Windows 8 upgrade to cost US $39.99

Microsoft has finally shed some light on Windows 8 upgrade pricing, or the cost of upgrading Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 OS to the upcoming Windows 8, and the actual price is surprisingly low.

According to the info over at The Windows Blog, the online version of the upgrade will go for as low as US $39.99 for Windows 8 Pro. The packaged/retail DVD version will be rolling out for slightly higher US $69.99. According to Microsoft, the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant will check to make sure that your PC is ready for Windows 8 and let you save all your Windows settings, personal files and apps in case you are switching from any consumer of Windows 7.

Those with Windows XP will only be able to bring personal files while Vista users will get Windows settings and personal files. After purchase and settings, the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant will kick of the download. There is also an option of creating your own bootable USB or .ISO file to burn on the DVD or you can purchase a backup DVD for US $15 + shipping.

Of course, Microsoft was keen to note that these are all "promotional prices" and will be so until January 31st, 2013. It is also expected that the prices will rise after the end of the promotion. The download will be available for over 100 countries and in 37 languages.

You can check out more details at The Windows Blog.

I bought a new Dell computer with Win7 about 6 months ago and I absolutely HATE Windows 7. I have many thousands of graphics and Win7 has them scattered everywhere, default user, administrator user, owner user, etc, they even turn up in Windows Media Player. I also hate Libraries! My graphics programs no longer open to the correct location.

My old computer had XP and everything was in “My Favorites” and easy to find. I have all my XP installation discs and wish I could just have it installed in this computer but I’d lose getting updates from Microsoft. Win7 won’t even allow installation of my favorite graphics program, Picture It. I’ve really been bummed out about it all.

After Win7 I’d be scared to download Win8......

The only thing I like about Win 7 is the ability to snap two windows side by side. I have a program I have to use for work which often involves comparing figures between two windows.........Of course that program isn’t compatible with Windows 7 so I have to run it on virtual xp and scale up the windows on my own.

Kinda sad to see you write, “the only thing I like about Win 7”, lol. I’ve spent more time on Google trying to sort things out, there are so many angry people like me about how pictures and documents are handled in Win 7.

I did manage to download my Picture It program and even tried the ‘virtual XP’ business, but it still didn’t work. Wish I had known what Win 7 was like before I got it!

Man sounds like a real mess for you and all of those great Graphics.

Alas Babylon! mentioned a feature at post 20 available with Windows 8....

Might want to look at that.....I think I will..

I am typing this on a ThinkPad running Windows 8. Believe me, Windows 8 would be a bargain at twice or three times the price. Its a great OS. Fast. Stable (even in beta). Beautiful to look at. Innovative. There will be haters who blog about how terrible it is, but I think Windows 8 is going to be a massive hit.

To be honest, I’m still trying to figure out the libaries system in Windows 7.

I never had a problem with Vista. Maybe because it was similar to previous incarnations of the Windows format.

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