Microsoft's Windows 7 Family Pack disappears in U.S.
Microsoft said from the start that it would be offering limited quantities of its Windows 7 Family Pack, which let people upgrade three computers to Windows 7 Home Premium for the discounted rate of $149.99. But the deal turned out to be more limited than people expected, and the company is now taking heat over the news that it's no longer available in the U.S., at the height of the holiday shopping season.
"The Windows 7 Family Pack offer has ended," the product page says. Microsoft told CNet News.com last week that the package was selling out. As noted by CNet and Computerworld, some affiliates of Amazon.com and other sites have raised the price on their remaining Windows 7 Family Packs to as much as $279.99.
"I've got a new spelling for 'Scrooge,' " writes Joe Wilcox on BetaNews. "M-i-c-r-o-s-o-f-t."
Adds Windows author and blogger Ed Bott: "For Microsoft, this decision is stupid and short-sighted. It’s guaranteed to bring them a boatload of ill will and bad publicity in the final three weeks before Christmas. It looks greedy and decidedly not 'customer focused.' "
Paul Thurrott, who first reported the news last week, suggests that the decision might not be final.
"If you're upset that the company has strategically made this product unavailable just in time for the holidays, I recommend leaving some feedback on the Windows 7 Team Blog," he writes. "Microsoft has heavily promoted how feedback-focused they are with Windows 7, so I'm sure they'd love to hear from you."
ZDNet blogger Mary-Jo Foley also notes that it wouldn't be a surprise to see the company change its mind.
Read more of Todd Bishop's posts at TechFlash.com, and follow him on Twitter @toddbishop
d schepps on December 25, 2009 at 11:32 AM
I agree. It is infuriating to loyal microsoft users that microsoft is charging these outlandish prices to upgrade their family computers from virus-prone xp or poorly-designed vista systems. Apple should have another banner year in 2010 with end users swithching from pc to apple systems. The cost of a windows7pro upgrade on my 3 year old laptop pcs is not worth it when I can buy new apple systems with a dependable, virus free os which will cost less than 1/2 the price for future upgrades, is more user friendly and has equal if not more extensive features.
Seems to this end-user that microsoft has made a very poor move in pricing stategy especially after introducing a poorly acceptd vista release over the past 2-3 years.
P.S. The windows 7 team blog page is unavailable - another microsoft customer support blunder!
r4i software on January 03, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Wow this is really very nice, iliked reading this blog, thanks a lot for sharing this with us, nothing makes me so kiddish like listening or talking about windows 7. i can talk for hours on that, like it very much.
Study in Sweden on January 14, 2010 at 02:35 PM
windows 7 much better thans previous versions of windoe....great..it dont make my system heavy
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