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#440
How come it costs so much money to upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro. I think $99 is way too much, they should have a sale.
Pardon me Computiac, while I use your post as a springboard for what I need to say. :)
Before I'd had enough experience to know exactly what I was doing, I bought the OEM version and had no adverse effects; however, once I learned that it was tied to that computer forever, I never went back there again. :)
That said, I can see folks looking at pricing and going for OEM for an existing computer that is running Windows XP or Vista. And they probably won't ever have a problem but since the computer is already "old", something's bound to break and they'll have to either have it repaired or buy a new one. So, OEM probably isn't a good choice . . .
And that's the thing . . . Upgrading an existing computer can have its downside but until then, it's a good thing. I have computers that came with Vista and one that came with Windows XP. All of them have been upgraded a few times until they got to Windows 10, but at some point they're going to crash and burn (hopefully not all at once). When that happens, I have a choice: Repair or buy a new one. Repair can get expensive (and can sometimes cost more than a new computer) for one, and secondly, if it's the motherboard, the upgrade is kaput anyway. We're not talking about those who build/repair their own computers; they have the best of all worlds.
Shopping around, new desktop computers can be found for less than $250 to upwards of $1,000, your choice. Laptops can be found in the same price range. And, best of all, they most likely come with Windows 8.1 at a minimum, which can be upgraded to Windows 10 for free. More and more, both desktops and laptops are showing up with Windows 10 pre-installed. What's not to like?
Bottom line here is that:
1. If your existing OS is OEM, the free Windows 10 upgrade will be tied to your computer forever.
2. If your existing OS is Retail, the free Windows 10 upgrade may not be tied to your computer forever.
3. If your computer crashes and burns and you're forced to buy a new one, it will most likely come with Windows 10; it will come with Windows 8.1 at a minimum (which can be upgraded to Windows 10 before July 29, 2016).
4. Those with Windows Vista or Windows XP who want to run Windows 10 will be forced to buy Windows 10 (version choice is theirs to make).
5. Microsoft is giving everyone who has Windows 7 or 8.1 a free upgrade to Windows 10; so unless you fit into category 4, there's no need to buy an extra copy of Windows 10 until it's needed.
6. Although doubtful, if Microsoft ever does offer Windows 10 at a discount (read, on sale at a deep discount), those who build their own systems may wish to buy a copy or three. I certainly will, since I do build my own systems for the most part.
And finally, I never intended to imply that those who don't have one or may need one more license to Windows 10 (read that existing Vista or XP) should not buy it if a.) It's not on sale or b.) It is on sale. And, yes, there are those who do still have those. Although very old, Windows XP still has a pretty large share of the market.
Actually, Simrick, that's been included in licenses all the way back to whenever. I don't like it either, but there you have it.
Generally, a call to Microsoft will get you activated again. They're pretty lenient about things that go bump in the night. I've even had a hard drive change make me have to call Microsoft for activation.
Actually, Win 10 Retail may prove to be a bargain because it's life should be longer than earlier versions, being the "Last Windows" that is .It should be adoptable for any new HW coming. If MS doesn't just decide one day to start charging for updates one day.