Microsoft may be offering family deal on Windows 7
I’ve been trying to figure out, these past few days, the best approach to take with Microsoft’s Windows 7 upgrade.With multiple computers in the house (running a combination of XP and Vista) it’s not going ot be cheap to upgrade them all.
The company is running a discount program right now, offering upgrades for essentially half price. You pay now and get your upgrade when it’s released in October. It’s a deal that’s not going to last long - at least that what Microsoft is saying.
Word is leaking out, however, about family pack of upgrades that cuts some slack to users with multiple computers in the home.
Fadfusion.com, a Missouri-based online seller of computers, electronics and office supplies, lists something called “W7 Family Pack - Home Prem Upg” on its site for $138.99, an $11 discount from the $149.99 it claims is the package’s suggested retail price.
Microsoft hasn’t officially confirmed the package deal. But it’s expected to provide three licences for a household at a savings of more than $200 over when compared to three separate purchases.
Tim has covered a wide range of topics, including tourism, crime, aviation and gambling, since becoming a reporter in 1990. The Oklahoma native joined the Post-Dispatch in 2007 after spending nine years in Orlando. In his spare time, he's often exploring one virtual world or another. He can be reached at tbarker@post-dispatch.com. 
Ah, the mythical Windows 7 upgrade. I say mythical because of my wife’s experience trying to register for the upgrade on a computer purchased during the July 4 weekend. As I am sure everybody who has gone into a computer store knows, computers sold from the end of June to the end of January can register for a free upgrade to Windows 7.
Actually getting the upgrade is another issue. The computer my wife bought was an Acer with Windows Vista Home Premium (64-bit). She asked two separate sales people to confirm the computer was eligible for the upgrade, she was assured it was. When she brought it home, she registered the computer with Acer, then tried to register for the upgrade (computer sellers website links to the manufacturer links ultimately to the distributer Windows chose). She get a message there that the computer is not eligible for the upgrade. Everything present on the computer seller website and the computer manufacturer’s web site indicates the computer meets the criteria. Thinking there may be a delay in whatever the registration system is (perhaps the computer has to be registered, then the manufacturer has to send the serial number to the windows distributer), she waits a couple of days. Still the “not eligible” message. She sends a message to Acer, gets back a one line message saying “not eligible”, no explanation as to why. We went back to the computer seller yesterday, spend about a half hour there getting assured the computer is eligible, it meets all the requirements, but the upgrade is the responsibility of the computer manufacturer, not the seller. We get tech support for Acer. The tech person says the computer is eligible, then goes to check their computer system, then says no, it is not eligible with no answer as to why other than “that model is not eligible” - never mind there is no model list on Acer’s web site (or at least not anything linked to their windows 7 upgrade page), the only way to find out a computer is or is not eligible appears to be to buy it, then enter the serial number in the upgrade site and see. The wife asked to speak to a manager. Tech support says it is possible, but she will have to call another number (not transfer the call, but go through the fun of automated phone systems AGAIN). The computer was returned last night.
That was our experience with the “free Windows 7 upgrade” going on now.
Simian
I for one will never upgrade from XP unless I have to. I hate everything microsoft stands for and Lenix will not work for us unless we spend more money. I hated Vista and will never use it ever and the same goes for this new ripoff. As long as this works I will use it. If it someday does not, I will use this computer as a fancy door stop.