Microsoft hikes Win7 prices for Australia

By Renai LeMay, ZDNet.com.au

26 June 2009 11:04 AM

Tags: hewlett-packard, hp, microsoft, pricing, software, vista, windows 7, price

Australian buyers of Microsoft's upcoming Windows 7 operating system will pay between AU$50 and AU$150 more in real terms than US residents for the software, the company revealed this morning.

The most popular version of Windows 7 is likely to be the full Home Premium version, which has an estimated retail price of US$199.99, or AU$248. But Australians will pay AU$299 for the software. Microsoft has cut that amount down by AU$50 compared to the same version of Windows Vista.

Australians will pay AU$199 to upgrade from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium, whereas Americans will only pay US$119.99, or approximately AU$149.

The Professional version of Windows 7 will come with an even higher cost.

Australian users will pay AU$449 for the full retail version of Windows 7 Professional, whereas Americans will pay US$299.99, or AU$372. And Australians will pay AU$399.99 to upgrade to Windows 7 Professional, whereas Americans will pay US$199.99 or AU$248.

The ultimate version of Windows 7 will go for AU$469 in Australia, or AU$429 for an upgrade, compared to the respective US prices of US$319.99 (AU$397.03) and US$219.99 (AU$273.38). Microsoft has hiked the prices of Windows 7 Ultimate slightly compared to Vista Ultimate.

Broadly speaking, Australian prices for Windows 7 remain on par with their Vista equivalents, albeit with some small changes around the Home Premium and Ultimate versions.

Microsoft is not the only software vendor to slug Australians with higher prices than their US counterparts for the same software; Adobe's estimated local prices for its Creative Suite 4 package follow the same model.

Microsoft globally has also announced a limited pre-order program for Windows 7, under which customers in the US, Canada and Japan will be able to get the software at more than 50 per cent discount; but no such program has yet been announced in Australia.

Microsoft has also announced that customers who purchase PCs with Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate versions from today will be able to upgrade to Windows 7 "for little or no cost" when it launches on 22 October. This upgrade option will run until 31 January 2010, with buyers being able to redeem it until the end of February, Microsoft said.

Hewlett-Packard announced this morning it would be participating in the offer, and would start offering Windows 7 on PCs starting from 22 October.

All prices listed are estimated retail prices.

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Add your opinion

A good alternative Achilles -- 26/06/09

I find OSX a good alternative to any version of Windows, at a fraction of the cost (in dollars and time). Of course this is ruled out if you have to run applications that are only available for Windows. MS Office for Mac is remarkably compatible with the Windows version. I use a Mac in an otherwise all-Windows office and have almost no problems. Some will argue that the premium for Apple hardware is too high. People make their own decisions on that. I don't want to start a fruitless Apple/MS flame-war, just to say that there is a choice.

OSucks Anonymous -- 26/06/09 (in reply to #320145639)

You're kidding right? The extreme cost of having to repurchase all of your software let alone the extortionate cost of apple hardware makes your argument completely void. As for the time thing, having to relearn how to do stuff when limited to the mac mentality (you do it apple's way or you don't do it at all) takes a long time and lots of effort.
I've been trying to get used to OSX for the past couple of months, and while I'm moderately capable there is no way that it saves time. Even doing the most simple tasks takes more mouse clicks or having to remember cryptic key combos with 3 keys.
You my friend have been drinking the apple cool-aid far too deeply if you think OSX is any sort of practical alternative to the OS that 90% of people use.
Odd too that apple has lost the pwn-to-own competition 2 years running.

That said, MS needs to rethink its pricing BIG time. The upgrade cost should be $99 for anyone running Vista (though I've never had a mooment's trouble with vista) and the full version an extra $50 on top of that (based on the home premium version).

lol Anonymous -- 06/07/09 (in reply to #320145701)

OSX does not have a large market share because Apple does not allow third-party manufacturers to install Mac OS X to their computers. Unlike MS, Apple is a hardware company.

Cryptic key combos with 3 keys? WTF are you on about mate? Are you sure you're running Mac OS X? Being both a Mac and Windows user, it is *much* easier and less frustrating to use a Mac. I agree, however, that Windows wins in terms of the software (albeit crappy) available.

MS is not alone in Oz pricing ripoff Anonymous -- 26/06/09

I'm afraid that this does not surprise me. I mean everyone can see that in Australia we are always charged more for everything. Be it Adobe software, books, computers, virtually anything. I have heared numerous arguments as to why but all failed to convince me.

I prefer to purchase items online and in case of software - download version - this way reduce price further by not paying shipping charges. What is trully discusting though that companies like MS and Adobe go to great lengths to prevent you from purchasing their software online at overseas prices.

Need more competition.

Re: MS is not alone in Oz pricing ripoff Anonymous -- 26/06/09 (in reply to #320145640)

I completely agree.

Any news on a family license?

Vista upgrade Anonymous -- 26/06/09

I find the Vista upgrade cost (e.g. $200) a bit rich for loyal Vista users who have persisted with a pre-release piece of software to only be charged again for a fixed version!

Vista users should be upgrading for $50 max!

Looks like I will shelf my planned Vista to Win 7 upgrade now.

I agree . . . and what about VU users? Peter T. -- 26/06/09 (in reply to #320145646)

Well said and I agree! Upgrades from Vista should have been cheaper than upgrades from earlier OSes. What's more, there should have been a very special price for upgrades from VU to make-up for the non-fulfilment of promised specials and extras. Overall, W7 is already very disappointing.

W7 Disappointing? Thomas -- 27/06/09 (in reply to #320145656)

Im curious to why you would say that. I have been using the RC since its release and have been completely blown away.

From the ease of installation to compatibility with all my hardware to usability I have been pleasantly surprised.

I think it is that good, I installed the 64bit RC on my new laptop taking advantage of the full 4 gig of ram. To my surprise, because I created a 'Homegroup' on my desktop PC, it conveniently connected to all shares and even installed the printer driver during the install. Nice touch.

Will I buy it for the full price? Yes. Will I like spending 469$ on the OS? OF course not!

What's the big deal with win 7 Anonymous -- 29/06/09 (in reply to #320145840)

I tried out Win 7 but wasn't very wowed. Maybe it is because I missed the pain of Vista? Compared to Vista maybe Win 7 is great but compared to xp, win2k and ubuntu, fedora (and other linux distors) there was no wow. They all just work these days out of the box without any pain... I hate to think what a pain Vista was if Win 7 is so great.

Another M$ RIP OFF Keith Styles -- 26/06/09

They just convinced me to upgrade to UBUNTU.
Canonical shipped me 2 CD's for absolutely ZERO cost.
Why would I want to BUY! W7? & put up with the nagging M$ validation process, day after day and the endless patches to make it secure.

Ubuntu Anonymous -- 26/06/09 (in reply to #320145654)

The excellent Mint 7 system based on Ubuntu is the way to go. I just bought a new notebook, powdered it up and the first thing I noticed was a bloody big Virus, I think it was called Vista. anyway re formatted and installed Mint. best thing ever. and it boots up in seconds, not minutes. give it a try, its free and you have nothing to loose. it will even see your windowz system and let you duel boot.

Ubuntu not that great Anonymous -- 26/06/09 (in reply to #320145654)

Ubuntu has to many annoying things to be a good os. You'll be using the terminal all day and how long before you get sick of sudo.

Ubuntu? Big Al -- 29/06/09 (in reply to #320145716)

not sure about Ubuntu, but I've been using Mandriva and haven't had to use either sudo or the command line for about eighteen months. Obviously you have been taken in by the MS propoganda...

Ubuntu Rubbish Anonymous -- 28/06/09 (in reply to #320145654)

Zero cost, but what a pain in the **** to use, its linux (after trying many times over the past 10 years or so to give linux distros a solid go, still doesnt cut it for modern desktops), windows 7 blows it out of the water. A nice stable, fast o.s (well compared to vista). Vista made people wanna continue with XP, I dont think that will happen with 7 except of course the outrageous price.

Win7 Pricing Anonymous -- 26/06/09

Well done Microsoft how do you convert the masses to open source charge Aus only excess.

Open source here I come.

Oz costs more Anonymous -- 26/06/09

maybe we pay more because we are paid more an have one of the highest standards of livimg in the world ?

Apple Fat Baby Goose -- 26/06/09

OSX may be an excellent alternate choice, the problem it requries a significant outlay of money to buy the specific hardware necessary to support the OS.

Here's a suggestion... Patrick McCormack -- 26/06/09

Instead of paying what I'll call the "Aussie tax", can't you just try and import a copy from the US?

Once you factor in the exchange rate, shipping and postage it could work out to be cheaper.

Corel sells online to Australia, at inflated prices Patanjali -- 26/06/09

As soon as you type in an Australia address, the prices hikes to AU$ ~=~ US$ x 2, not the US$ x Exchange rate.

Had OZ resellers to support!

EastWest, makers of software music instrument libraries, sell to anyone in the world, even undercutting their Australian subordinate.
No all software houses believe in a false country differential.

Hopefully there will be healthy competition for pricing Patanjali -- 26/06/09

Australia Tax Daryl Cheshire -- 27/06/09

This sucks, I sent the URL to my local member for what it's worth.

Daryl

oh well Anonymous -- 27/06/09

I'm happy with my Unibody Mac when i seen vista i bought a mac and never looked back, i work in IT and design quite large scale infrastructures (ESX/XEN) and only have to use windows when i need to use the VI Client apart from that my mac does everything with aplomb.

some might say apple computers cost more .... i say use one! it's worth the extra 300$, think about it.... the Vista top of the line OS is a quarter of the price of my MacBook! yet OSX does more.

I think apple charges around $40-$50 to upgrade to Snow Leopard when it's out? think about it .. i have this macbook since the day they came out now after a year and half i will spend $82 on 2x2GB memory sticks and $40-$50 on the new OS and will get another 2 years out of it so overall for $2000 you get 4 years of trouble free computing with no extra money to spend on antivirus and other crap.

Microsoft don't give a crap about home users as over 50percent pirate their OS, they make their money from the corporate environment ....

Microsoft Should Reward Vista Users with a FREE upgrade Anonymous -- 27/06/09

M$ should make the upgrade from Vista to W7 FREE due to the "money grab software" they inflicted on the world in the guise of a new & advanced OS. Haaaaaaaa

The Software Industry is the only industry I know of where you can produce a sub-standard product then charge the users for the repeated fixes required to correct the last snafu.

By the way M$ I'll decide how I want to configure my OS not you - whether I do correctly or not is my concern.

If u want to inflict your total control on a PC then call the OS something else - Windows Controlled, Windows Family, Windows Personal but keep that crap out of the commercial user space.

Not I'm not a Penguin fanboy - but looking anyway.

Ubuntu = $0 Johnny Disaster -- 28/06/09

ubuntu minimum system requirements

128 megabytes RAM
2 gigabytes hard drive space
pentium 100

you could get your hands on an old computer at the dump or from a mate and install ubuntu on it for free. Why fork out hundreds or thousands of dollars to do facebook and word processing? which is what most computer users do (excluding gamers)

Ubuntu, can't see how Anonymous -- 28/06/09 (in reply to #320145950)

Where are all these users that only use their computer for facebook or word processing.

Really, you canÃ¢ï¿½ï¿½t compare Ubuntu to windows 7. Microsoft has worked out the users never what to use a terminal ever. Linux doesnÃ¢ï¿½ï¿½t seem to realise this. ThatÃ¢ï¿½ï¿½s the main reason I canÃ¢ï¿½ï¿½t recommend Linux to anybody I know.

Unfortunately they are going to be better off spend the big $$$ on windows 7.

Outdated viewpoint? Anonymous -- 28/06/09 (in reply to #320146047)

What is your continual hangup about the terminal in Ubuntu? Its no more than an option, much like your beloved CMD, take your FUD and stick it where your M$ rhetoric spouts from =)

Stuff Windows, I use PCLinuxOS Anonymous -- 28/06/09

If you only use a computer for web browsing, emails, photos, image editing, music download, music editing, word processing, spreadsheets, chit-chat, or the occasional game then most Linux versions will do just fine, and don`t cost anything. I prefer its pure graphical screens and ease of use to other operating systems.
However if your a nerd and like to play with Viruses, Trojans, defunct registries, closed programs, defragging or games ( you should really get a games console ) then there is only one choice M$Windoze, and you also get the pleasure of paying big time for it too.
Of course at this time 90% of computer users still use M$Windoze, but years ago 90% of the people went to work on horses, but they don`t now.

Time to upgrade to Ubuntu instead. Anonymous -- 29/06/09

I initially got excited about windows 7 and installed it and was planning to switch to the RC after good reports. But after a while, the only benefit I could see was a slightly flashier interface. Now that it will cost so much, it reay is a case of why bother.

I just moved my email to gmail so all this looking at new OSes has got me looking back at switching to Ubuntu Linux instead. More and more of my apps are now available on Linux, and with VM ware you can convert your xp install into a VM and run it out of their free player on linux. Best of both worlds!

Use VirtualBox instead Cougar Jell -- 23/07/09 (in reply to #320146269)

I used to use VMWare under Ubuntu, but found that the open source VirtualBox product, which you can install on major Linux distros in one mouse click, is far superior as a technology, And it will also re-use your existing VMDK files, too!

"Australian users will pay..." Anonymous -- 29/06/09

Not this one!

I'm Increasingly moving to Linux, and luckily I got an OEM version of XP/SP2 several years ago when I bought a PC, so I can install it on my new machine as I upgrade (not tied to a 'restore' option on branded hardware)

I will continue with both OS dual-booting for some time, and decreasingly find that I need to reboot into Windows.

Yes, Linux has a learning curve. But so does a new version of Windows. If you don't want to have to learn a new OS, stay with XP.

Do you actually need Win7? I certainly don't think so, and definitely not for that cost.

Linux is Au$0/US$0. Even NZ$0!!!

Wind out of Vista users Sails Anonymous -- 29/06/09

I have been a Beta user of W7 and have been very impressed with the product - in particular compared to Vista which I purchased on release. Was also extremely excited for the final release of W7.

I say "was" . . .

However, MS have taken the wind out of the sails with the pricing and alienation of Vista users. (I have persisted with that incomplete product awaiting the fix that is W7 - of which MS has acknowledged issues with the quick release of W7).

How on earth can MS charge full price AGAIN for Vista users to update to a fix !!

I have never used Ubuntu before but installed it last night and was very impressed (nice touch that I no longer have to run anti-virus software etc ever again - further speeding up the system).

Oh well MS, looks like I will have to move on without you!

p-Irate Anonymous -- 29/06/09

Well it'll just mean more people either not upgrading, pirating the software, or buying an OEM copy with a new mouse.

XP and Ubuntu Anonymous -- 29/06/09

well i think I'll just stay with xp and ubuntu for a while. I'm having no problem with these two operating system. why change?

who needs windows 7 Anonymous -- 29/06/09

What's the point of upgrading? Everything will still run on XP SP3. Everything is web based now. We will ignore Windows 7 just like we ignored Vista. MS business model is totally outdated. Someone wake me up when MS actually add value to their new product lines.

No Way Andrew -- 29/06/09

I have used MS products since DOS 3.3. Up until XP most of the OS was reasonably priced. I reluctantly upgraded from win2000 to XP, to many security issue and program compatibility.

The price of Windows 7 Pro at AUD $499 is way too much. Especially when the price is dearer than else where around the world. Get real MS, donâ��t you know there is a global recession and nobody will be forking out money unless they really have too.

I suspect they are trying to recoup there losses on Vista by making win7 dearer.

I myself will be using XP for a few years more, then mostly likely switch to either Apple or Ubuntu.

Getting sick of upgrading hardware to match the OS. With every MS release, the resources it uses increase.

Time to trim down & get back to basics MS

**** off MS Anonymous -- 29/06/09

"Our prices vary by region and are determined based on a variety of market specific factors including, but not limited to exchange rate, local taxes, duties, local market conditions and retailer pricing decisions,"

Until I see quantifiable reasons why Aust's should be charged extra, then I will remain convinced we are just being ripped off more than users in your home country.
Keep sowing the seeds of your own destruction.

My butt is still sore.. Anonymous -- 29/06/09

.. from the last time Micro$oft tried to buttf*%k me

nothing to do with standard of living Anonymous -- 06/07/09

the main reason why most stuff is expensive here in australia is due to our low population which means less demand.

in the us, however, there's 300 million people which is 280 million more potential customers than australia.

And yet XP is free* Rob -- 16/07/09

I wonder why all the hoopla, really. Is there REALLY any need for consumers (as opposed to business users) to move to new versions of Windows? Frankly, Even Windows 2000 professional pretty much did everything I needed, and XP is just a nicer version of that.

About the only issues I have are with running MS Office, and theres no surprise where THAT comes from.

*The XP version I'm referring to as free is the one that came with the machine when I bought it new.

I probably will only replace my OS when I replace the hardware, and that hopefully wont be for many more years. Windows 8, 9, or 10+??

Time will tell.

More reason to grey market, Microsoft Anonymous -- 19/07/09

Its things like this which encourage people to grey market US product and resell it in Australia. One current good example is Office 2007 Pro Academic, which is not sold in Australia by Microsoft Australia. But is able to be imported and sold for the same price as MS Australia's Officd 2007 Standard Academic editions......

AUD Pricing Kevin B -- 20/09/09 (in reply to #320153743)

Yes, we do have a low population in OZ compared to the USA and UK and that is why we pay twice as much for everything, including cars etc. But the last point in MS's response to higher pricing here is the most valid for me.

"Retailer pricing decisions" - its not MS at all. Its Australia's retailers. If only we could buy online direct from the US and pay the conversion rate plus freight like we can for other items.

Come on MS - think about your customers too who would rather buy / deal directly with you over the net, not just your out of date / last century retailer distribution network.

windows 7 prices Anonymous -- 21/10/09

the price in au is over the top, the price in US is about $100 cheater. l will stay with xp till the price come down down down down