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Microsoft offers netbook users a cheaper escape from Windows 7 Starter
Sure, I understand that the move was probably a carrot dangled to wireless carriers -- who could then permanently brand their inexpensive subsidized netbooks and get a little free advertising. And yes, I know there are hacks out there to enable background changes, but it still seems like a goofy feature to disable.
The Windows Anytime Upgrade offers a solution, too. Buy it, install it, and bump your netbook from Starter to Windows 7 Home Premium. And now, Microsoft has announced that you can make the move at an even better price.
Until July 3rd 2010, you'll be able to make the switch for $49.99 (a $30 discount) at "select retailers." You can also move from Windows 7 Home Premium to Professional for $79 (though that's a much less exciting $10 off).
Now the bad news: this only applies to new systems purchased during the promotional period. If you've already bought a system with Starter on it, stay tuned to our site -- we'll keep posting restriction-busting programs as we find them!
Comments
5
Subscribe to commentsDachApr 2nd 2010 2:36PM
Or buy grey market keys off ebay for $20 (or less). That's a $60 savings!
angrykeyboarderApr 2nd 2010 3:52PM
How do I know that's "genuine"?
JaymoonApr 2nd 2010 3:54PM
I find it funny that even if you stick in a Win7 Ultimate key that you get "from a friend", the Anytime Upgrade verifies the key online, yet stills goes ahead and upgrades your OS.
...at least that's what I've heard. ;)
BazApr 2nd 2010 5:02PM
As for those *millions* of netbooks out there that were installed with XP pre-Win7, there's still no easy, cost-effective encouragement (read: don't go pirated version) from Microsoft - and on a USB, please - means of jumping to the OS.
Fine by me, really. My netbook boots faster with XP than a colleague's with Win7 and all the programs I have (or are likely to have) run natively in XP. Still, it hardly encourages users to move up.
mmscichowskiApr 2nd 2010 6:48PM
I wasn't suckered... I got the student upgrade to pro for $29.99 right when everything was launched! Works like a dream!