Microsoft Details Windows 8 Upgrade Program for Consumers - joneshany1989

Microsoft provided on Friday Sir Thomas More details about the Windows 8 OS upgrade program for consumers who buy out Windows 7 PCs, clarifying certain dates, offer limits, and affect on the company's accounting.

The Windows 8 operating organization is in its final stages of development and may ship toward the end of this year. But Microsoft doesn't require consumers to hold off on purchasing Windows 7 PCs in the lag.

Promote Offer for PC Buyers

That's where the Windows Upgrade Offer comes in. Announced happening Thursday along with the a la mode test version of Windows 8, the Windows Climb Offer will let buyers of Windows 7 PCs upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for US$14.99.

Microsoft hasn't unconcealed retail prices for quai-wrapped, standalone versions of Windows 8, only the equivalent to Windows 8 In favor of is Windows 7 Professional, which is priced at $199.99.

To qualify for the discount, consumers must steal a new Windows 7 PC between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2022. They will have until February 28, 2022, to download the Windows 8 Pro upgrade. The offer is available in 131 markets.

The maximum number of new Windows 7 PCs a consumer can buy as part of the program is five. Windows 7 editions that dispose for the offer are Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate. That leaves out of this offer's scope Windows 7 Starter, which is the nearly basic for consumers, and Windows 7 Enterprise, which is intentional for workplace PCs.

Nonetheless, customers don't need to apply the Windows 8 upgrade to the corresponding Windows 7 PC they bought during the offer period. If they take up an elderly PC running, for example, Windows XP, they tail end opt to forget Windows 7 on the new PC and upgrade the old one to Windows 8 victimization the upgrade download.

Hints of a Holiday Bringing

Microsoft hasn't given a specific date for shipping Windows 8, but the company said past week that if the testing and development process continues at its topical pace, the OS should personify available for this holiday shopping season.

Microsoft has through with similar programs to this one for previous Windows upgrades, but a change this time around is that the company will be in charge of the redemption operation, meaning it will verify eligibility, handle payments, deliver the software and allow for support. Antecedently, OEMs and past third parties were involved in the process.

For its fourth financial quarter, which ends June 30, Microsoft plans to put over taxation recognition of 'tween US$450 million and $550 million as part of the program. The receipts recognition deferral will not affect cash flows from operations, according to the company.

Juan Carlos Victor Maria de Borbon y Borbon Perez covers enterprise communicating/collaboration suites, operational systems, browsers and general-purpose technology breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Juan on Twitter at @JuanCPerezIDG.