I've been looking for this as well.
I think it's a ripoff for MS to be charging so much for this.
Looking back, I purchased Windows 3.1, win 98 and win ME (mistake). Paid around 70-80 for most (ME was around $40 i think). I would prefer to have a legal copy myself and there's nothing wrong with that. I know a lot of people think that MS is some evil empire, maybe, maybe not, but either way they do have the right to make a profit off of their products just like any other business (and let's face it, the vast majority of us do use their products).
The bootleg copies are really no good unless you have a valid key (that activation BS) anyway. Surely this has greatly reduced the piracy of XP, so you would think therefore that MS could in fact charge LESS than they have traditionally charged/ Instead they jack the price up. If they charged less, I'd be willing to bet they sell a whole lot more (practical business philosophy, lower price, lower profit per unit, but greater net profit).
I was willing to pay a little for a valid copy, but pay an average of 150 for this? From what I've been hearing it can be a real headache for people like myself (and I'm sure most people in this forum) who frequently upgrade and/or refresh installations of operating systems. Why would anyone want to pay that much and have to go through hassles with MS every time you swap harware in/out of your system?
I've played around a little with XP pro and I like it, but for myself, I just don't think it's worth it.
btw, I noticed a few places offering a $75 rebate on the upgrade version. The catch - only if just purchased a system with the home version already installed or if you just purchased the home version. Comes out to the same cost as just buiying it in the first place.
I think it's a ripoff for MS to be charging so much for this.
Looking back, I purchased Windows 3.1, win 98 and win ME (mistake). Paid around 70-80 for most (ME was around $40 i think). I would prefer to have a legal copy myself and there's nothing wrong with that. I know a lot of people think that MS is some evil empire, maybe, maybe not, but either way they do have the right to make a profit off of their products just like any other business (and let's face it, the vast majority of us do use their products).
The bootleg copies are really no good unless you have a valid key (that activation BS) anyway. Surely this has greatly reduced the piracy of XP, so you would think therefore that MS could in fact charge LESS than they have traditionally charged/ Instead they jack the price up. If they charged less, I'd be willing to bet they sell a whole lot more (practical business philosophy, lower price, lower profit per unit, but greater net profit).
I was willing to pay a little for a valid copy, but pay an average of 150 for this? From what I've been hearing it can be a real headache for people like myself (and I'm sure most people in this forum) who frequently upgrade and/or refresh installations of operating systems. Why would anyone want to pay that much and have to go through hassles with MS every time you swap harware in/out of your system?
I've played around a little with XP pro and I like it, but for myself, I just don't think it's worth it.
btw, I noticed a few places offering a $75 rebate on the upgrade version. The catch - only if just purchased a system with the home version already installed or if you just purchased the home version. Comes out to the same cost as just buiying it in the first place.