Windows 8 Pricing Revealed

btarunr · Oct 12, 2012

Microsoft's biggest launch of the year, Windows 8, may be under two weeks away, but there are still a couple of things Redmond managed to keep secret despite consumers getting a fair look-and-feel of the new operating system with pre-launch Consumer Previews. A large volume of Windows licenses are sold through hardware vendors, where the operating system is sold pre-installed on PCs and notebooks. The rest is sold as packaged software, through conventional retail channels.

As packaged software, the two variants of Windows 8 (Windows 8 and Windows 8 Pro) will be available as upgrade and full-version. The upgrade package lets you move from an existing installation of Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7, to the new OS. The Windows 8 Pro Upgrade is listed at an introductory price of US $69.99. For the same price, you get Windows 8 Pro Pack, which is a card with a software key to Windows 8 Pro (any architecture), no installation media. The OEM (builder) packages of Windows 8 (standard), which includes a key and installation media is sold in 64-bit and 32-bit variants, each priced at $99.99. Lastly, there are similar 64-bit and 32-bit packages for Windows 8 Pro, each priced at $139.99. Newegg.com is accepting pre-orders.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

Nihilus · Oct 12, 2012

Surprisingly good prices. That may also mean less R & D put in this OS.

xkche · Oct 12, 2012

Not bad

same price of Win7.

Dos101 · Oct 12, 2012

Expected pricing. Microsoft finally gets competitive.

Nihilus said:
Surprisingly good prices. That may also mean less R & D put in this OS.

Why would you say that?

mtosev · Oct 12, 2012

I like this. so the full version of 8 PRO will be 150euros or less

This OEM System Builder Channel software requires the assembler to provide end user support for the Windows software and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is installed. To acquire Windows software with support provided by Microsoft please see our full package "Retail" product offerings.
what?
full versions of windows 7 could be transferred to another computer.what's up with this?

xkche · Oct 12, 2012

mtosev said:
This OEM System Builder Channel software requires the assembler to provide end user support for the Windows software and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is installed. To acquire Windows software with support provided by Microsoft please see our full package "Retail" product offerings.
what?
full versions of windows 7 could be transferred to another computer.what's up with this?

I have the OEM version of Win7 HP and i installed 3-4 times without problem. First change MoBo, second CPU, next CPU and Mobo (From AMD to INTEL) and finally go back to AMD with the same key...

newtekie1 · Oct 12, 2012

Dos101 said:
Microsoft finally gets competitive.

Finally? These are the same prices as Win7 and Vista and XP...

xkche said:
I have the OEM version of Win7 HP and i installed 3-4 times without problem. First change MoBo, second CPU, next CPU and Mobo (From AMD to INTEL) and finally go back to AMD with the same key...

It is possible to install OEM copies on different computers, Microsoft isn't super strict. But it is still against the EULA, and if you do it too much they will catch you and blacklist the key.

mtosev · Oct 12, 2012

well microsoft's windows 7 license states that its only possible to transfer a license to another computer if you have a FPP or full packaged product.

BigMack70 · Oct 12, 2012

Too bad Windows 8 isn't even worth $0.99 for a desktop...

I'll pass.

_Zod_ · Oct 12, 2012

mtosev said:
I like this. so the full version of 8 PRO will be 150euros or less

This OEM System Builder Channel software requires the assembler to provide end user support for the Windows software and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is installed. To acquire Windows software with support provided by Microsoft please see our full package "Retail" product offerings.
what?
full versions of windows 7 could be transferred to another computer.what's up with this?

Basically System Builder = OEM and Full = Retail. It used to be that you were not allowed to purchase OEM at all, that was reserved for the likes of DELL, HP etc. and OEM licenses were always tied to the original hardware it came with. Retail and Upgrade were consumer options that with Retail being transferable.

Nothing has changed other that now you can buy an OEM license as an end user.

Octavean · Oct 12, 2012

Yeah, not sure that makes a lot of sense. I bought upgrade licenses of Vista and Windows 7 the day they were released for about ~$50 each respectively. There were even family packs for a limited time consisting of 3 licenses for ~$150 (Home Premium upgrade).

I don’t think I would be willing to spend much more then that for an upgrade license of Windows and I already have some Windows 8 Pro full licenses through my Technet subscription.

semantics · Oct 12, 2012

Look like a temporary early adopter price.

Dos101 · Oct 12, 2012

newtekie1 said:
Finally? These are the same prices as Win7 and Vista and XP...

Ah I didn't see "upgrade" in the article when I first read it, thought it was for the full version. Serves me right for skimming the article.

Easy Rhino · Oct 12, 2012

i highly recommend purchasing windows 8 and installing one of the various start menu programs for it. it is faster than windows 7 on my machine.

Delta6326 · Oct 12, 2012

Wow still dragging along the 32-bit...

Was hoping price would be cheaper around $80 for normal OEM. and PRO OEM would be around $100-115

PLAfiller · Oct 12, 2012

How does this "Pro Pack" works? I get only a dvd-key? But where do I get the windows from?- surely not from torrents. It looks a viable option to me. Can someone shed some light on it for me pls?

Solidstate89 · Oct 12, 2012

I can't see any reason to pay an extra 30 dollars just for a DVD. If you wait until the 26nd you can get the upgrade for Windows 8 Pro for 40 dollars via digital download.

Solidstate89 · Oct 12, 2012

lZKoce said:
How does this "Pro Pack" works? I get only a dvd-key? But where do I get the windows from?- surely not from torrents. It looks a viable option to me. Can someone shed some light on it for me pls?

Do not get the Pro Pack. Pro pack is the priced upgrade if you purchase Windows 8 and want to upgrade to get the extra features of Windows 8 Pro. You'll want the Windows 8 Pro upgrade, not the Pack. Then you just upgrade your current installation.

Octavean · Oct 12, 2012

Solidstate89 said:
I can't see any reason to pay an extra 30 dollars just for a DVD. If you wait until the 26nd you can get the upgrade for Windows 8 Pro for 40 dollars via digital download.

As long as that is an ISO then fine. I wouldn’t want to have to necessarily install it on the system it was purchased on.

Drone · Oct 12, 2012

It's a good thing that upgrade price from xp to 8 and from 7 to 8 is the same.

suraswami · Oct 12, 2012

good to know the price is really cheap, but I just bought a W7 laptop, I am guessing I am eligible for the $15 upgrade offer.

mtosev · Oct 12, 2012

_Zod_ said:
Basically System Builder = OEM and Full = Retail. It used to be that you were not allowed to purchase OEM at all, that was reserved for the likes of DELL, HP etc. and OEM licenses were always tied to the original hardware it came with. Retail and Upgrade were consumer options that with Retail being transferable.

Nothing has changed other that now you can buy an OEM license as an end user.

well I'm only interested in a non upgrade transferable license. I don't care if its OEM, retail or anything else.i'm confuzed because what I quoted is from the newegg link posted here

Solidstate89 · Oct 12, 2012

Octavean said:
As long as that is an ISO then fine. I wouldn’t want to have to necessarily install it on the system it was purchased on.

You don't have to install it on the system it was purchased on. You purchase the upgrade key, and you can either do an in place install or just use it later on some other system. And yes, you can also choose to do an offline install and save it to an ISO to burn to a DVD or install via a Flash drive.

Octavean · Oct 12, 2012

Solidstate89 said:
You don't have to install it on the system it was purchased it. You purchase the upgrade key, and you can either do an in place install or just use it later on some other system. And yes, you can also choose to do an offline install and save it an ISO to burn to a DVD or install via a Flash drive.

For ~$40,......sold,.... I'd probably buy about ~3 licenses or more.

***edit***

Although I’m not pleased with some aspects of the install process of Windows 8 Pro RTM. I wont get into details and it can be sidestepped but it’s a hassle.

Nordic · Oct 12, 2012

$40 is enough to make me consider it. I am pretty dead set on windows 7 though. I can't imagine it being that much faster even though some of you say it is. I did play with the RT for a little while.

System Name	RBMK-1000
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
Motherboard	ASUS ROG Strix B450-E Gaming
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Storage	Western Digital Black NVMe 512GB
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Display(s)	49" LG TV 49UH6030 4K HDR
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Power Supply	EVGA 600W
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Case	Lian Li PC-O11 Dynamic - Black
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Mouse	Logitech G502 HERO
Keyboard	Corsair Strafe MK.2 Cherry MX Silent
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64bit

System Name	Core i9 rig / Lenovo laptop
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Motherboard	Asus Prime X299 Edition 30 / Lenovo motherboard
Cooling	Corsair H115i PRO RGB / stock cooler
Memory	Gskill 4x8GB 3600mhz / 16GB 2400mhz
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System Name	xkche
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Video Card(s)	Sapphire RX480 Nitro+ (4GB)
Storage	Crucial MX200 275GB
Display(s)	49" LG TV 49UH6030 4K HDR
Case	NZXT 410
Audio Device(s)	Onboard
Power Supply	EVGA 600W
Software	Windows 10

Windows 8 Pricing Revealed

btarunr

Editor & Senior Moderator

Nihilus

xkche

Dos101

mtosev

xkche

newtekie1

Semi-Retired Folder

mtosev

BigMack70

_Zod_

Octavean

semantics

Dos101

Easy Rhino

Linux Advocate

Delta6326

PLAfiller

Solidstate89

Solidstate89

Octavean

Drone

suraswami

mtosev

Solidstate89

Octavean

Nordic

Processor	Intel Core i7 10850K@5.2GHz
Motherboard	AsRock Z470 Taichi
Cooling	Corsair H115i Pro w/ Noctua NF-A14 Fans
Memory	32GB DDR4-3600
Video Card(s)	RTX 2070 Super
Storage	500GB SX8200 Pro + 8TB with 1TB SSD Cache
Display(s)	Acer Nitro VG280K 4K 28"
Case	Fractal Design Define S
Audio Device(s)	Onboard is good enough for me
Power Supply	eVGA SuperNOVA 1000w G3
Software	Windows 10 Pro x64

Processor	Intel i9-9900KS @ 5.2 GHz
Motherboard	Gigabyte Z390 Aorus Master
Cooling	Corsair H150i Elite
Memory	32GB Viper Steel Series DDR4-4000
Video Card(s)	RTX 3090 Founders Edition
Storage	2TB Sabrent Rocket NVMe + 2TB Intel 960p NVMe + 512GB Samsung 970 Evo NVMe + 4TB WD Black HDD
Display(s)	65" LG C9 OLED
Case	Lian Li O11D-XL
Audio Device(s)	Audeze Mobius headset, Logitech Z906 speakers
Power Supply	Corsair AX1000 Titanium

System Name	Zim
Processor	AMD FX-6300
Motherboard	GA-970A-UD3 (rev. 2.0)
Cooling	AMD Stock with heat pipes
Memory	Corsair CMV8GX3M2A1333C9 2x 8GB Kit DDR3 1333
Video Card(s)	EVGA GeForce GTX 550 Ti FPB
Storage	Western Digital WD RE4 1TB - Main
Display(s)	HP LP2465 1920x1200
Case	COOLMAX CS-480
Audio Device(s)	Intergrated VIA VT2021
Power Supply	hec X-Power Pro 600
Software	Windows 7 Ultimate

Processor	RyZen R9 3950X
Motherboard	ASRock X570 Taichi
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Memory	64GB DDR4 3200 (4x16GB)
Video Card(s)	RTX 3050
Storage	Samsung 2TB SSD
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Case	Zulman MS800
Audio Device(s)	On Board
Power Supply	Seasonic 650W
VR HMD	Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest V1, Oculus Quest 2
Software	Windows 11 64bit

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Case	Corsair Carbide 400C
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Mouse	MX Master 3s
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Software	The Matrix

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Display(s)	Samsung 49" Odyssey OLED G95SC 240Hz 5120 x 1440
Case	"THE CUBE" Custom built, pure Red Alder wood
Audio Device(s)	Beyerdynamic DT 880
Power Supply	Corsair RM1000X
Mouse	Logitech G700
Keyboard	Logitech G910
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Display(s)	Alienware AW3418DW
Case	Lian-Li O11 Dynamic Evo w/ 3 Phanteks T30 fans
Power Supply	Seasonic PRIME 1000W Titanium
Software	Windows 11 Pro 64-bit

System Name	---
Processor	FX 8350 @ 4.00 Ghz with 1.28v
Motherboard	Gigabyte 990FX-UD3 v4.0, Hacked Bios F4.x
Cooling	Silenx 4 pipe Tower cooler + 2 x Cougar 120mm fan, 3 x 120mm, 1 x 200 mm Red LED fan
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Case	AeroCool XPredator X3
Audio Device(s)	Built-in Realtek
Power Supply	Corsair HX1000 Modular
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64 bit

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Video Card(s)	MSI RX 6750 XT MECH 2X 12G OC
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Display(s)	HP Omen 27q QHD 165hz
Case	ThermalTake P3
Power Supply	SuperFlower Leadex Titanium
Software	Windows 11 64 Bit
Benchmark Scores	CB23: 1811 / 19424 CB24: 1136 / 7687