Windows 7 - Version Prices "As of June 25th 2009"
Windows 7 Pre-Order Offer:
Home Premium Upgrade for $49
Professional Upgrade for $99
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/offers/pre-order-email.aspx
Microsoft Store Stated:
"If you have Windows Vista, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade versions. You
can do a clean install
(back up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications) or an
in-place upgrade (Windows 7
installs over Windows Vista)."
"If you have Windows XP or Windows 2000, you can purchase Windows 7 Upgrade
versions. But you must back
up your files, clean install, and reinstall your applications."
http://www.microsoftstore.com/s/windows7?WT.mc_id=pointitsem_win7_generic_upgrade&WT.srch=1
Note: Prices may vary from store to store.
"The offer begins on June 26, 2009 and will continue while supplies last or
until July 11, 2009, whichever comes first"
These are estimated retail prices (US Dollars) for upgrade versions:
Windows 7 Home Premium: $119.99
Windows 7 Professional: $199.99
Windows 7 Ultimate: $219.99
Estimated retail prices for the full packaged retail versions:
Windows 7 Home Premium: $199.99
Windows 7 Professional: $299.99
Windows 7 Ultimate: $319.99
Windows 7 system requirements:
http://windows.microsoft.com/systemrequirements
Windows 7 - Compare Editions
See:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare-editions
If you plan to run older XP software programs then you need at least Windows
7 Professional and hardware that can support "Windows Virtual PC":
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx
If you plan to switch between multiple languages or use BitLocker then you
need Windows 7 Ultimate
More info on BitLocker Drive Encryption:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/bitlocker
Windows 7 Starter Edition:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare-editions
Windows 7 Enterprise:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/enterprise/products/windows-7-enterprise.aspx
Windows 7 system requirements:
http://windows.microsoft.com/systemrequirements
Note: Microsoft's states that Windows XP users will need to do a clean
install.
Also going from any 32bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows
7 will also require a clean install. "Microsoft designed Windows 7 Upgrade
media for Windows Vista. A customer with Windows XP can purchase Windows 7
Upgrade media but must back up their files, clean install, and then
reinstall their applications."
However I have found a path from Windows XP to Windows 7:
(that may work for some XP users): "In-Place Upgrade Windows XP to Windows
7"
http://www.pagestart.com/upgradexptowindows7.html
(This article will be updated as more information becomes available)
In short if you have Vista install it, live with the pain for a few months
and
the upgrade to Windows 7.