Vista buyers "to qualify for Windows 7 upgrades"

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 12 Feb 2009 at 16:15

Microsoft looks set to offer buyers of Vista PCs a free upgrade to Windows 7.

Microsoft traditionally offers buyers of new PCs a free upgrade to a forthcoming operating system in the months before its launch, in a bid to prevent PC sales from grinding to a halt as people wait for the new OS.

The software giant is currently discussing its plans for Windows 7 with software manufacturers, according to leaked documents.

The current plan is to offer like-for-like upgrades on three versions of Windows Vista. So Vista Home Premium buyers will be offered Windows 7 Home Premium, Vista Business buyers will receive Windows 7 Professional, while Vista Ultimate users will get Windows 7 Ultimate.

People who buy netbooks or budget laptops pre-loaded with XP or Vista Home Basic look set to be left out in the cold, however, according to documents seen by TechArp.

Microsoft was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

The leaked documents claim that "this is an optional program, so not all OEMs may choose to participate. OEMs that choose to participate in this upgrade program will have the freedom to determine how to best provide qualifying end users with the details."

The company will be hoping to avoid the chaos that blighted the Vista Express Upgrade program, when the website collapsed under the weight of demand and customers were left waiting for weeks for discs to arrive in the post.