windows pro

Upgrading from an older Microsoft operating system (OS), like Windows 7, to Windows 8 is about to get a whole lot more expensive. The changes are set to take effect on February 1, 2013. Right now, it costs just $39.99 to upgrade from Windows 7, ... Windows Vista, or Windows XP to Microsoft's newest OS, Windows 8. People who tried beta versions of Windows 8 can also upgrade from that test edition to the commercial release of the new OS for the same price. This promotional price was first announced last July, several months prior to Windows 8's October 2013 launch. (Source: zdnet.com ) Upgrading ... (view more)

Here's a question we recently received from an Infopackets subscriber in beautiful Montana, "Dear Infopackets team, I'm thinking about buying a Windows 8 computer. But I'm not sure if I should buy one with Windows 8 or Windows 8 Pro? And what's ... Windows RT? Can you please explain the differences to me? Thanks for the assistance, Molly C." My response: Technically speaking, Molly, those are the three different versions of Microsoft's newest operating system (OS), Windows 8. Windows RT is a trimmed-down version of the OS specially designed for portable devices with ARM chips. We're talking ... (view more)

PC manufacturer Hewlett-Packard (HP) is advising its customers not to downgrade its computers delivered with the new Windows 8 operating system (OS) already installed. The company says that if customers install Windows 7 on HP computers originally ... equipped with Windows 8, HP will not provide them with support, drivers, or applications. Downgrading was a relatively common practice after the release of the unpopular Windows Vista in 2007, and some say it's being practiced again now that Windows 8 has received more than its fair share of criticism . Downgrading a new computer is especially ... (view more)

A Microsoft special offer has unintentionally made it much easier for software pirates to run bogus copies of Windows 8. But the loophole works only for particularly determined pirates. The loophole centers around the way Windows users activate ... their software. Each copy of Windows has a unique "key," which Microsoft checks to ensure the software copy is valid and not already in use by another registered owner. If the software's key passes these checks, the software copy is activated. Without activation within a certain period, Windows will begin to severely limit its functionality, mostly to ... (view more)

With the holiday shopping season on the horizon, you can bet tablet computers will be under many Christmas trees this coming December. One of the tech industry's most anticipated tablets is Microsoft's Surface, which has been unveiled but not yet ... officially released, or even priced. However, one analyst is now predicting that the Surface will retail for $399 -- and up. Microsoft Out At Least $300 Per Unit: Prediction Sameer Singh is a tech industry analyst with consulting firm Finvista Advisors. In a recent blog post he made some bold predictions about the cost of each individual component ... (view more)

Microsoft has announced it will allow people who buy computers running its new Windows 8 Pro operating system (OS) to downgrade their PCs to Windows 7 or Windows Vista. However, the firm will not allow a downgrade to Windows XP. Downgrade rights ... allow consumers, at no charge, to dismiss a newer version of Windows in favor of an older edition. The wording is clear. "Instead of using the Windows 8 Pro software, you may use one of the following earlier versions: Windows 7 Professional or Windows Vista Business," the Windows 8 Pro licensing agreement reads. (Source: computerworld.com ) However, ... (view more)

Microsoft will permit upgrades to Windows 8 Pro from any previous version of Windows for just $40. However, it's a limited-time offer and the price is good only for those downloading the new software from Microsoft's official site. Those who don't ... want to download the upgrade will be able to buy an upgrade DVD from stores for $69.99. There are only two versions of Windows 8 that can be bought outright: the basic Windows 8 and the more advanced Windows 8 Pro. Naturally, the 'Pro' version has features not found in the basic edition, including enhanced security. It's also better equipped for ... (view more)

Earlier this week, reports emerged suggesting that consumers who buy a Windows 7 PC after June, 2012, would be able to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for a fee . Now there's more clarification on the offer: a new report indicates that the upgrade will ... cost those who can't wait and who buy a computer with the older operating system just $14.99. For some, the $15 charge won't seem like a lot of money. However, it's $15 more than what Microsoft charged buyers of new PCs to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7, in similar circumstances back in 2009. There was also no charge to buyers of Windows XP ... (view more)

According to a recent report, consumers who buy a Windows 7 PC between early June and next January will be given the opportunity to upgrade that operating system (OS) to Windows 8 Pro. At the moment, however, it appears that this opportunity to ... upgrade will not be free. Back in 2009, Microsoft offered a similar deal when it released Windows 7 . At that time, buyers of PCs running the company's previous OS, Windows Vista, were allowed to upgrade to Windows 7, provided they purchased their PC between June and the end of 2009. Microsoft also offered this same kind of upgrade opportunity in 2006 ... (view more)

Last week Microsoft shocked many observers by revealing that the standard version of its upcoming Windows 8 operating system (OS) will not include DVD support. In order to get that support, customers will have to upgrade to the more expensive ... version: Windows 8 Pro. Since announcing this news, Microsoft has responded to widespread criticism of its decision. At first, Microsoft claimed that the absence of DVD support was related to the emergence of ultrabooks and tablet computers. The software giant stated that the limitations of these hardware devices (they lack optical disc drives) would ... (view more)