Microsoft on Friday confirmed the Windows 8 upgrade price increases, which will reach as much as 400% and will take effect Feb. 1, when a three-month promotional discount ends.
The current $39.99 deal for a Windows 8 Pro upgrade expires in less than two weeks, on Jan. 31.
Windows 8 upgrade editions will be priced as follows starting in February:
- The Windows 8 Pro upgrade edition will be available online and at retail for $199.99 MSRP (U.S.).
- The Windows 8 upgrade edition will be available online and at retail for $119.99 MSRP (U.S.).
- The Windows 8 Pro Pack will cost $99.99 MSRP (U.S.).
- The Windows 8 Media Center Pack will cost $9.99 MSRP (U.S.).
An upgrade froma previous Windows OS to Windows 8 Pro will cost $199.99 - a five-fold increase. The Windows 8 Pro Pack, which upgrades a copy of Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro, will run at a 43% jump from the promotional price of $69.99.
Microsoft will be also offering a promotional offer available until January 31st 2013. You will be able upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99 ERP (U.S.) via Windows.com using the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant or pick up a DVD copy at a local retailer for just $69.99 ERP (U.S.). If you bought an eligible Windows 7 PC between June 2nd and January 31st, 2013 - be sure to register for the Windows Upgrade Offer and upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $14.99 ERP (U.S.). If you upgrade to the Windows 8 edition or buy a PC with the Windows 8 edition pre-installed and want to move to the Windows 8 Pro edition? you can purchase the Windows 8 Pro Pack (previously known as Windows Anytime Upgrade) directly within Windows 8 by going to the Start screen and typing -Add Features to Windows 8 - and at participating retailers for $69.99 MSRP (U.S.) until January 31st. If are running Windows 8 Pro and want Windows Media Center and DVD playback, you can add the Windows 8 Media Center Pack for free until January 31st.
If you are building your own PC from scratch, looking to run Windows 8 in a Virtual Machine (VM), or looking to run Windows 8 on a second hard drive partition - you will want to purchase the Windows 8 edition or Windows 8 Pro edition OEM product known as "System Builder. You can find these products online at local retailers.