Windows 7 Family Packs appear to be no more
It would seem that when Microsoft says something is available for a limited time, it really means it!
Windows 7 only launched on Oct. 22, and already one version of it has disappeared from store shelves, possibly to be never heard from again. The Windows 7 Family Pack was a way for a family to upgrade three computers in their home on the cheap with the package selling for only $149.99. However, Paul Thurrott of WindowsIT Pro is reporting that after only six weeks, the Family Pack has disappeared entirely from store shelves and online retailers.
A quick search of Amazon.com shows that third-party sellers are asking $259.88 to $259.99 now, and bidders on eBay are pushing the product well above the $200 threshold on current auctions. There is obviously still a demand for the product, there just doesn’t appear to be any supply that is readily available.
While consumers were warned the product would be limited, it is doubtful that anyone thought it was going to be only for a mere six weeks. Most bloggers commenting on the story thought the offer would at least last through the holiday season, but apparently everyone guessed wrong.
Meanwhile, the Apple Snow Leopard Family Pack, which many people suspect Microsoft based its family pack on, is still for sale at a price of $49, and will allow you to upgrade five systems. (Before anyone accuses me of being an Apple fan boy, no, I do not own any Macs, all of my systems are Windows.)
There is every chance that Microsoft could return the product to store shelves with an excuse of “Due to the unprecedented demand for the Family Pack, supplies dried up and we’ve had a delay in stocking it.” Of course, one might also suspect that might not happen until after the holiday shopping season has passed and consumers have been forced into buying higher priced copies of the software.
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December 5th, 2009
No one should be “forced” to buy any software. If your XP machine is working OK, what need is there to upgrade anyway.
If you “need” Windows 7, (I don’t know who would). Wait until you need a new computer.
MSFT should have given away Windows 7 to Vista users in the first place instead of making them pay for a new OS to replace a “less than spectacular one”.
Apple has got it right with their “family pack”, maybe someday Microsoft will too.
Want a new OS without costing any money? Try out Ubuntu or some other Linux distribution.