Windows 7 upgrade on sale for as low as $50

Online retailers have begun selling the retail upgrade version of Windows 7 at prices far lower than Microsoft’s announced prices. At Amazon, BestBuy, and CompUSA, you can pre-order the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $49.99, while the Windows 7 Professional Upgrade runs $99.99.

Those prices are far below Microsoft’s published estimated prices for these upgrades: $119.99 and $199.99 respectively.

BestBuy says these lowball prices are available from now through July 11, while supplies last, and limits quantities to three per customer. Amazon also limits quantities to three per customer. CompUSA’s site says “Hurry, quantities are limited.”

Current owners of Windows XP and Windows Vista both qualify for the low prices. But the sites contain some warnings and conditions. For example, Amazon recommends that you install the Windows 7 upgrade on a new computer, but warns current XP users who install the Home Premium upgrade on their existing PC first back up the entire contents of their computer, then perform a “clean” installation of Windows 7 that will overwrite their entire hard drive, and then reinstall all their programs, files, and settings.

According to these sites, current Windows Vista users should have little problem running Windows 7. Still, if you’ve any doubt, they suggest checking with Microsoft’s Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Computer makers have also begun listing for buyers of new PCs their Windows 7 upgrade offers on their sites. I’ll report on those soon. –Jeff Fox

Comments

[bruce wilson]

I would like to read a review of Windows 7 , before pre-ordering. Also it is usually best to wait for the first series of "fixes" before using anything so critical as a "new" operating system !!

[Paul Rivers]

I think by "selling Windows 7" it would be far more clear to say "letting customers preorder Windows 7".

I thought it was actually for sale, but clicking through the links makes it clear it's only a preorder.