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Microsoft: “No Windows 7 Family Pack for Australia”

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David Flynn16 October 2009, 3:11 PM

Windows 7 launches next week, but don’t go looking for the three-licence Family Pack edition – Microsoft has confirmed this won’t be offered to its Australian customers.

Want to load Windows 7 onto three PCs in your home? Then you’ll have to stump up for three copies of the fresh-baked OS – at anywhere from $600 to $900, depending on if you buy an upgrade or fresh install edition – rather than grabbing the three-licence Family Pack edition for a fraction of that price.

Microsoft has confirmed that the Windows 7 Family Pack bundle available in the US will not be released onto the Australian market at launch.

However, a spokesman for the company’s PR agency left open the possibility that it might land at some unnamed future date (read: sometime next year, when we need a dramatic sales spike in Windows 7 licences and revenue).

The Windows 7 Family Pack allows users to upgrade up to three PCs to Windows 7 Home Premium edition. It marks the first time that Microsoft has embraced a multi-user consumer licence for Windows, although a similar arrangement has been in place with a Student & Teacher Edition of its Office suite.

Given the overseas pricing of US$149 for the Windows 7 Family Pack, and based on the difference between the US$120 and A$199 pricing for a single PC upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, Microsoft could sell the Windows 7 Family Pack in Australia for $249.

If they wanted to sell it, of course.

Instead, if you choose to upgrade three PCs in your home to Windows 7, Microsoft expects you to stump up for at least $600, based on the $199 upgrade pricing on Windows 7 Home Premium from Vista or XP.

Buy the standard off-the-shelf pack designed for a clean install rather than upgrading a previous version of Windows and the tally will be close to $900, given the full retail price of $299 for each copy of Windows 7 Home Premium.

Meanwhile, Apple continues to do brisk business with its OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Family Pack, which permits five installations of OS X 10.6 for $69.

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petert (Senior member):

So, what do all of the Windows-apologists have to say about this next MS rip-off?

16 October 2009, 4:06 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

telstar (User):

I like windows (most of the time) but at that price I'll be removing windows 7RC when it expires and going back to my trusty old XP. At these prices I can see win7 being only marginally more successful in Australia than Vista despite it being a better OS. As for the family pack what’s the bet that if it does finally get released here it won’t be $250 but more like $350 - $400, still I guess that is better than $900.

16 October 2009, 5:01 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

gankul (Cornerstone member):

the $69 price for snow leopard only exits if you have leopard. If you upgrade from tiger it will cost around 200 dollars (according to apple site anyway, who knows if it is true)

Why again do they stuff up, they have a good chance to change their rep everywhere with a good product at ok price and still manage to fumble to ball.

16 October 2009, 5:05 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

todd_h86 (Cornerstone member):

Just by OEM.... Get over it, Retail sales account for less than %14 of Windows sales, I can't actually remember the last time I SOLD a retail pack of an OS..

Microsoft will release it here.... as the article too boost sales! Then they can count the license keys as individual licenses lol.

16 October 2009, 5:42 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting todd_h86:
I can't actually remember the last time I SOLD a retail pack of an OS..

You can reasonably come to a number of conclusions from that statement.

Quoting todd_h86:
Microsoft will release it here....

based upon? MS don't exactly have a history of responding to consumer demand.

16 October 2009, 10:25 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

McBanjo (User):

Quoting Raindog:
"MS don't exactly have a history of responding to consumer demand."

Haha, couldn't have said it better myself.

16 October 2009, 11:45 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting todd_h86:
Just buy OEM

You could... But it wouldn't be valid if you didn't build the computer.

Quoting todd_h86:
Get over it, Retail sales account for less than %14 of Windows sales

Yep. Most people who buy Windows don't even know what Windows is. They just buy the computer.

Quoting todd_h86:
I can't actually remember the last time I SOLD a retail pack of an OS

Where I work, the need has never come up to sell a retail copy of Windows. XP isn't available retail anymore, so we have to send people away when they ask. And Ubuntu is freely available, so we don't sell it either (we don't even charge for the disks usually either).

16 October 2009, 11:27 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

todd_h86 (Cornerstone member):

16 October 2009, 5:42 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Phred (Cornerstone member):

Quoting todd_h86:
Just by OEM

I'm sure they've gone the same way with Windows 7 OEM licensing as they did with Vista's, only to be sold with a complete PC.

Then again, it probably won't be hard to find a dodgy retailer to sell you a copy

16 October 2009, 5:46 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

todd_h86 (Cornerstone member):

Quoting Phred:
Then again, it probably won't be hard to find a dodgy retailer to sell you a copy

I'm pretty sure most non-dodgy retailers will sell you an OEM copy with a stick of RAM (As if you buy RAM you must of course be needing it for a new PC!) I'm pretty sure most computer places will do that.

18 October 2009, 9:39 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Phred (Cornerstone member):

What a joke... Microsoft Australia are fueling the desire to pirate their software, and to what advantage? Thankfully Apple have the right idea.

I'll be thinking twice about Windows 7, Ubuntu all the way, or Mac OS should I find the golden bricks to buy a Mac.

16 October 2009, 5:43 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

McBanjo (User):

Quoting Phred:
"I'll be thinking twice about Windows 7, Ubuntu all the way, or Mac OS should I find the golden bricks to buy a Mac."

Yeah, Macs are expensive and with Ubuntu, you get what you pay for. But when it comes to value for money, Mac users are laughing all the way to the bank.

I'm not biased or anything though. That Mac in my dp? That's just nothing...

16 October 2009, 11:53 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting McBanjo:
and with Ubuntu, you get what you pay for

Well in actual fact with Ubuntu (or any linux) you get a lot more than what you pay for, given you pay nothing at all to purchase the OS.

Quoting McBanjo:
Mac users are laughing all the way to the bank.

Yeah explain that one if you will. Mac has some things going for it economy is not one of them. Package wise Mac would still rate line ball or above Windows, on a per desktop budget.

17 October 2009, 12:24 AM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Luminal (User):

I apologise for the multiple post. I got a "parsing error" and thought it hadn't posted and hit it again:(

16 October 2009, 6:15 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Luminal (User):

I'm sure Microsoft has colluded with their cohorts, done their sums and set the pricing to both maximize profits and create pressure to buy new machines rather than upgrade. I still feel humiliated that I bought Vista Ultimate only to use it for week before reverting back to XP. Win 7 maybe good but I won't be buying it at Microsoft's rip-off rates since they've already ripped me off once for $400+. They're not screwing me again for Vista Fixed.

16 October 2009, 6:51 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Luminal (User):

16 October 2009, 6:52 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

DandamanV (User):

Well... I would like to have a multi-lisence version of Windows 7. I think that Microsoft might bring a Family Pack by popular demand.

16 October 2009, 6:55 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

doofus (User):

WTF?

The upgrade version is applicable to people currently running XP and Vista, not just Vista! So the assertion that "That final tally could soar to as much as $900 if all three PCs are running XP, as users would need to pay the full retail price of $299 for each copy of Windows 7 Home Premium" is false.

What will be happening though is that Windows XP users who are installing an upgrade version of Windows 7 will have to do a wipe and reload, they can't just do an in-place upgrade like Vista users can.

And to telstar: how much did you pay for that copy of XP? You'll find that both Vista and 7 cost around the same as Windows XP did.

16 October 2009, 7:21 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

telstar (User):

Quoting doofus:
And to telstar: how much did you pay for that copy of XP? You'll find that both Vista and 7 cost around the same as Windows XP did.

Actually no I paid $150 for the Academic upgrade and the same to have XP hom OEM installed on a new PC where Win 7 Ultimate upgrade is twice that though hopefully they'll release an academic upgrade for a somewhat better price.

17 October 2009, 7:16 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Tony23 (User):

Ubuntu is running well. It's really very funny because I have three PC's (of varying ages) and over the last 6 months each has been switched to Ubuntu. I don't know what cool-aid the marketing guys in Redmond drink, but it just seems bizarre that they are determined to alienate their customers like this. The only reason you would screw the pooch like this is if they can't ship product in volume and they know there is a certain percentage of people who will upgrade for the sake of it at any price. Instead, at least judging by this forum, they are creating a big incentive to raise the middle finger, pirate, or switch to Linux. Guys, is that really the outcome Balmer wanted??!

16 October 2009, 8:03 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Undecided on Win 7 or Mac (New user):

Either get a Mac or a pirated edition.

16 October 2009, 8:25 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Undecided on Win 7 or Mac (New user):

Poor form Microsoft. Anyway looking for a solution

Is it possible to get a family pack edition shipped out from the USA - considering the exchange rate at present - it may even be cheaper !!

16 October 2009, 8:25 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

mtarm1 (User):

Quoting doofus:
The upgrade version is applicable to people currently running XP and Vista, not just Vista! So the assertion that "That final tally could soar to as much as $900 if all three PCs are running XP, as users would need to pay the full retail price of $299 for each copy of Windows 7 Home Premium" is false.

thats what i was gunna say... get your facts right APC

Quoting Tony23:
I don't know what cool-aid the marketing guys in Redmond drink, but it just seems bizarre that they are determined to alienate their customers like this.

not 100% sure but this would be MS Australia screwing us over no the lot from redmond... if it was the guys from redmond then this crap would be happening all over the world but its not... US of course get all the special treatment but even other places around the world get better deals than us... EUROPE gets a much better deal and from what i can gather places like india get better pricing than we do...

Quoting Undecided on Win 7 or Mac:
Is it possible to get a family pack edition shipped out from the USA - considering the exchange rate at present - it may even be cheaper !!

yes it is...but you have to send it to a friend/relo in the US and then get them to post it over here...

i was going to do this with the US$50 pre-order promo for win7 HP but got Win7 Pro for $50AU threw the student deal here (buy it using a .edu email adress online for $50 for downloadable iso and $14 for the disk...)

16 October 2009, 10:57 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

muttman (New user):

I recommend a MS Technet Plus pack. approx $400 for 10 x Development licences of *all* versions of W7

17 October 2009, 2:04 AM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Toosmoky (User):

I buy antivirus and security software in multi-user packs. For me, this is death to Windows 7 in this house. I don't buy fully-assembled PCs, I assemble my own.

17 October 2009, 7:55 AM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

You can buy OEM versions if you build your own PC. You are not required to buy it with any hardware if you are building your own systems. MS OEM licenses can be sold to anyone who builds systems, whether it's one system or 1 millions systems.

17 October 2009, 10:08 AM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Toosmoky (User):

I don't want OEM copies. I want a three-user pack like I buy my antivirus and security software.

18 October 2009, 9:50 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

DandamanV (User):

I can understand that, not with just the whole multi-user antivirus but with the building your own computer thing too. I'm making my own PC right now (first one!) and it is so much better value than getting a pre-assembled one, you get to choose all of your own parts AND you save money!

17 October 2009, 7:13 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

BrownieBoy (User):

Microsoft looks at Australia as one of its rock-solid markets. We are "the faithful", as far they are concerned. They think that we'll lap up any of their crap at any old price, and by and large, they're right: we do.

So, it's no surprise to me that they pull something like this here. And they'll keep doing it just as long as we let them get away with it.

Time to switch. Get a (free) copy of Ubuntu or even better, Linux Mint, and let Microsoft know that you're fed up of being taken for a ride just because you live Down Under.

17 October 2009, 9:27 AM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Toosmoky (User):

I already dual-boot XP with Ubuntu. Have done since 6.10, I think...

18 October 2009, 6:08 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

MrRobinson (New user):

What a pack of bastards. We will pay almost twice the US price, no 50% discount for pre orders, and now this. Why does MS hate Australians?

17 October 2009, 9:44 AM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

retta (New user):

Well i for one have had enough of MS. I am currently looking into building my own pc and have no intention of putting win 7 on there. i might have 2 hdd one for ubuntu and one for xp, so i can play some games that might not run on ubuntu.

17 October 2009, 12:22 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

straker135 (Regular user):

I principally use Windows but have a MacBookPro (backed up via Time Machine onto my Home Server) and have several Unix installs on my multiboot systems. I really like Windows 7 and have multibootedall the XP and Vista systems in the network since the Beta proved to be so good. 7 works nicely on all the hardware even 5 yearold single core Intel and AMD systems. My kids dont want to boot into XP anymore...

I am really angry about this blatant act of exploitation of non-North American and EU Windows users. Unfortunately this was entirely predictable after Microsoft only allowed a few select countries to access the cut-price deals in July. Shame on you Microsoft!!

I can upgrade my business systems because it makes sense and is within the financial envelope this year (its not a big company so we cant get volume licensing deals, I dont think) but I'm going to hold off doing so for the home systems until the RC expires in case MS releases the Family Pack to Australia & New Zealand. My guess is that if they do it will be after the expiry. Its what any rapacious company would do...

17 October 2009, 12:47 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting straker135:
I can upgrade my business systems because it makes sense

And how exactly does your business gain from this financial outlay? You have to attain some benefit for expenditure to make sense. Purchase just because you can afford to do so makes no sense at all.

17 October 2009, 1:26 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

straker135 (Regular user):

Good question Raindog. "Just because we can" may be a justification but as you point out it isn't economically reasonable. In this case the useability, security and networking advantages added to the aethetics when you are stuck in front of PC's half your life are what guided the decision. The cheapest option which largely adresses the above is actually Linux. I like Ubuntu with the KDE interface (purely personal preference and a little different than Kubuntu). I use a live CD/USB of Ubuntu to rescue systems and find it very handy. The problem is Open Office is still not there for correctly rendering MS Office's offerings. Yeah I know it depends which end of the telescope one is looking down.

17 October 2009, 1:48 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting straker135:
In this case the useability, security and networking advantages added to the aethetics when you are stuck in front of PC's half your life are what guided the decision.

Thanks straker135 it's good to see someone come up with some reasoning other than because we can.

I'm just now going back to a customer and suggesting he now ugrade some W2K boxes, the reasoning being that now we are seeing software apps the may require raising their start point to W2K. In most cases the software could probably run on W2K but has been deliberately crippled from doing so. No doubt MS will be encouraging a Vista minimum as soon as they can. It's something to keep in mind with then next upgrade decision. Is it wise to select an OS from a vendor that deliberately cripples its prior offerings?

I'd agree with your alalysis of Open Office although for the good majority of users OO would probably be more than adequate.

17 October 2009, 2:22 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

petert (Senior member):

Isn't it interesting that none of the usual MS-apologists have bothered to proffer an opinion on this issue; those with their rose-coloured glasses who cannot separate their "love" of MS from the real issues that affect people! IF you listened to them, most of the postings would be considered little more than an anti-Ms rant, when the reality is that this is a real issue that is going to make W7 very expensive for a lot of people.I have four (4) computers in my home that I would like to upgrade. A three-licence pack would have been of great financial benefit to me. A five-licence pack would be even better!

A further issue to consider is that if MS is not going to issue multi-licence packs for W7, then it is probably unlikely that it will to so for Office 2010 when it arrives. If Office 2010 is not made available as multi-licence packs, and admittedly that is a big IF at the moment, then that will make a double rip-off to Australians as well as extraordinary cost to anyone who wants to upgrade both the OS and Office! i can only begin to guess the cost of upgrading four computers to W7 and then upgrading them again to Office 2010.

Where are you "Me in Oz" and others?

17 October 2009, 1:18 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting petert:
A three-licence pack would have been of great financial benefit to me. A five-licence pack would be even better!

It would be a great financial benefit to MS to given the likely alternatives are to remain with already paid for XP or adoption of an entirely different OS. MS has told you in no uncertain terms that you and your money are not valued.

Quoting petert:
Where are you "Me in Oz" and others?

Leave them be, their sphere of computing ends with latest release gaming and posturing over who has the shiniest box. There is nothing to be gained by a mud fight, and the selective pricing regeime by MS is not something they'd probably defend. Even when spending too much is often a gamers badge of honour.

17 October 2009, 1:32 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

petert (Senior member):

Quoting Raindog:
Leave them be, their sphere of computing ends with latest release gaming and posturing over who has the shiniest box.

Yes, I've heard that hard-core gamers spend too much time masticating in front of a computer! :-)

17 October 2009, 1:41 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Me In Oz (Cornerstone member):

Quoting Raindog:
and the selective pricing regeime by MS is not something they'd probably defend.

In retail terms, you're are absolutely correct!
No gamer will think twice about spending $150 to upgrade to the OEM Win7 when they have just dropped $1500 for dual graphics cards to run the new DirectX 11 API.

17 October 2009, 3:36 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Me In Oz:
In retail terms, you're are absolutely correct!

I don't know whether you made your retail sales figures, but I do know MS fell well short.

Quoting Me In Oz:
No gamer will think twice about spending $150 to upgrade to the OEM Win7 when they have just dropped $1500 for dual graphics cards

Pretty much says it all doesn't it. Fools and their money. Concersely no sane idividual would part with anthing like that kind of coin to shoot onscreen alians, when the same cheap thrill is on offer from a sub $500 console. But then as you stated your not pitching to the sane. :>

17 October 2009, 3:49 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Tin (Senior Forumologist):

No console has ever "out-graphicsed" a PC. And until a console has a keyboard and mouse instead of triddly teeny-weeny sticks, I won't be changing my choice to spend money on graphics cards.

That said, I also don't spend completely insane amounts on video cards just because MS released a new version of an API that adds some tiny little advantage that developers didn't see the point of anyway.

17 October 2009, 11:10 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Tin:
No console has ever "out-graphicsed" a PC. And until a console has a keyboard and mouse instead of triddly teeny-weeny sticks, I won't be changing my choice to spend money on graphics cards.

but what would sane folks rather have in their living rooms? Correct answer is neither, Child compromised answer is console.

Quoting Tin:
That said, I also don't spend completely insane amounts on video cards

wel ther goes your entry into gamers anonymous!

17 October 2009, 11:15 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Me In Oz (Cornerstone member):

Quoting petert:
Where are you "Me in Oz" and others?

We are here laughing at the usual crowd who seem to think that their assinine opinions will be valued by Microsoft and that this incessant bagging will change the MS marketing department. The word delusional comes readily to mind.

On the serious side, MS will surely gouge out as much money during this highly anticipated honeymoon period before they will releasee the 'Family Pack'. Word in this industry is about 12 months down the track.

17 October 2009, 3:32 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting Me In Oz:
On the serious side, MS will surely gouge out as much money during this highly anticipated honeymoon period before they will releasee the 'Family Pack'.

That's the 12 months where the lemmings who will buy anything at a any price just because its new rush in. I don't know if you've noticed but there are are more an a few new names here, somewhat bitten by their Vista Ultimate purchase decision.

Quoting Me In Oz:
We are here laughing at the usual crowd who seem to think

That usual crowd may have done a lot more thinking than you give them credit for, even while laughing at the "must have at any price" purchasers.

Quoting Me In Oz:
and that this incessant bagging will change the MS marketing department.

We don't kid ourselves for a moment that MS is listening, but we do know they respond to collective rejection of their products. Nothing gets attention better than failed sales targets, Vista is testiment to that. Even including all the XP sales they've counted in, the product failed every expectation. The public had spoken.

17 October 2009, 3:43 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

petert (Senior member):

Quoting Me In Oz:
We are here laughing at the usual crowd who seem to think that their assinine opinions will be valued by Microsoft

Thankfully, their remain a few of us able to form our own opinions rather than simply adopt the opinion given to us by MS. Cognitive impotence (the inability to conceive an original thought) is not something to be valued.

17 October 2009, 4:07 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

petert (Senior member):

Quoting Me In Oz:
MS will surely gouge out as much money during this highly anticipated honeymoon period before they will releasee the 'Family Pack'. Word in this industry is about 12 months down the track.

You are likely correct. But that does not relieve that frustration that informed people know that MS is gouging.

I also suspect that Australians are being made to pay a "Vista Tax" ie pay a higher cost for W7 than others to recoup money lost, or at least not made, by the poor sales of Vista.

17 October 2009, 4:20 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Undecided on Win 7 or Mac (New user):

Accoridng to Amercians, Australians don't have families.

17 October 2009, 1:28 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

petert (Senior member):

Quoting Undecided on Win 7 or Mac:
Accoridng to Amercians, Australians don't have families.

I like the joke, but to be fair, as others have pointed-out, this is MS Australia making the decision. Out of curiosity though, does anyone know the cultural background of the CEO and Sales Director of MS Australia :-)

17 October 2009, 1:36 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend

Raindog (Senior Forumologist):

Quoting petert:
this is MS Australia making the decision.

Somehow I dont think so. MS Au is little more than a distribution point. The marketing is all US sourced, the product is all US sourced, and you can bet any important regional operation decisions are US sourced too.

Quoting petert:
Out of curiosity though, does anyone know the cultural background of the CEO and Sales Director of MS Australia

For curiousity maybe, but does it matter? A bastard act is a bastard act regardless of the ethnicity of the purpetrator. We have seen many examples this kind of bastardry from Australian and Off Shore CEOs, Telstra and Qantas coming immediately to mind.

17 October 2009, 1:44 PM (5 months ago)report abuse Send to a friend