Upgrade to Windows 8 Pro to cost $39.99 says Microsoft

Microsoft has announced that any computer running Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 will be eligible for a $39.99 update to Windows 8 Pro through download that will be available in 131 countries.  Microsoft will even add the Media Center bundle in add-on package.

This news comes as a great surprise as Microsoft is notoriously known for providing an expensive upgrade path for software updates, in particular for its flagship product, Windows. Looks like Microsoft is following Apple, which has dramatically reduced the price of Mac OS X with Lion which came for $29.99 and the upcoming Mountain Lion update which will cost even lesser at $19.99.

Notably, one will be able to easily upgrade to the Pro version of Windows 8 from a Consumer version of Windows and will also be able to save all files and setting along the way. Microsoft will also sell an additional back-up disk for another $15.

And if downloading is not an option Microsoft will also sell a packaged DVD version of the Windows 8 Pro upgrade for $69.99.  While the offer is very enticing, Microsoft says this promotion is only valid till January 31, 2013

Previously, Microsoft had announced that any Windows 7 PC purchased after June 2 2012, would be eligible for an Rs 699 upgrade to Windows 8 Pro.

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