Microsoft prices Windows 8.1
By: Arie Slob
Last Tuesday, in a blog post on Microsoft's Windows.com website, Senior Marketing Communications Manager Brandon LeBlanc announced Microsoft's Pricing and Packaging for Windows 8.1.
For existing Windows 8 users all things remain the same: Windows 8.1 will be a free update via an easy download from the Windows Store starting on October 18th*.
A new copy of Windows 8.1, either as a download from Windows.com or at your local store as a retail packaged DVD product will be available for $119.99 ERP (U.S.) and Windows 8.1 Pro will be available for $199.99 ERP (U.S.).
Both versions will go on sale Oct. 17 in the U.S. The Windows 8.1 Pro Pack, which upgrades Windows 8.1 to the Pro version, will sell for $99.99.
A noticeable change is that the Windows 8.1 version is "full version software" at retail and online for download that does not require a previous version of Windows in order to be installed. The copy of Windows 8 that is currently available for sale at retail and online is an "upgrade version."
If you are an existing Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 user and would want to get Windows 8.1, you could save about $120 by buying a copy of Windows 8 now at retail and then moving to Windows 8.1 for free.
Amazon US currently sells the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade for $78.75
As noted above, Windows 8.1 is a free upgrade for current Windows 8 users, so you can get Windows 8.1 Pro for under $80.
If you run Microsoft's Windows 8 Upgrade advisor you can check your hardware and software compatibility.
If you need information on how to do a clean install with the Windows 8 upgrade, read my article How to do a clean Install with the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade.
* Starting at 12:00am on October 18th in New Zealand (that's 4:00am October 17th in Redmond).