there really need to be a difference between Enterprise and Business?  I also wish they wouldn't release a 32-bit version, as any machines that would realistically run 7 would be 64-bit capable anyway.

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DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
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Reply #10 January 22, 2009 5:39:34 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Gratis would be great, TG- from your keyboard right to G-d's ear. I'd take that one in a N.Y. second. Spartan- I feel your pain...especially since Vista had so many problems...so I side on that part of it with HG_E.

Realistically though Lord Reliant is probably closer to the mark...but as for "much higher"...dunno. Folks hold onto computers a while especially in these times, so I'd expect a smaller jump on that one. As for 32 vs. 64 bit? I'll leave to you guys who are more savvy than I.

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Island Dog
Philocthetes
Join Date 10/2003
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Reply #11 January 22, 2009 5:55:20 PM
from GalCiv II ForumsGalCiv II Forums

I'm a formal opponent of (c) for software, but I'm also a pragmatist and something of a student of Microsoft license 'offerings.'

I agree that Vista rhetorically deserves a reduced upgrade cost, but doing that for real would put an unfair burden on people who don't know or care much about version histories and are still running XP with no idea it has more name after Windows. If you know enough to gripe in detail about Vista, you're in a pretty small minority of the total IT market.

That stuff aside, I believe that given the current economy plus the kerfuffles associated with Vista, something along the lines of a modest price cut would be good both for business and for customers.

In particular, I agree that the plain-folks license bundle is long overdue. 3 for $150 is a tidy place to start, but I'd also like to see something like 3 for $150 + $30 for each additional (up to say 10?) shipped to the same residential address. I'd accept the idea that workplace SKUs (Windows 7 Business) might need a slightly higher sticker, but even massive organizations are suffering in this economy, so an across-the-board modest price reduction might provide some real stimulus to new PC sales for all market segments.

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ZubaZ
Join Date 11/2001
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Reply #12 January 22, 2009 5:56:16 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

As much as I use PCs and to the extent that each revision is better than the last I think that $200 is reasonable for a single license.

I think though, that license packs are the way to go for mass adoption.  Provide a steep discount for a 5-pack and sales will go up and volume will make up the difference.

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k10w3
Join Date 11/2007
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Reply #13 January 22, 2009 5:57:06 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 10
TG- from your keyboard right to G-d's ear.


Is that whose running Microsoft now?

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Island Dog
vStyler
Join Date 11/2004
+919
Reply #14 January 22, 2009 6:02:55 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

I'd go 20 bucks..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

maybe.

 

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Island Dog
The_Regicide
Join Date 02/2005
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Reply #15 January 22, 2009 6:30:22 PM
from Sins of a Solar Empire ForumsSins of a Solar Empire Forums

Well let's see...

I am a student with an MSDN account, soI can use whatever OS want to through MSDN. This includes everything up to Vista Ultimate. So the price is, to me, irrelevant

What would I pay for an OS? Let's say I'd consider anything up to 100$, but not more than that. XP x64 works so well that it's just pointless to pay to upgrade to anything else in the Windows family. Even if I wanted to upgrade to something newer, I guess Vista Ultimate with SP 1 would provide adequade entertainment until 7 is up for grabs on MSDN.

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Island Dog
Philly0381
Join Date 11/2004
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Reply #16 January 22, 2009 6:43:02 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Okay The_Regicide in a few words, what is a MSDN account?  Only for students?

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Tailsgirl
Join Date 12/2008
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Reply #17 January 22, 2009 6:45:09 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

 

Quoting k10w3,
reply 13


Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 10
TG- from your keyboard right to G-d's ear.


Is that whose running Microsoft now?

Who, God? LMAO!

Wouldn't surprise me, he and Bill are probably in this together

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Island Dog
DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
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Reply #18 January 22, 2009 6:51:52 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting k10w3,
reply 13
Quoting DrJBHL, reply 10TG- from your keyboard right to G-d's ear.


Is that whose running Microsoft now?

Meant as a prayer ... LOL ... i.e. "It should only come true." But if G-d were running M$, would there be 5,000 layoffs?

Back to topic:

MSDN is for Devs (Microsoft Developers Network  HERE)...and you have to prove it, Philly....alas.

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Philly0381
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Reply #19 January 22, 2009 6:56:00 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

MSDN is for students and educational organizations...and you have to prove it, Philly....alas

So lets see, Stardock is trying to teach me how to skin, and I'm trying to learn.  Think anyone would buy that piece of bu......

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DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
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Reply #20 January 22, 2009 6:57:00 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Tailsgirl,
reply 17
 Quoting k10w3, reply 13

Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 10
TG- from your keyboard right to G-d's ear.


Is that whose running Microsoft now?



Who, God? LMAO!

Wouldn't surprise me, he and Bill are probably in this together

TG: Naaaah....Bill's richer. LOL!

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Island Dog
DrJBHL
Join Date 04/2002
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Reply #21 January 22, 2009 6:57:56 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting Philly0381,
reply 19
MSDN is for students and educational organizations...and you have to prove it, Philly....alas

So lets see, Stardock is trying to teach me how to skin, and I'm trying to learn.  Think anyone would buy that piece of bu......

Philly you were too quick for my miserable typing "skills" ( )...I edited that after I posted it...please take a look.

But that was a great answer!

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Island Dog
psychoak
Join Date 07/2007
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Reply #22 January 22, 2009 7:28:49 PM
from Elemental ForumsElemental Forums

Microsoft developer network.  Anyone that's willing to pay for one can get a subscription.  He's probably getting it on the cheap through degree associated fees.

 

Edit: Ok, leaving and coming back to hit reply was stupid...

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Island Dog
vStyler
Join Date 11/2004
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Reply #23 January 22, 2009 7:36:13 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

MS just laid off a bunch of folks, first time ever...

Don't expect price breaks.

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Tailsgirl
Join Date 12/2008
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Reply #24 January 22, 2009 7:39:58 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

Quoting DrJBHL,
reply 20


Is that whose running Microsoft now?


Who, God? LMAO!

Wouldn't surprise me, he and Bill are probably in this together



TG: Naaaah....Bill's richer. LOL!

 

I wonder if God Googles... ... no offense to God

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Island Dog
Fuzzy Logic
Join Date 05/2002
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Reply #25 January 22, 2009 7:50:24 PM
from WinCustomize ForumsWinCustomize Forums

If W7 has the same abomination of a start menu as Vista, they will have to pay me to use it...

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