OK, up front I am NOT a Microsoft hater. I use XP on one of my PC’s and have a laptop that came with Vista Home Premium pre-installed. Yes, I also use a MacBook Pro and have a Linux system – so I think I can make the next statement with a clear conscience. Here it goes.
Microsoft, please do ‘the right thing’ and give us Vista users a free or reduced upgrade route to Windows 7
Why am I asking this? OK, so Windows Vista is not quite as horrible as many people say. I am the first to admit it. A lot of the flack Vista got was uncalled for. However, a lot of the flack Vista got is totally valid and I believe Microsoft already know this.
By hawking Windows 7 to the media and public as a faster, less resource hungry and all round better OS – Microsoft are clearly going to lose a STACK of sales.
Why upgrade to Vista now; when Windows 7 seems to offer a better upgrade route from your XP system than Vista does?
Why buy Vista today, knowing Microsoft are themselves trying to get you to focus on the NEXT Windows OS?
Since bringing Windows Vista to market, Microsoft has not only received a stack of bad publicity – it has ALSO caused those who use Vista to suffer with a s-l-o-w-e-r system than we deserve. If you don’t believe me, stick a copy of XP on a machine running Vista and watch it fly! (Or stick a linux OS on it and watch it leave the fricking planet 
)
I believe Microsoft can turn some of the problems and bad publicity surrounding Vista into a plus – if they offer Vista users either a free upgrade to Windows 7 or at least a discount upgrade route.
Here’s where YOU come in.
Do you think there’s any reason for Microsoft to offer Vista users a less expensive Windows 7 upgrade route? Maybe you think they Vista users got what they deserved for not downgrading to XP or a Linux OS. Let us know what YOU think!
I agree – Microsoft should be allowing a free upgrade to Windows 7 for us Vista users.
Here’s the problem with what you said, and you may have read my tweet about it. Microsoft’s release of this is major, and for them to offer a free upgrade cannot be warranted.
Like you said, Vista is not as bad as it was made out to be, however, we cannot forget that come XP’s release, there were a number of issues with that OS as well. Unfortunately Vista was made out to have significantly more problems than actually existed, so I’d put XP on par with Vista for problems come the initial release, and say that Vista is getting increasingly better with each Service Pack.
With that in mind, a heavily discounted upgrade package (not like the XP -> Vista upgrade package, but full OS if you can prove that you had a legitimate XP key) is not too far beyond the horizon. But it’s not like Microsoft is going to jump at losing money. It’s financially irresponsible to “give away” Windows 7.
I currently use Vista home edition on my laptop and I also have a home computer with XP. I must admit that sometimes third-party plug-ins dont work too well but I have not had a bunch of trouble with it until I started downloading a ton of things. It crashed for the first time today and I think that it’s because the “permissions” got screwed up. Is this a vista issue you are talking about?
I agree with bitshiftr, as much as we’d love free Win7, it wouldn’t be financially responsible for them. A heavily cheap discount for Vista owners would be lovely.
Maybe Microsoft should just package the version of Vista they had at CES 2007 and call it an upgrade.
I don’t know what happened between CES and launch of Vista but it went straight down hill.
You’re right though, they should offer at least an affordable route. Not like Adobe’s newest CS.
Like I said in the post, a discount upgrade would also be a great way to win back some of the people they pissed off with Vista.
It’s just a thought.
Some great comments!
ditto!!!
You’re dreaming if you think Microsoft will actually release something for free. Microsoft CEO Ballmer either doesn’t understand the concept of making money from a free product or is still stuck in the 90s when Google wasn’t a threat and Microsoft made money from developing and selling software.
To be fair to Microsoft, they’ve always offered reduced upgrades for users of their previous operating systems, on Amazon (UK) a copy of Vista Home Premium will set you back £138.48, an upgrade costs £68.98.
Windows Vista was a major release as the entire operating system was reengineered. Windows 7 is not, therefore Microsoft should set the price at around £80 for a copy and £40 for an upgrade. Is that reasonable?
I don’t think MSFT received unnecessary flack. I spent almost 4 grand on my TabletPC, purchased May 2007, with Vista Ultimate. I was averaging 3 bluescreen per day. This was made especially difficult because I was a Med Student, and depended on my TabletPC to work. You can not believe the hell I put up with until I was allowed to go back to XP [my issue was obviously with vista since XP ran beautifully].
Microsoft is an okay company, but lets be honest some of us paid the price for being early adopters BIG TIME!
Message to Microsoft: If you don’t make it up to me and others like me, I will NEVER EVER buy anything with the brand. By using us to beta test your OS, you gave us a bargaining chip.
Option A) Our attention with “Free” Windows 7 Upgrade.
Option B) Nice knowing you.
@everyone
The negativity hung on Vista is far more exaggerated than you seem to be suggesting. It is true that there were some hardware and software compatibility issues when Vista was new, but for at least a year now Vista has been great – the best OS Microsoft have produced to date. I run Vista on two machines and I get no less performance than with XP on the same hardware. Vista never crashes for me (or anyone else I know that runs Vista), and the interface allows more control and usability than XP (in my experience).
@doeswhat
Microsoft give away a LOT of free software. The Windows Live suite is free (email, messenger, photo library, blog writer, etc.) MS also offers free Hotmail, 5GB free online storage (Skydrive), etc.
I installed Windows 7 on my laptop the other day, and it’s (at this point in time) basically Vista with a few UI tweaks. People will like it because it works fine, but that’s because it’s built on Vista, which is the most stable and slick OS MS have made.
Bobby,
You make some good points. I use skydrive myself – 5gig of fast, free, reliable storage.
This would be a great opportunity for Microsoft to get something they are terrible at; GOOD publicity.
I know it would lose them some sales in the short term – but long term, it would surely INCREASE their sales?
I think a free upgrade will not happen – but some kind of reduction would help.
As Windows guy Paul Thurrott said recently; the promotion of Windows 7 by Microsoft has all-but killed off Vista now.
Why not turn the real or perceived problems with Vista into a victory – that’s all I am suggesting.
Good points – Vista w/SP1 is not horrible but, it isn’t what it should have been.
Microsoft would be foolish to offer Windows 7 for no money – people wouldn’t respect a free OS.
A half price upgrade though – that’s a great idea. As I understand it, Windows 7 exists in basic form now. So offer Windows 7 and continuing upgrades to Vista users before anyone else gets it.
I’m a buyer – can’t wait. I’m also a corporate IT manager with a bunch of users on XP. I won’t let my workforce anywhere near Vista. Too much downside risk.
Anyone who says that Vista is a great operating system is deluded. I am not saying that to flame, just to consider the following. Lets say that Vista is 100% problem free (for arguments sake) What does it offer that cant be done with XP and at lower specs? Why should someone invest in new hardware, just to run Vista, when they can get the same functionality from XP without the cost?
I dont use either, however another point I would like to make is that with every new version of Windows, it brings more compatibility problems with older software. Its nearly at a point now where Wine is better at running old windows software than Windows. Is this going to be the case with Windows 7?
MS seem constantly distracted with “bells & whistles” have they finally realized that users just want a functional OS? Linux has and so has MAC, thats why we are seeing a migration from the Windows platform.
I believe by the time Windows 7 is released, MS will have lost a considerable amount of custom.
There will be a program under which Vista users will be allowed to upgrade to 7 at a discounted price.
Mav,
Where did you hear / see that?
OEM’s, just like during the “Vista will come out soon” period, will probably offer free upgrade coupons to encourage people to buy Vista infected pc’s when the main public gets wind of Windows 7. I sit here running Windows 7 beta on the same laptop that I tried out Vista beta, and Vista final on, and W7 runs MUCH better. It just feels more comfortable. I am not waiting on things to happen, as with Vista. This is an Athlon64 3000, Radeon Xpress200m, 512MB ram.
Aside from that, I honestly don’t see much difference between 7 and Vista that couldn’t be fixed with a service pack. Just as XP added the security center in sp2, the UAC, home networking changes, and several other bits and pieces could be changed to the W7 style through a service pack. The new calculator, wordpad, and a couple other included programs they changed, I accept, could be a W7 only feature, pay for the upgrade if you want them.
My last remark is this: after seeing W7 beta, I’m not buying anything with Vista. I build my own desktops, and don’t need much out of a laptop. The big OEM’s wouldn’t get my money anyway.
Kev
Upside of giving out Windows 7 for free … Microsoft can discontinue Vista and save a bundle of its maintenance & upkeep until its end of life.
What do you say to this?
I believe that the main problem today is that everybody is after the looks and GUIs’ are getting over barring. Functionality and intuitive interface has gone overboard, remember that energizer commercial “It just has to work”. I can’t say the same for Vista, hence I have 2 partitions with XP on the second one. Try and load any linux or unix distribution even such small one as DSL( damn small linux) and in works just fine, question is
Why do we need all that extra heavyweight and I don’t mean it in a good way, additional resource monger.
it should be free
we have dealt with enough problems with vista.
the least they could do is give up the option to upgrade for free
Without a free upgrade or very low cost upgrade path, there will be larger than expected number of vista users that will migrate to the Mac. I don’t own a Mac, I am a windows software developer. So I make my money from Microsoft technology. So I am hoping Microsoft will understand this. There is no way I am going to spend over $300 dollars for Windows 7. Honestly I won’t spend over $49.99 for windows 7. There are a lot of us who felt cheated with Vista. It’s not a good OS. From the slowness, to the failed hibernation attempts, to frequent programs which stop responding and driver issues, I am now open to buy a Mac for the first time. Because I can now use other software to allow me to write .NET windows programs for XP on the Mac, I am more willing to make the move. IBM lost to Microsoft because they thought no one would dare go head to head with them. They were dominated within a span of 10 years in the PC market. Windows 7 must be cheap, great and compatible, anything less and my next $2500 bucks goes to Mr. Jobs. I hope they realize this.
Sign a current Vista User
Zerofirefox,
It is not recommended to put linux on a DSL, for it may not work properly.
I very much agree with the post seeing how I have a vista licence and im now running xp pro given to me as a recover disk by IBM. I would like them to tell us why they we don’t deserve this.
I have been using Vista since it’s early beta days, and I have had my share of problems (at first). I have come to actually enjoy Vista, cringing at the thought of using XP. I use vista machines at work and home now (mine is the only Vista PC at work). That being said, it would be unwise if MSFT did not offer a Vista->7 upgrade at huge discounts, but with all of the SKU’s they have, could you imagine how that would get botched up? Wat version should one get, could one upgrade and what upgrade version ? WOW that would be fun to sort out.
I am getting 7 as soon as it’s launched, in a Mac style camp-out the day it releases. I just hope I can get a very cheap upgrade, vs the standard upgrade price.
finally! somebody who understands! i believe that vista users, like me, should have a discounted or FREE upgrade because a lot of people here in the philippines are buying windows vista, they might get dissappointed if they knew that there’s already another os they NEED to buy. microsoft obviously didn’t balanced their release timeline. why they would release vista if they already have a better os ready to be released after 2 years? plus, a lot of home users will be disappointed too because they only wasted their money for an unworthy product… if they only knew. if i only knew windows 7 will be released in 2010, i would have just save my money for it instead of vista. i regret buying win vista! >=(
Unfortunately, I doubt very much that Microsoft will be giving free/discounted copies of Windows 7 to Vista users just because they are Vista users. That would basically equate to Microsoft admitting that Vista wasn’t the OS it should have been, even though we all know this in fact the case, and Vista is little more than a candy coated XP.
That said, I’m sure Microsoft will have an upgrade program similar to what they did when trying to transition people from XP to Vista; that is, to offer a free upgrade to Windows 7 to anyone who purchased a Windows Vista based machine a certain number of months before Windows 7 is released.
Sure, it would be nice if Microsoft extended this offer to everyone, but I just don’t see it happening.
Windows 7 MUST and should be free to all we idiots who bought windows vista
YES, ALL OF YOU ARE RIGHT.
MICROSOFT SHOULD UPGRADE ALL VISTA USERS TO WINDOWS 7.
I had many problems with XP, which grew until my pc crashed and could not be recovered. I bought a new HP with vista home premium, and have not had one problem in over one year, running all the same apps and games. I love it! Can’t wait for Windows 7! XP is dead! You guys are on a sinking ship.
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Microsoft should upgrade Vista Home Premium users and higher with a package like Windows 98SE update for Windows 98 Users for like 35 dollars. (i.e. Windows Vista Windows 7 Update.) becase all Windows 7 is really a Second Edition of Windows Vista. Similar to Windows 95 to Windows 98 and 98 to 98SE.
I seriously doubt it’ll be free but a low price upgrade is the minimum they could do, especially considering the short period of time Vista is going to be the company’s latest OS.
As far Vista, I have a laptop that has consistent blue screens with Vista. I got it brand new and it started doing pretty much right away.
My firefox browser crashes consistently too. That has never happen on XP.
As far as being financially irresponsible, it would irresponsible of Microsoft not to give a free upgrade. They have plenty of money. All they have ever done is put out their crap to the consumer as their test market.
Their money will fade away if they don’t do something to correct what they put people through with Vista. This whole deal reminds me a lot of Windows ME. It was the most security prone system out there. People stayed on 2000 until XP came out.
I’ve been running Vista for a few months now, I have no crashing issues on it, though performance could be better. Win7 apparently runs a whole lot better & faster, and I can’t wait to have that; I might buy Win7 quickly. But to be honest, the only reason I’m keeping Vista instead of putting XP, is that I think I deserve to have a cool laptop since I like bought it in a pretty high price (yes, I’m a shallow, shallow person). I have to admit the UI of Vista is far better than XP, but at what price? I never had compatibility issues or crashes with Vista, but the performance is pretty annoying. I mean I have a rather decent laptop, and I feel it could have been running a whole lot better than it is right now.
Free upgrades are great ideas, but they’re unrealistic.
I’d move to Macs myself, but they’re WAY overpriced.
Finally, A Vista Ultimate Extra I will be able to use.
Yes. Vista users should definitely be given this privilege of free upgrade to Windows7. Almost at this end cycle of Vista I’ve got a new laptop with one installed. Windows7 in a urge of being released soon I feel bad for getting a Vista now. So Microsoft should be considering these cases and should give a free upgrade to Windows7 as a compensation for giving a slower, chunky, draggy Vista.
Since Vista isn’t the most popular OS, and Windows 7 will be, for sure, people who paid for Vista, (a lot of money too), SHOULD get a free upgrade to Windows 7!!!
Some of the people who bought PC’s with Vista on it have no choice but to run Vista if they want to use all functionality the PC has to offer. Also, some manufacturers were not offering XP as an option and sometimes would pull the XP option for a few months just so that they could sell Vista (you could check the archives of sites like Engadget, PCmag.com, etc.). I think all Vista users should be given a free upgrade to Windows 7 with respect to the version of Vista they had purchased. They showed brand loyalty to MS. It would be wise on MS’s part to do so especially when they see the number of copies of Vista that have already been sold. That’s a lot of loyal customers MS will lose and other competitors will gain. At a business standpoint (not at a preference or “shame on you” basis), why should Vista users have to pay more for something they bought that was broken to begin with? If anything, it should be replaced. And that’s what you call customer service.
I just built my wife a computer for Christmas (first machine I’ve ever built. Great way to go to avoid all the junk that comes with boxed computer) I reluctantly put Vista Ultimate on it. With all the flack that it gets, I was scared to put it on. To my surprise, it was the best decision I could have made. It is a far superior OS than XP. Much more secure, and very stable. It is a resource HOG however, but I’m running a Q8200, 4gig ram, gt9400. I’ve not yet been able to bog down the system and have had no issues. Not a single crash. We run photoshop CS3 and video games and have been extremly impressed. I like the security of the system the best. Between Norton Internet security 2009 and the new security features in Vista, it’s on a new playing field compared to XP. I would not recommend upprading an old machine, and I would recommend maxxing out ram. I guess an OS is like a new model car….wait a year or so before you buy. All around I’m very happy with it.
As far as Windows 7 goes, I’d also like to see cheap upgrade, but I’m liking vista so much that I’ll not likely change anyway.