Microsoft Offers Windows 8 Pro for $39.99

[DiscostewSM]

I had been getting Win7 (and other stuff) for free for the past number of years with the Academic Alliance with my college. However, I recently graduated, so I don't get any more.

 

[loco365]

I'm currently running Vista and I will do ANYTHING to get rid of it.

 

[YayMii]

If this deal works for pirated Windows users, I might go legit. This is pretty awesome.

 

[Bladexdsl]

still not interested windows 7 is doing everything i want it to do no need to upgrade.

Win7 is a pretty good OS to use. Wish I knew how to customize it better though.

use windows 7 manager

 

[FireGrey]

Well I was going to pirate it but this seems much better.

 

[Pong20302000]

If this deal works for pirated Windows users, I might go legit. This is pretty awesome.

thinking the same

microsoft will like more people upgraded than 7 liecneces sold

maybe they finally realise if you charge alot less people wont bother with pirating because its not worth the pain or Non-registered copy messages

 

[FAST6191]

Re less than legit methods and messages, lack of service packs and such... I admit less than legit 7 is harder to keep on top of than XP (and certainly earlier versions of windows) primarily as you have to actually do something. This makes it a pain if you have to do it for others but harder is by no means actually difficult and if you are just doing it for yourself and can not get it done then I would hold you have no business installing/maintaining windows.

Anyway looked at the pro features which include Domain Join and Group policy so looks like I might just have a few to upgrade if it stretches back to XP for those I can not persuade to move to VM and linux/BSD (samba looks like it might do some serious damage before XP runs out* so $40 or who are we kidding £40 multiplied by 20 machines is not as enticing as it might be).

*4.0 with active directory controller stuff is now in beta and if I decide to be a masochist I might even consider it for a production server before I need to deal with updating otherwise.

I also here somewhat good things about Windows 8 server as well.

An interesting move, I did not raise an eyebrow when apple did such a thing for some of their operating systems but with MS not really having a hardware market beyond quite nice peripherals I do not want to say desperation move but it does strike me as there might be someone somewhat forward thinking at MS that managed to bypass bureaucracy. I am not anticipating a ME/vista repeat unless they do lean on metro beyond my ability to pull it back properly but I could see people going for the every other version model which could hurt.

 

[Bladexdsl]

I admit 7 is harder to keep on top of than XP and certainly earlier versions if you have to do it for others primarily as you have to actually do something but harder is by no means actually difficult and if

in english?

 

[FireGrey]

Hopefully it works by buying the install disc for $40 and using your windows 7 product code to activate it, so that way you can use it on multiple computer which have windows 7.

 

[jalaneme]

I wouldn't touch it if i was offered it for free.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Really don't see the point in upgrading myself, Windows 7 will stay popular for probably the next decade before people start to slowly drop it. I mean Windows XP is still supported by almost everything and how old is that?

I don't really hate Windows 8, it's just that once you put the Metro UI away, it's sorta just Windows 7 from what I've heard.

 

[chris888222]

Win7 already costs a bomb here ($229+)

Badly burnt. Even if Win8 seems very appealing it will still take awhile to heal.

Also, I don't see how Metro works well unless your laptop has touch input.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Win7 already costs a bomb here ($229+)

Badly burnt. Even if Win8 seems very appealing it will still take awhile to heal.

Also, I don't see how Metro works well unless your laptop has touch input.

You can probably just mouse over the tiles or navigate via the arrow keys. I mean the same layout is on the Xbox 360 and it works, um, "fine" I guess is a word I'd use to describe it.

But as a few people have said, I'm rather positive you can just switch it to a traditional Windows 7-esque look. The Metro UI I think is more to streamline the OS across all their devices. Windows Phone 8, MIcrosoft Surface, PC, and Xbox 8.

 

[ComeTurismO]

Already have this installed,

IMO, Windows 8 is really annoying. The picture you should above, everytime when I want to switch back to Windows 7 it goes back to 8.

 

[MushGuy]

I already tried Windows 8, and I didn't like it, especially because of the cell phone-like interface. Is there a way to change it back to the more familiar interface (you know, with the Start button)?

 

[Pong20302000]

I already tried Windows 8, and I didn't like it, especially because of the cell phone-like interface. Is there a way to change it back to the more familiar interface (you know, with the Start button)?

you couldnt of tryied it for long

windows 8 has a start button and also the desktop

the metro at the start is for just the ability to surf the net or play the games you have already installed from moments after you power on

to get to the desktop or install more feature or browse files you just go to the bottom left and go to desktop

the idea is that the desktop is more installing and broswing files

but you can use the metro to launch a web browser and surf instant
or play a game instant

 

[AlanJohn]

Pretty cool I guess.
Paying 40 dollars is more convenient than paying 199$

 

[MushGuy]

I already tried Windows 8, and I didn't like it, especially because of the cell phone-like interface. Is there a way to change it back to the more familiar interface (you know, with the Start button)?

you couldnt of tryied it for long

windows 8 has a start button and also the desktop

the metro at the start is for just the ability to surf the net or play the games you have already installed from moments after you power on

to get to the desktop or install more feature or browse files you just go to the bottom left and go to desktop

the idea is that the desktop is more installing and broswing files

but you can use the metro to launch a web browser and surf instant
or play a game instant

Wait, so it has one? How come it didn't come with my test copy?

 

[FireGrey]

Pretty cool I guess.
Paying 40 dollars is more convenient than paying 199$

It's more of $40 vs. Pirating vs. New PC
The $40 is the cheapest way where you can still support the developers.

 

[Ben_j]

Even if it was free (which it will be actually, since I can have free Windows copies with my school) I would not get it.