It's over! The opportunity to save $160 passed with the end of January 31, 2013. If you access the
download site today you will find that the purchase price of Windows Pro upgrade is now $199.99. They have added the basic Windows 8 version for $119.99 which can only upgrade Home versions of previous Windows OSs. You cannot use this version to upgrade Windows 7 Business or Professional editions.
However if you missed your opportunity to save $160 by purchasing Windows 8 download for $39.99 you possibly have one last opportunity to save $130 but you must hurry.
Last night when it became hopeless to attempt to download the version from overtaxed credit card processors (PayPal was the only sure option), I visited the local Office Depot to purchase 2 copies of Windows Professional with media for $69.99. I ended up getting only 1, the last copy the store had in stock. However, the manager informed me that consumers would be able to purchase the product from existing stock through Saturday 02/02/13. As of this a.m. the Perimeter Store still had the $69.99 version available. I checked with Staples and the $69.99 edition is still available in stock.
This last chance is apparently available at brick and mortar retail stores since I have been unable to find the $69.99 version at any of the online retailers, TigerDirect and others.
Where else can you get such great information than the Driving Force Blog. Happy savings!
And if you thought Windows was dead, here are the latest statistics on the installed base of desktop Operating Systems. The clients I have who actually use their MACs to work (aside from the ones who only surf the internet and use email) all have Windows emulation software, either Parallels or WinDoze so they can actually be productive. The performance isn't the same but at least there are applications for what they need.
As of 01/31/13, updated with release of Windows 8
Windows 8: Key Features by Version
| Feature name | Windows 8 | Windows 8 Pro | Windows RT |
|---|
| Upgrades from Windows 7 Starter, Home Basic, Home Premium | x | x | |
|---|
| Upgrades from Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate | | x | |
|---|
| Start screen, Semantic Zoom, Live Tiles | x | x | x |
|---|
| Windows Store | x | x | x |
|---|
| Apps (Mail, Calendar, People, Messaging, Photos, SkyDrive, Reader, Music, Video) | x | x | x |
|---|
| Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote) | | | x |
|---|
| Internet Explorer 10 | x | x | x |
|---|
| Device encryption | | | x |
|---|
| Connected standby | x | x | x |
|---|
| Microsoft account | x | x | x |
|---|
| Desktop | x | x | x |
|---|
| Installation of x86/64 and desktop software | x | x | |
|---|
| Updated Windows Explorer | x | x | x |
|---|
| Windows Defender | x | x | x |
|---|
| SmartScreen | x | x | x |
|---|
| Windows Update | x | x | x |
|---|
| Enhanced Task Manager | x | x | x |
|---|
| Switch languages on the fly (Language Packs) | x | x | x |
|---|
| Better multiple monitor support | x | x | x |
|---|
| Storage Spaces | x | x | |
|---|
| Windows Media Player | x | x | |
|---|
| Exchange ActiveSync | x | x | x |
|---|
| File history | x | x | x |
|---|
| ISO / VHD mount | x | x | x |
|---|
| Mobile broadband features | x | x | x |
|---|
| Picture password | x | x | x |
|---|
| Play To | x | x | x |
|---|
| Remote Desktop (client) | x | x | x |
|---|
| Reset and refresh your PC | x | x | x |
|---|
| Snap | x | x | x |
|---|
| Touch and Thumb keyboard | x | x | x |
|---|
| Trusted boot | x | x | x |
|---|
| VPN client | x | x | x |
|---|
| BitLocker and BitLocker To Go | | x | |
|---|
| Boot from VHD | | x | |
|---|
| Client Hyper-V | | x | |
|---|
| Domain Join | | x | |
|---|
| Encrypting File System | | x | |
|---|
| Group Policy | | x | |
|---|
| Remote Desktop (host) |
|---|
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