[Rumor]Microsoft to Drop Retail Version Of Windows 8,Upgrades and OEM Packs Only!

The rumor mills have started floating around the web,as we inch closer to the Windows 8 RTM which is expected by the first week of August.

The latest one comes from the two of the well known entities who have a history when it comes to anything related to Microsoft products.Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley in their Windows Weekly show,revealed that Microsoft is all set to drop the Full Retail version of the upcoming Windows 8 operating system and rather have an OEM version(System Builder Kit) and the Upgrade version.

If we compare the OEM and retail version of Windows 7,the price difference is evident with the Retail version of Windows 7 Professional costing 299.99$ while the OEM version of the Windows 7 Professional costs a mere 139.99$.

So is this speculation indeed turns out to be true it will be welcomed by the consumers,since there wasn’t a OEM version made available to the consumers till now and if made available,would make the Windows 8 quite the most affordable version of Windows till date.The OEM version will be available as a downloadable version as well as the copy in the retail stores.

Microsoft has already revealed their upgrade offers for the existing consumers who have a Windows XP/Vista or a Windows 7 license for a price tag of 39.99$.There is also a physical version of the upgrade available for a price tag of 69.99$,this offer is valid upto 31st Jaunary 2013.

Source:[Insideris]and [WindowsWeekly]

SvalinnAsgard

Is it so hard to have one version of Windows like the old days? One disk, one version. No pro, ultimate, extreme deluxe, server, etc. You buy a single copy of Windows for $50–it will upgrade and clean install at will, and it contains all the features. Microsoft can still make money buy selling extra licenses to corporations and such, but throwing thousands of different versions of Windows around is just nonsense and confusing to the average consumer.
- http://wii4everybody.com/ Oziel
  
  There are 3 versions only, and they are good for people who don’t need enterprise or pro versions, we are all different users in the world…
  - SvalinnAsgard
    
    Do not all of those different, hopefully paying, users deserve the full Windows experience? Nothing is more aggravating to a paying customer than realizing they need a feature not included and have to pay more for a new copy–on top of their previous purchase.
Download-Fritz

@SvalinnAsgard Seperate between Client and Server is logically. But they give us Core and Pro, that’s OK. Core: You have the Basics and will (may) be able to buy extensions. Pro includes all extensions (besides WMC, which will be FREE as I heard).
- Pcreamer
  
  True enough… though for me I never buy the starters, or hoe versions.. I always go PRO or higher… the exception is when I buy storebought pc/laptops. Im pretty much stuck with whatever it came with.
  
  I would prefer to buy one Win8 that I can use on all 3 computers… period..