Microsoft sets free Vista Coupon Plan

In an attempt to ease the hardware vendors’ concerns that delay in the Windows Vista launch will muffle holiday PC sales, Microsoft Corp. is presenting two plans, Express Upgrade to Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee programs, available to holiday shoppers and small business sections from Oct. 26, 2006, through March 15, 2007.

The leading software company, Microsoft is offering a discount to both the communities that intend to upgrade from Windows XP to the Vista operating system. The company will offer the upgrade coupon to shoppers, who buy a Vista-capable PC between the stated time periods, allowing them to redeem the coupons for a free or discounted upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista and from Office 2003 to Office 2007.

Under the Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee Programs, the company will provide similar upgrades to those who will purchase editions of Microsoft Office 2003. The PCs and Office software must be purchased from a certified Microsoft OEM (Original equipment manufacturer) or "smaller computer makers, known as system builders," according to Microsoft.

A number of computer manufacturers worldwide have confirmed plans to participate in the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista program. And, Microsoft is working with those participating computer manufacturers and system builders that plan to sell machines loaded with Windows® XP or pre-installed with 2003 Microsoft Office software to make the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee programs.

PCs carrying the Windows Vista Capable logo may be eligible for the program, but upgrade offers will vary among PC vendors.

Some have reservations about the Microsoft’s free upgrading offerings. According to them the term, free, used by the company in its plan does not depict the exact meaning, ‘nothing to pay’.

The company said most of the upgrades will be free of charge or at a discounted price (shipping and handling charges may also apply). For example, consumers in America will be licensed to a Windows Vista Home Premium upgrade when they buy a new PC that has Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 installed. And, the consumers purchasing PCs running Windows XP Professional, Windows Tablet PC Edition, and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition can upgrade to Windows Vista Business and Windows Vista Business 64. The only costs to be borne by the previously mentioned consumers is shipping and handling.

But, for those, who want to upgrade from Windows XP Home to Windows Vista Home Basic and Windows Vista Home Premium, the upgrade plan is not at all free. They have to pay US$49 or US$79 for Basic and Premium, respectively.

According to Jeff Putt, the company's head of Windows for Australia, the update program for Windows Vista would commence in Australia from tomorrow. The program will work as the "Technology Guarantee" with large multi-national PC makers, and a coupan system for local builders, enabling consumers to change their machine to the new Vista operating system without having to purchase a full version. But these changes probably will not be free. If a user upgrades to a better version of Windows, "then there will be an upgrade charge", Mr. Putt said. "We don't know what that is yet though."

"We haven't announced pricing on the upgrade, but what I can say is that if you are upgrading from a premium version, like Media Centre, to a premium version of Vista, there will be a minimal handling charge," Mr. Putt said.

It would certainly be not sensible for Microsoft to expect a new buyer to pay extra money for an upgrade of such expensive software within months of the purchase.