Question-and-Answers: Windows 8 Pro Upgrade (From Xp, Vista, 7)

Microsoft announced a $39.99 upgrade to Windows 8 Pro from Windows 7, Vista and XP, and we thought it would be a good idea to answer the key questions.

Unsure about upgrading to Windows 8? Read on

The announcement of a $39.99 upgrade to Windows 8 Pro was a surprise, as we didn’t expect a cheap upgrade to a major version of Windows. While good news, information may be unclear so here’s what you need to know.

Where?

Simple: from Windows.com for the $39.99 price, for $69.99 as a boxed DVD. Really it depends on how fast you’re internet connection is: the slower it is, the more likely you’re going to be to get the $69.99 version.

When?

Anytime from when Windows 8 launches, probably around October, and the offer runs until January 31, 2013. It’s probably going to be the best value upgrade for most users, and maybe even the cheapest option.

Why?

Not only is Windows going to be more expensive, but you’ll be able to upgrade from Windows 7 particularly with all of your settings intact. For Vista and XP, as you move towards XP what you can transfer over becomes less.

Great Developer Support … If Adopted

On Windows 8 specifically, it’s going to be the latest version of Windows and therefore at the cutting edge of support. If you don’t like Metro, there’s always the desktop version of Windows 8 and vice versa.

If Metro is adopted, and it’s a big if, then developer support could take off thanks to the cross development between Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. Developers can simultaneously produce apps for both platforms, so when an app is released there’s going to be two version of one app.

How?

Windows 8 runs an Upgrade Assistant to see if your hardware is suitable, and if anything needs to change before you run the install. If you’re running Windows 7 or Windows Vista, you should be fine.

What?

Windows 8 is the next major version of Windows, and arguably the most controversial. It brings the Metro interface that was introduced as early as in Zune devices, and refined on Windows Phone and through the Xbox Live dashboard. We’ve spoken before how Windows 8 could be the first step towards a complete Metro experience.