Don't forget, Windows 8 prices go way up next week

[M A V I C]

Some of us have to use Windows for various things. Like it or not, Windows 8 is the future for that realm. Right now Windows 8 Pro upgrades are $40, but will go up to $200 starting in February. I'm planning on buying another copy before then, as I know I will eventually need it. Probably just won't be installing it yet.

[cbelt3]

I'm very happy that Micr$oft is giving us all yet another reason to never, ever, ever upgrade to that POS.

[silvarios]

cbelt3,
Linux is my personal computing future. There's too more compromise in either OS X or Windows for me not to switch full time. Well, after my Snow Leopard hardware proves too old. I'm not throwing the baby out with the bath water.

[silvarios]

That is a huge price increase.

[samintx]

why? I hate WIN8. They could have stopped a couple OS ago and I would have been happy. But I decided to go entirely mac about a year ago instead of going back and forth from PC to mac. Still have an HP and Vaio but only the Vaio is dedicated to certain programs I use when MTR won't work. HP just stores stuff I'm too lazy to take off the HD but will eventually.

I would like to try a SURFACE tho. I love trying new stuff. Will never replace my AIR

[freeradical]

silvarios wrote:
cbelt3,
Linux is my personal computing future. There's too more compromise in either OS X or Windows for me not to switch full time. Well, after my Snow Leopard hardware proves too old. I'm not throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Linux is an OS that I want to like, but I just can't.

You have to be a geek to use it, and the software for it is for geeks as well.

As exhibit A I give you GIMP...

[Filliam H. Muffman]

The main reason to move to Win8 is for a touchscreen. I hear it also does VMs better so I might actually pay for it.

[silvarios]

freeradical wrote:
[quote=silvarios]
cbelt3,
Linux is my personal computing future. There's too more compromise in either OS X or Windows for me not to switch full time. Well, after my Snow Leopard hardware proves too old. I'm not throwing the baby out with the bath water.

Linux is an OS that I want to like, but I just can't.

You have to be a geek to use it, and the software for it is for geeks as well.

As exhibit A I give you GIMP...
I don't know many normal people who enjoy using iTunes, yet that's still consumer software. GIMP is a more or less pro level tool, regular people won't be using it. I know many Mac users who can barely operate their Mac. How many users are befuddled by Windows?

The Linux kernel runs on many set top boxes, HDTVs, router, mobile phones, etc. That's the geeky part. The common user interfaces aren't that hard. People always complain about the unfamiliar. Be it switching to new versions of Mac OS, Windows, Linux, or in between different OSes. Sometimes things are actually worse, but sometimes we become set in our ways. There's always a balance.

[space-time]

M A V I C wrote:
... Right now Windows 8 Pro upgrades are $40, ...

what qualifies for "upgrade"/ I have an XP SP2 DVD that came with an old Dell laptop no longer in my possesion. I have an Win 7 Pro (I guess) that came with my current laptop, but corporate nuked and paves and installed their own Win 7 license.

Finally I have an NT and Win 2000 licenses from University that we were told "stundets can keep and use the licenses after they graduate".

None of these was actually paid from my own pocket directly. does any of these qualify for an upgrade that I might want to install in Parallels?

[M A V I C]

OEM licenses are only good for the hardware they came on. Lots of answers here: http://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-US/Home/Faq

FWIW, I was cloning the HD of one machine I was going to upgrade to W8. I wanted to get the W8 DL started early, so it could be ready when the cloning was over. So I used a VM to purchase and DL the upgrade. But I used a dev VM that I hadn't activated yet - still it let me upgrade.

One thing to watch out for, is if you upgrade from a 32bit OS, you'll download the 32bit upgrade.