Microsoft to Offer Vista Express Upgrade to PC Buyers Starting this Thursday

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Many people have been holding off on buying a laptop because they want to wait and get the new Windows Vista OS instead of having to pay for the upgrade later. Great news, starting this Thursday (10/26) most major PC sellers will work with Microsoft to offer free Vista upgrades with the purchase of a Vista certified system running the current Windows XP.

The amount of the Express Upgrade offer will depend on each individual PC maker, according to a company press release. Microsoft says that most major manufacturers worldwide have confirmed plans to participate in the Express Upgrade.

Gateway

Lisa Emard, a spokeswoman at Gateway Inc., has said starting this Thursday all Gateway and eMachines computers sold direct will be eligible for a free upgrade to Vista when it becomes available next year. However, some Gateway customers that buy PCs at retail locations or internationally could be charged a shipping and handling fee or duplication fee.

HP

HP spokeswoman Ann Finnie said the company will also offer free upgrades starting Thursday. She said customers in the U.S. won't have to pay a shipping and handling fee on the Vista upgrade disk when it becomes available. Upgrades will be offered for free on both XP Home and XP Professional

Dell

Bob Kaufman of Dell said they will charge customers a $45 fee to upgrade to Vista Home from Windows XP Home edition when it comes out. However, if they upgrade from Windows XP Pro or Media Center there will be no upgrade charge fee, but shipping and handling will be charged. Given the fact HP is not charging for upgrades, it is likely Dell will cave in to that and end up offering both upgrades free.

Lenovo

The Lenovo Express Upgrade site for Windows Vista is now live and can be found here: http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/microsoft/vista/upgrade.html

According to the Lenovo site to be eligible for a Windows Vista Express Upgrade you will need to meet the following requirements:

• System must be purchased between October 26, 2006 through March 15, 2007
• Customers must have a valid proof of purchase
• A valid Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity for Windows XP must be affixed to the system
• The Vista Capable logo must be affixed to the system

Users with qualifying Lenovo systems can order their Express Upgrade by visiting the Express Upgrade Web site. The Web site will provide clear directions for obtaining your Express Upgrade. If you buy a Windows XP Pro machine the Vista disk will be shipped to you, and you only have to pay for shipping. If you buy a Windows XP Home machine, you'll have to buy Windows Vista at a store but a mail-in rebate will be sent to you to cover the full price of the Vista upgrade disk.

Bottom Line

Windows Vista is scheduled to be released to consumers next January 2007 and businesses this December. The upgrade program is good from October 26, 2006 - March 15, 2007. At least now you can buy a notebook and know that you won't have to pay $200 to upgrade the OS later. In some ways this is the best of both worlds, you'll have a copy of Windows XP and Windows Vista and if you don't want to adopt Windows Vista right away due to fear of bugginess, you can at least get the free disk and upgrade on your own clock. To see more information from Microsoft.com go here: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/expressupgrade.mspx

 

 

Crosses fingers that Acer announces a plan soon!

 

do you think that the dell outlet would count???

 

I am going to 'return' mine and get a fresh bill. I bought a week ago.

 

How would this apply to Canadian buyers?

 

We should get the same offer --- it just takes longer to get the websites updated I guess. I expect Acer to offer the upgrade for sure.

 

Unless Dell wants to lose more ground to HP, they definitely will have to drop the S/H charge on Vista disks.

 

I paid this monday but i wont receive my system until next weds. so when is the machine purchased? when I receive it?

 

What is a "qualifying system" for example through Lenovo? Going through the site I see things about select systems, etc... but nothing saying these such and such options will make your system eligible.

 

he he he - dell wants to do business, where it can not...

 

bah and i bought mine on the 20th of this month

 

This is the greatest news ever from Microsoft hahaha

 

I wonder if the manufacturers are going to ship clean versions of Vista upgrade discs or just some custom disc with all the usual bloatware.

 

Will these be 'upgrade' discs only - needing an underlying installation of XP, or will it be possible for clean installs with these discs?

 

Is ASUS taking part in this too?

 

What if you buy from a reseller?

Too bad I bought an HP from a reseller YESTERDAY.

The good news is that a lot of companies are going to upgrade XP Home and XP Pro - early reports said only XP MCE would get this upgrade.

 

Probably looking at upgrade only.

 

Also, which exact version would you get the upgrade for?

For example, XP Home > Vista Home Premium or Basic???
XP Pro > Vista Premium Business or Vista Ultimate??

And when will these be available for shipping?? So many questions.

 

Yes I have : asus bought oct 26th xp pro

are there details on what i will get for free?

 

good point.

But I would be satisfied with just a fresh license key. I would probably be able to find a full rip where I could then use it for a clean install.

But I'm pretty sure they won't send bloated copies of Vista, at least I hope not

 

I talked to the ACER customer rep and he verified that they would be honoring this deal with the same dates as in the article.

I will be a doing a soft "return" on my ACER 5050 that i got 4 days ago, first thing tomorrow.

 

So will this work if I'm planning to purchase a notebook from say Costco? Or Best Buy? Or do you have to buy directly from the company?

 

See here, Canada Futureshop
http://www.futureshop.ca/marketing/windowsvista/en/getready/new_hardware.asp#pop?logon=&langid=EN

 

oh thats a really good point. all you need is the key in the first place.

 

Wow thats cool! but how does it work? Do i buy a laptop with vista already installed or does it have win xp on but i get the vista disk with my new laptop?

 

They will ship you the discs when Vista is released sometime in January. Your laptop will come with Windows XP. Check the manufactureres website for registration.I think you'll need to register afetr you purchase the laptop to receive the Vista disc.