Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 30 November 2009 07:49
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 2
BS? Yes, Microsoft is capable of a “better solution” for families
wanting to buy Windows 7 in Australia, finally making it available at a
compelling price, but is insisting on saying the deal is only available
for a “limited time”, as if stocks would quickly run out of infinitely
duplicable software, which is, as we know, BS.
Just in time for Christmas comes Microsoft Australia coming to its senses.
Originally refusing to confirm whether Australia would be part of the previously announced “limited pilot” to see whether consumers would prefer to, you know, actually save money on multiple Windows 7 purchases, even unable to say so at Win 7’s official launch, the news has come today that the Family Pack is now available in Australia.
But as noted in my somewhat cynical introduction, Microsoft is insisting on creating an atmosphere of lack and limitation in regards to the availability of the Windows 7 Home Premium 3-user Family Pack, threatening to only make it available for a “limited” time, presumably to encourage you, dear reader, to race into stores to grab your copy, before Microsoft “runs out” of stock.
Running out of stock is effectively impossible because Microsoft can manufacture as many Win 7 3-User license discs as it wants, but hey, Microsoft is also a master of marketing, so while I might not have to like the need for artificial limitations, I can certainly understand why it chooses to play this silly game.
Naturally, I could now ask the question as to why a 5-user family pack isn’t available, but seeing as Microsoft has never offered such a deal in Australia before (to my knowledge), we have to start somewhere and the introduction of a 3-user license pack is a good start.
So, how much will one pay for the software? Well, a standard 1-user license of Win 7 Home Premium upgrade costs RRP AUD $199. The 3-user Win 7 Home Premium upgrade costs AUD RRP $249, with reports of one Australian retailer (said to be Richard Smith Electronics) already racing out with a $237 upgrade deal.
$249 divided by 3 means that each copy really costs only AUD $84, which is less than half the price of a single user license, bringing down the cost of Windows for multiple home users quite nicely.
The 3-user pack is also available with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, making anyone with 4GB or more of RAM and a 64-bit capable processor a happier chap or chapette should he or she wish to go down this path.
Jett Putt, the “Windows Consumer Lead” for Microsoft Australia, whom I spoke with this morning, was naturally chuffed to be introducing the family pack to Australia – and has even announced a special deal for anyone that has already purchased 3 copies of Win 7 Home Premium upgrade at existing retail pricing.
Putt’s words, retail locations where the Family Pack is available and more details are on page 2, please read on!
