{"id":63100,"date":"2012-10-26T12:31:13","date_gmt":"2012-10-26T10:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=63100"},"modified":"2012-10-26T16:00:27","modified_gmt":"2012-10-26T14:00:27","slug":"windows-8-versions-and-sa-pricing-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/software\/63100-windows-8-versions-and-sa-pricing-explained.html","title":{"rendered":"Windows 8 versions and SA pricing explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the global launch of\u00a0Windows<\/a> 8 done and dusted, which included a big launch party in Johannesburg, for those interested in the new operating system it is worth taking a moment to figure out which version of Windows 8 you should buy.<\/p>\n

There has been some confusion about the different versions of Windows 8 that will be available for sale, possibly because Microsoft<\/a> has changed the way it usually does things.<\/p>\n

Two of the more notable changes are that Microsoft will be offering upgrades to Windows 8 as a downloadable purchase from their website, and that all Windows 8 retail boxes are upgrades, not stand-alone licenses.<\/p>\n

Business lead for Windows at Microsoft South Africa, Colin Erasmus<\/a>, explained that at launch only Windows 8 Pro will be sold in retail boxes, and that an existing Windows 7, Vista, or XP (running Service Pack 3) license is needed.<\/p>\n

Getting a full stand-alone version of Windows 8 will be a very technical\u00a0exercise, Erasmus explained, though “system builder” (OEM\/DSP) versions of the operating system will still be available.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week Incredible Connection<\/a> announced that it would offer the Windows 8 Pro upgrade for R699.95.<\/p>\n

The table below\u00a0summarises\u00a0the various upgrade and system builder options available for Windows 8. There are system builder licenses of a single language version of Windows 8 available at online computer hardware stores in\u00a0South Africa, but these are not shown.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Windows 8 version<\/td>\nRecently bought PC<\/td>\nNeed old Windows<\/td>\nIncludes DVD<\/td>\nPricing: SA<\/td>\nPricing: US<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Windows 8 Pro\u00a0upgrade\u00a0download only (Windows 7 PC bought 2 June 2012 – 31 January 2013)<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n\u00b1R130 (Microsoft)<\/td>\n$14.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Windows 8 Pro upgrade download only<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n\u00b1R350 (Microsoft)<\/td>\n$39.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Windows 8 Pro upgrade – Retail introductory pricing<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nR600 (Groupon)
\nR700 (Incredible Connection)<\/td>\n		$70<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Windows 8 retail OEM\/DSP<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nR1,000 (Prophecy)<\/td>\n$100<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Windows 8 Pro retail OEM\/DSP<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nR1,630-R1,690 (Sybaritic, ComX)<\/td>\n$140<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

The following versions of Windows may be upgraded to Windows 8<\/a> and Windows 8 Pro:<\/p>\n