Windows 7 Pricing

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grant_k

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#270160 4-Nov-2009 21:59

Krisando: Also once activated make an image, instead of having to activate it every time it will work. So you can install on multiple pcs without having to ring up the Microsoft Indian customer service to activate.

This didn't even work with XP Pro, so I very much doubt that it will work with Windows 7. Windows from XP onwards will check to see if anything has changed from when it was originally activated. This includes LAN adaptor MAC address, motherboard BIOS signature, Hard Disk signature etc. If too many things are different, you will need to activate it again. Phoning up the Indian call centre multiple times within a few days concerning the same installed copy of Windows is bound to arouse their suspicions...

Having said that, I am pretty disgusted at the Windows 7 retail pricing as well. I just bought a new laptop yesterday and of course it came with Vista -- the Business version to be exact. No problem, there is a Windows 7 Professional upgrade for that at the quite reasonable price of NZ$47 via Toshiba Australia. I have ordered that already, and have no quibbles with paying that sort of price.

However, my wife's laptop is a different story. Only about a year old but came with Vista Home Basic installed, which she hates with a passion. So I was looking at buying Windows 7 for her as well. BIG PROBLEM: There is no upgrade path from Vista Home Basic at all. You have to buy a full version of Windows 7 and the cheapest I have seen is Windows 7 Home Premium costing $389 at DSE. I think this really sucks on Microsoft's part. They have deliberately trapped people running Vista Home Basic, with no upgrade path.

For this reason, I am asking my son who lives in Canada to investigate getting me a copy. The Windows 7 retail prices in NZ are a complete rip-off when you compare the relevant exchange rates as per Old3eyes post above. It is so easy to get software in from overseas if you have friends living over there. We have done it many times. Just last week I brought in a Bluetooth Car Kit from Hong Kong for about 30% less than the exact same unit here. I don't mind paying a little bit extra, but I do object to being screwed just because we live in a small country.

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allstarnz

1715 posts

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#270162 4-Nov-2009 22:31

grant_k:
For this reason, I am asking my son who lives in Canada to investigate getting me a copy. The Windows 7 retail prices in NZ are a complete rip-off when you compare the relevant exchange rates as per Old3eyes post above. It is so easy to get software in from overseas if you have friends living over there. We have done it many times. Just last week I brought in a Bluetooth Car Kit from Hong Kong for about 30% less than the exact same unit here. I don't mind paying a little bit extra, but I do object to being screwed just because we live in a small country.

exactly, surely there'd be 'global pricing', but no, that'd be too easy wouldn't it?

go to agree about importing too. I got a bluetooth GPS receiver from Hong Kong (via eBay) for around NZ$80 inc shipping. To buy the same thing from Ascent would have cost me about $140. And yes, my unit is the genuine article.

grant_k

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#270198 5-Nov-2009 08:14

grant_k: However, my wife's laptop is a different story. Only about a year old but came with Vista Home Basic installed, which she hates with a passion. So I was looking at buying Windows 7 for her as well. BIG PROBLEM: There is no upgrade path from Vista Home Basic at all. You have to buy a full version of Windows 7 and the cheapest I have seen is Windows 7 Home Premium costing $389 at DSE. I think this really sucks on Microsoft's part. They have deliberately trapped people running Vista Home Basic, with no upgrade path.

I should clarify what is the true story here. My son just pointed out this web page:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/upgrade?os=win7

As you can see, it states that Vista Home Basic can be upgraded to Win 7 Home Premium or Ultimate.

So, it isn't Microsoft's fault that Toshiba Australia are not offering the upgrade. In theory then, it should be possible for me to buy the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $249 from DSE and do a custom installation.

But $249 is still a lot to pay compared with what it costs in Canada or the US, even once you have allowed for the shipping cost to NZ. Microsoft really do need to make their International Pricing consistent (or at least close to it) once you have allowed for the exchange rates in the respective countries. A small premium we can accept, but not being gouged as we are currently.

wreck90

780 posts

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#271920 11-Nov-2009 08:49

Woohooo, just got the windows 7 home premium family pack, for nz $240 including shipping . Not sure if i'll be pinged GST but I can claim that back through my business anyway.

That'll teach MS NZ and their overpriced licenses. Not that this hurts them much, most people buy locally.

Androssi

3 posts

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Inactive user

#276707 26-Nov-2009 23:58

KiwiME: Vista users are "lemmings" and they are being "sucked in" to W7? WTF?

I'm done here, my family pack is installed at a reasonable $70 each and I'm moving on!

Hi,

I also was going to go the 3 pack way, then a US friend told me you needed to activate it within the US or it wouldn't work?

Did you have any issue?..

Androssi

3 posts

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#276714 27-Nov-2009 00:17

wreck90: Woohooo, just got the windows 7 home premium family pack, for nz $240 including shipping . Not sure if i'll be pinged GST but I can claim that back through my business anyway.

That'll teach MS NZ and their overpriced licenses. Not that this hurts them much, most people buy locally.

Hi,

I also was going to go the 3 pack way, then a US friend told me you needed to activate it within the US or it wouldn't work?

Did you have any issue?..

wreck90

780 posts

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#276721 27-Nov-2009 01:39

I received the family pack last week. The discs say they check for existing install for the upgrade so I was a bit worried as I wanted to do fresh OS installs rather than upgrade.

So, formatted the harddrives of my 2 desktops and 1 laptop. Installed the OS, then activated over the internet. No problems at all, it was just like installing the full OS version.

So, now I have upgraded 3 pc's very cheaply.

Incidentally, I was not billed GST either, and postage from the US was about 5 days including the weekend days when they don't deliver.

So, this time microsoft NZ do not get to rip me off. Of course, the warranty does not apply in NZ. What a joke, MS NZ are a bunch of thieves. They can't tell me that economies of scale apply to software.

The americans are very lucky, not only are their wages far higher than ours, their consumer goods are much cheaper too. What do they do with all that extra cash? Buy more ipods?

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#278116 1-Dec-2009 00:51

Windows 7 Family Pack has been released in Australia (article here), hopefully we'll get it here soon.

Androssi

3 posts

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#278440 1-Dec-2009 18:35

meesham: Windows 7 Family Pack has been released in Australia (article here), hopefully we'll get it here soon.

Hi
Interesting article. If you look at the USA Micosoft site, you will see that actually have withdrawn the 3 pack offer from their store. And the few vendors that have it left, have upped the price significantly...

Satch

1985 posts

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#278469 1-Dec-2009 20:05

meesham: Windows 7 Family Pack has been released in Australia (article here), hopefully we'll get it here soon.

We've already been told by Microsoft NZ that the Family Pack won't be coming to NZ.

meesham

973 posts

Ultimate Geek

#278471 1-Dec-2009 20:12

Satch:
We've already been told by Microsoft NZ that the Family Pack won't be coming to NZ.

Indeed, but companies sometimes change their mind, especially when there's potential extra profit involved. Originally Microsoft said there was only a chance it might be released in Australia (article here from October). Even if they don't release it here, shipping costs from Australia are smaller, and there's probably a bigger chance most of us will head over there at some point (and take the opportunity to pick up the family pack) than visit some of the other markets with the family pack available.

jaymz

1132 posts

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#278486 1-Dec-2009 20:48

euanandrews: Don't ya love winge threads like this...

People winging that the prices should be lower so they can afford it....its simple people...if you can't afford it, you can't have it, that's reality.

I would love to own a Porche, but I'm not going to winge to Porche that they should drop the price of their hundred thousand dollar cars to a couple thousand, so that I can afford it eh?

Enough said.

+1

It is not like we are being forced to buy and upgrade to Windows 7.

(though I may be a little bit bias as I got my copy of Win 7 Enterprise free through Microsoft Gold Partnership) :p

Nety

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#278664 2-Dec-2009 10:35

grant_k: However, my wife's laptop is a different story. Only about a year old but came with Vista Home Basic installed, which she hates with a passion. So I was looking at buying Windows 7 for her as well. BIG PROBLEM: There is no upgrade path from Vista Home Basic at all. You have to buy a full version of Windows 7 and the cheapest I have seen is Windows 7 Home Premium costing $389 at DSE. I think this really sucks on Microsoft's part. They have deliberately trapped people running Vista Home Basic, with no upgrade path.

You are getting confused between BUYING the upgrade and RUNNING the upgrade. There is no restriction on BUYING the upgrade. If you have ANY version of Windows XP or Vista you can legally buy the upgrade.

HOWEVER there are only certain versions you can run the SOFTWARE upgrade on. The other versions (like basic) you have to install from scratch ie. Boot from the install DVD.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

cshwone

1003 posts

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#279297 4-Dec-2009 12:49

Hi,

I also was going to go the 3 pack way, then a US friend told me you needed to activate it within the US or it wouldn't work?

Did you have any issue?..

I brought a Family Pack back from a recent visit to the US. No issues at all with activation in NZ. HTH

vinnieg

2260 posts

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#279320 4-Dec-2009 14:11

cshwone:

Hi,

I also was going to go the 3 pack way, then a US friend told me you needed to activate it within the US or it wouldn't work?

Did you have any issue?..

I brought a Family Pack back from a recent visit to the US. No issues at all with activation in NZ. HTH

same here, mines running very well on the 3 Pcs it's on

I've skipped the 32bit disc and just gone striaght for the 64bit

Also Australia has the 3pack deals for $299NZD($233AUS)
I paid $221NZD for my 3 pack, but more people are likely to have family and friends in Aus who could send it over

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

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