Microsoft site loophole lets anyone buy Windows 8 Pro for just NZ$19.99

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Elpie

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#111348 31-Oct-2012 09:41

Reports have been coming in today that there is a loophole on the Windows 8 upgrade offer site. See: http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2012/10/30/microsoft-website-loophole-lets-anyone-buy-windows-8-pro-for-just-15/

It's been confirmed that this applies to the NZ site & people are able to download an upgrade to Win8 Pro for $19.99.

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#709713 31-Oct-2012 10:17

yeah did it 2 days ago. created bootable media drive from ISO, but still have no time to install it :(

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tardtasticx

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#709714 31-Oct-2012 10:19

Yeh I wondered how they would prove you purchased it when you did, as soon as I heard about the upgrade discount thing. At last a way to get windows at a reasonable price.

CYaBro

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#709726 31-Oct-2012 10:43

I did the same thing too, I was expecting them to request a copy of an invoice or something at least to prove when the PC was bought but that would probably be too much work for them.

Then I thought that the install file might check to see when the Windows 7 install was activated or something but that didn't happen either as I tested by installing Win7 on a PC without entering in a product key so it wasn't even activated.

They probably just want as many people as possible moving to Windows 8 :) even if you have a pirated version of Windows 7.

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#709729 31-Oct-2012 10:51

Yes, this was posted on Reddit amongst other places a few days ago: http://www.reddit.com/r/newzealand/comments/125ct4/if_youre_planning_on_upgrading_to_windows_8_read/

My interpretation remains the same - exploiting this loophole amounts to stealing. It's different from a price error in that you have to actively lie in order to obtain the discount.

If I was Microsoft I'd be auditing the process, although logistically it could potentially be a nightmare. The voucher system they used for Windows 7 seems a lot more sensible in retrospect.

KevinL

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#709730 31-Oct-2012 10:52

tardtasticx: At last a way to get windows at a reasonable price.

Not that I've upgraded yet, but don't you think that NZ$50 is a reasonable price for Windows 8 Pro?

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#709765 31-Oct-2012 11:52

Looks like they fixed it. I put in a date in Sept and it's asking me for my Win 7 key

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Snowflake

#710070 31-Oct-2012 21:05

tardtasticx: Yeh I wondered how they would prove you purchased it when you did, as soon as I heard about the upgrade discount thing. At last a way to get windows at a reasonable price.

so $50 online or $88 instore is not a 'reasonable price' for an upgrade? if you want free stuff, switch to Linux, Chrome OS, (or something else).

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#710098 31-Oct-2012 22:05

Regs:
tardtasticx: Yeh I wondered how they would prove you purchased it when you did, as soon as I heard about the upgrade discount thing. At last a way to get windows at a reasonable price.

so $50 online or $88 instore is not a 'reasonable price' for an upgrade? if you want free stuff, switch to Linux, Chrome OS, (or something else).

I would be inclined to think it is less about not being free and more about a horrid and ugly enforced UI.

Personally I wouldn't switch from Windows 7 to Windows 8 if they paid me the whole full retail price to do so.

Put simply: I don't have or ever intend to buy a touch screen PC.

lucky015

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#710100 31-Oct-2012 22:06

lucky015:
Regs:
tardtasticx: Yeh I wondered how they would prove you purchased it when you did, as soon as I heard about the upgrade discount thing. At last a way to get windows at a reasonable price.

so $50 online or $88 instore is not a 'reasonable price' for an upgrade? if you want free stuff, switch to Linux, Chrome OS, (or something else).

I would be inclined to think it is less about not being free and more about a horrid and ugly enforced UI.

Personally I wouldn't switch from Windows 7 to Windows 8 if they paid me the whole full retail price to do so.

Put simply: I don't have or ever intend to buy a touch screen PC.

Edit:

I will say however that I'd happily pay the upgrade or perhaps even full retail price for a copy of Windows 7 with the back-end Windows 8 upgrades installed and none of that disgusting UI.

tardtasticx

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#710104 31-Oct-2012 22:13

KevinL:
tardtasticx: At last a way to get windows at a reasonable price.

Not that I've upgraded yet, but don't you think that NZ$50 is a reasonable price for Windows 8 Pro?

In all honesty, no I don't think it is. The UI is disgusting, and I ran it on my main laptop for months, got absolutely sick of it. There was nothing overly new about it apart from the new start menu, but that was just annoying more than helpful. I'd only pay to upgrade with that upgrade offer which I claimed earlier (have not paid for it yet, only recieved discount code) but thats IF I change my mind and decide to update. Quite frankly, I'm happy with windows 7, microsoft did a good job with it.

Plus, what about upgrading mac OS X from Lion to Mountain Lion? That only costs $25 from the App Store, and anyone can get that, not just people who paid for a new top of the line computer, even my 2009 MacBook could do it. That is a reasonable price for an upgrade.

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#710108 31-Oct-2012 22:18

You do still have to enter in information about the PC purchase you made, along with the date of purchase and the company you purchased it from, so I think they do rely on people being honest. So if someone put in fake information, that could be seen as fraud/theft. I got mine for $19.95 as I purchased a new PC during that period with windows 7. But I won't be installing it for at least a few years, as I think it is a downgrade on windows 7, no widgets, no flip 3d, both which I use a lot.

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#710118 31-Oct-2012 22:39

tardtasticx: Plus, what about upgrading mac OS X from Lion to Mountain Lion? That only costs $25 from the App Store, and anyone can get that, not just people who paid for a new top of the line computer, even my 2009 MacBook could do it. That is a reasonable price for an upgrade.

The OSX updates are more frequent.

July 2012 - Mountain Lion
July 2011 - Lion
August 2009 - Snow Leopard
October 2007 - Leopard

October 2012 - Windows 8
July 2009 - Windows 7
January 2007 - Windows Vista

In my opinion $50 is absolutely a fair price for an upgrade. Whether or not you think it is better than Windows 7 is irrelevant. Exploiting a loophole like this is no different than fraud/theft.

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#710122 31-Oct-2012 22:47

I really love WINDOWS 8. Never thought I would with the tiles but I do. I bought 3 copies at $49.99 each. I knew of the loop hole but didnt use it as I consider it theft.
Microsoft may have made a mistake or error in the programming for the update to cause that loop hole, but that does not give us the right to exploit it. Again to me, doing that is theft and I would never partake in that.

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Elpie

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#710128 31-Oct-2012 23:09

lucky015:
Regs:
tardtasticx: Yeh I wondered how they would prove you purchased it when you did, as soon as I heard about the upgrade discount thing. At last a way to get windows at a reasonable price.

so $50 online or $88 instore is not a 'reasonable price' for an upgrade? if you want free stuff, switch to Linux, Chrome OS, (or something else).

I would be inclined to think it is less about not being free and more about a horrid and ugly enforced UI.

Personally I wouldn't switch from Windows 7 to Windows 8 if they paid me the whole full retail price to do so.

Put simply: I don't have or ever intend to buy a touch screen PC.

Exactly my sentiments. I had a good play with Windows 8 and let my Microsoft-employed mates try to explain all the reasons I should consider upgrading. I can see why some people would love it but I don't. I'm happy with what I have and am sticking with it.

mattwnz

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#710137 31-Oct-2012 23:14

Elpie:
lucky015:
Regs:
tardtasticx: Yeh I wondered how they would prove you purchased it when you did, as soon as I heard about the upgrade discount thing. At last a way to get windows at a reasonable price.

so $50 online or $88 instore is not a 'reasonable price' for an upgrade? if you want free stuff, switch to Linux, Chrome OS, (or something else).

I would be inclined to think it is less about not being free and more about a horrid and ugly enforced UI.

Personally I wouldn't switch from Windows 7 to Windows 8 if they paid me the whole full retail price to do so.

Put simply: I don't have or ever intend to buy a touch screen PC.

Exactly my sentiments. I had a good play with Windows 8 and let my Microsoft-employed mates try to explain all the reasons I should consider upgrading. I can see why some people would love it but I don't. I'm happy with what I have and am sticking with it.

If I had a touch screen computer, I would use windows 8, but it doesn't make sense for a normal desktop with a mouse. A mono windowed environment for 'apps' is like going back to DOS, where programs ran on a single windowed screen. Windows is called windows for a reason, you can use multiple apps at once in their own window in the screen.

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