View Single Post - Windows Vista vs. Windows XP on a new PC...

_simon_ · 11-08-2006, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by [-0MEGA-]

As far as I know, any copy of Windows XP is given a coupon for a free upgrade to Vista. And most, if not all PC manufacturers are also offering free upgrades to Vista when you purchase one of their PC's.

http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/003020.html

Quote:

How much you'll have to pay for an upgrade ultimately will depend on where you buy your PC. As reported today by The Wall Street Journal Online, major OEM's will offer different pricing structures. For example, Hewlett-Packard will allow you to buy certain models and upgrade for free. Depending on the HP retailer, however, you may have to pay shipping and handling fees.

And the Journal reports that Dell will also allow you to upgrade by paying shipping and handling fees for systems using Windows XP Professional or Media Center editions. However, the Texas-based company plans to charge you $45 for an upgrade from Windows XP Home Edition to Windows Vista Home Basic.

Oddly enough XP Home and Vista Home Basic carry the same approximate prices: $200 new and $100 to upgrade.

More importantly, Harry McCracken, PCW's Editor in Chief, says that Vista Home Basic lacks some of Vista's more attractive features and will not hit the sweet spot for function and features that Windows XP Home does.

So not everyone will get it "free".