Windows 8 Pro: upgrade available for $39.99 with Media Center free

Microsoft will make an update to Windows 8 Pro available for 39.99 dollars. Tis promotion will be available until the 31st of January 2013 for all Windows users.

The RTM version of Windows 8 – and therefore the final code- has finally been made available. The operating system should be launched to the general public in the autumn. With this in mind, Microsoft has unveiled their commercial weapons to try and attract early users.

Users who purchase a new PC equipped with Windows 7 before the 31th of January 2012 will be able to update to Windows 8 Professional for $14.99. But what about users of other versions of Windows?

Between the release date of the new operating system and the 31st of January 2012, Microsoft will offer Windows 8 Pro for 39.99 dollars as an update from Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.

This promotion will be available in 131 markets in the world. The list hasn’t been provided, but many countries other than English speaking ones will be included. As for the prices in other markets, things should be quite similar with a download of Windows 8 Pro to be available from the Windows.com site.

For 15 dollars more, it will be possible to purchase a backup DVD. An upgrade to Windows 8 Pro via a DVD will also be available but for 69.99 dollars.

It should be noted that Windows Media Center will also be offered for free via Windows 8 Pro once the update has been completed. If this upgrade hasn’t been done by users, then the Media Centre will be a pay option available to all.

All of this is covered by a limited promotion. Microsoft hasn’t provided any information about the costing that will be applied besides this. Such an operation was expected, although it goes a lot further than that seen with the launch of Windows 7.

Microsoft is giving their Windows 7 users a lot of different options to make their migration to Windows 8 as smooth as possible. The majority of users migrate to a new version of Windows with the purchase of a new PC where the OS is pre-installed, with users therefore preferring to wait for this event rather than upgrading their existing machines.

This month, Apple will offer an update to OS X Mountain Lion for 15.99 Euros... but this isn’t a promotion.