Microsoft's apology for Vista - Windows 7 for FREE
Monday, 19 Jan 2009 16:49
Windows 7
Microsoft will give out Windows 7 for free to Windows Vista customers by way of an apology.
Microsoft's Vista operating system
might not have been the disaster everyone made it out to be, but it was certainly a big PR disaster for the company.
Microsoft jumped back to the design board to create a new operating system and are now willing to give away Windows 7 for free to those who bought Vista with a new computer within a certain period of purchase.
Known as the
Microsoft Windows 7 Upgrade Program, or the Windows 7 Technical Guarantee Program, it intends to assist Microsoft's OEM partners in minimising the number of users who might postpone the purchase a new computer because of Windows 7's imminent release.
In order to do this, Microsoft propose that their partners provide a free upgrade to users (both individual and small businesses) who qualify.
The catch? It's only available to users who bought a PC with pre-installed Vista within the Program Eligibility Period. From what we know, this period begins from July 1st 2009. So yes, it's not for all Vista users.
Also note, the program is optional. OEMs are free not to participate and so can determine how best to provide end users with Windows 7. So perhaps this isn't an apology, but simply good business sense? Microsoft aren't a company to admit failure.