David Flynn26 May 2009, 12:10 AM
From next month Microsoft will offer a free copy of Windows 7 to buyers of new PCs running Vista, and in some cases XP.
Buyers of new PCs have started to find an unexpected bonus amidst the manuals, leaflets and warranty cards, as OEMs begin promoting Microsoft’s ‘Windows 7 Upgrade Option Program’.
The scheme looks set to offer a free upgrade to Windows 7 from June 26 2009 through until sometime in January 2010.
Purchasers of Acer PCs in Australia have already found a slip in their freshly unboxed system which states “Beginning June 26, 2009, customers who purchase a qualifying ACER Vista-based PC will receive a comparable version of Windows 7 when available”.
The offering of a ‘comparable’ version of Windows 7 with match neatly to Windows Vista Home Premium, Business and Ultimate seeing as Windows 7 contains those same editions (although the ‘business’ build will be tagged as Windows 7 Professional).
Budget-priced systems running Vista Home Basic will not qualify. Microsoft’s deal will however extend to PCs which have ‘downgraded’ at the factory to XP, because they were still sold carrying a Vista licence.