[News] Windows 8 prices will rise in 3 weeks time!

Windows 8 Pro upgrade

When Microsoft released their Windows 8 platform in October last year, they had an upgrade deal - Buy a Windows 7 PC and get Windows 8 Pro for $19.99! Now this deal from Microsoft is about to end, in three weeks time, at which point, the price of the new operating system could dramatically increase in price!
This offer means that if you bought a Windows 7 PC between the 2nd of June 2012 to the 31st January 2013, you could be eligible for the $19.99 upgrade offer. Microsoft also gives you an additional one month to register your new PC, before the end of February 2013, and still be able to get the Windows 8 upgrade.

Then there is another deal from Microsoft - Download Windows 8 Pro for just $49.99, or buy the Windows 8 Pro upgrade on DVD for $89.99, is also set to expire on the 31st of January.

These deals were announced by Microsoft last June-July, about 3 months before their Windows 8 debut in retail. The above prices were in immediate effect once they started selling Windows 8 in October.

Microsoft has not responded to queries asking them about their post-January pricing plans for Windows 8 pro, but because Microsoft always has a habit of making "past-prices practices", their new price should sync up with its usual $220 list price for an upgrade from its predecessor.

Another price that may also increase after January 31st is the Windows 8 Pro Pack, which allows you to effectively upgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro. This is currently at a special of $89.99. Microsoft still declines to respond to future pricing plans, but listing prices show it could reach to $130.

It seems like Microsoft have enjoyed making most of their discounts end on a familiar month - January 2013. Well here is a list of "other" Windows 8 deadlines that end in this month:

• Windows 8 Developer Preview of September 2011  -  15 Jan 2013
• Windows 8 Consumer Preview of February 2012  -  15 Jan 2013
• Windows 8 Release Preview of May 2012  -  15 Jan 2013
• Windows 8 Media Center Pack (Free upgrade)  -  31 Jan 2013

What happens to all the Windows 8 Previews after the expiry date? 

After that date, all the free previews will automatically restart every one or two hours and on-screen messages will tell consumers that they must upgrade to a paid license.

Do you like Windows 8? Is it what you expected from Microsoft last year? Is Windows 8 a worthy upgrade from Windows 7? Leave your thoughts in the comments section down below!

*All Pricing stated in this article, and in any article from NZ TechBlog, is in, or will be in, NZD