Windows 8 to cost $39 for XP, Vista and Windows 7 users

03.07.2012
Microsoft has announced via that it will offer upgrades to for just $39.99 for anyone using an existing , Windows or Windows XP or . Windows Media Center will be available free to upgraders, although it will require an additional .

Microsoft is obviously keen that existing users get Windows 8 via a download, as upgrading with a physical Windows 8 disc will cost $69.99 (around £45).

All of this suggests that it will cost around £25 to upgrade to Windows 8 with Media Center, although it remains to be seen whether UK users will be able to get the upgrade at the same price as our US cousins. Typically, UK prices are higher than US, due to the demands of localising an OS for a smaller market, and because tax is applied locally in the US.

In the blog post, Microsoft's Brandon LeBlanc says that the upgrade from Windows 7, Vista and XP will be a painless experience. It says that a Windows 8 upgrade assistant wizard will pinpoint device or application incompatibility issues, and run you through the process step by step. To be fair, our experience of installing both the Consumer Preview and Release Preview has been impressively painless.

"We set out to make it as easy as possible for everyone to upgrade to Windows 8," Le Blanc writes. "Starting at general availability, if your PC is running Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 you will qualify to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99 in 131 markets. And if you want, you can add Windows Media Center for free through the 'add features' option within Windows 8 Pro after your upgrade.

"When you use Windows.com to purchase an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant makes upgrading simple by walking you through the upgrade process step-by-step from purchase to download and then of course installation."