MicroCenter will start selling Windows 7 full version software on Thursday morning for $199.99. An upgrade version sells for $119.99. (You might note than only Vista can be upgraded. All older Windows operating systems will require a full reformat of the hard drive and a new installation, not an upgrade.)
I couldn't help but notice the same sales flyer lists a number of laptops being sold with Windows 7 pre-installed. Prices begin at $299.99.
You mean that I can buy a complete computer for only $100 more than the cost of the operating system? In effect, MicroCenter is saying, "Buy the operating system and we will throw in a complete computer for another $100."
Indeed, it isn't the most powerful laptop available today but the specifications would have been considered top-of-the line two or three years ago: AMD Athlon 64 processor, 2 gigabytes of RAM memory, a 160 gigabyte hard drive, a 15.4-inch screen, Wi-Fi wireless networking, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed.
I am impressed with that pricing. Either the operating system is overpriced or else the hardware is becoming super cheap.
Although you cannot directly upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7, you can still use the upgrade version of the software, but you'll need to do a custom (or "clean") install as you noted before.
The full version of Windows 7 is needed only if you do not have an existing version of XP or Vista.
Posted by: Dave Goertz | October 20, 2009 at 11:40 AM
We purchased a computer at Micro Center a couple of years ago. The advertised model was not available when we arrived, and we spent much more for less. I suggest that people who intend to buy a computer at an advertised price locate the machine at the retailer's website, check the specifications and then put it into a shopping cart, making "in store pickup" arrangements. That way, you are sure what you are getting, and are not subject to making a snap decision in a busy store.
Posted by: Pam Warren | October 20, 2009 at 07:55 PM
Beware, Dick. I understand that some of these cheap netbooks don't have CD drives. So I guess you have to buy an external drive if you want to load software that you already own on CD?
Posted by: Sharon Meeker | October 20, 2009 at 09:51 PM
The computer I mentioned as advertised for $299 DOES have an internal CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive.
I own an MSI netbook computer that runs Windows XP and then I added Macintosh OS X to it. That netbook does not have a CD-ROM drive and I found that to be a trivial omission. I connect it to my in-home network via Wi-Fi wireless networking and use the CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive in any of my desktop systems. It works just as if the drive was installed internally in the netbook computer. The disadvantage is that this only works when I am at home. So far, that hasn't been an issue for me.
Another option is to purchase an external CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive that plugs into the USB port on the netbook (they cost $20 to $30) but I haven't had any need for that as I already have such drives on my desktop systems.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | October 20, 2009 at 10:02 PM
Well, to put a genealogy slant on this new age issue, my great grandmother's favorite phrase was "that's too much sugar for a dime."
Unless this is some philanthropic organization packaging the full spectrum of the most modern and compatible hardware and software components, something doesn't sound right here. Something is missing.
Speaking as a systems geek with almost 30 years of experience, this simply doesn't make sense. The business model is extremely unusual. In the laptop world you get what you pay for. And to get something that works "well" as opposed to "just works" are two entirely different animals. "Just works"...if it works at all, is extremely prone to either driving you insane and/or periodically corrupting your laptop...and therefore your entire world.
Run, run! Run like your hair is on fire.
Posted by: Terri England | October 21, 2009 at 06:19 AM
Speaking about netbooks, maybe this is a good place to rate the Acer netbook I recently bought. As a travel companion it works great for portability (2.5#)and for internet access. However, what drives me crazy is the cursor. If you pause for a second while writing, the cursor jumps to somewhere other than where you left it. The screen tends to enlarge or shrink on its own; I don't know what I might be touching to cause this, but again it's a real pain to get back to where you were, and there are other cursor issues. If you want to use this netbook for writing anything other than a quick email, forget it!
Posted by: Shiurley Pizziferri | October 21, 2009 at 08:43 AM
I bought an Acer netbook a year ago last September and it was history by the end of September this year. Of course it had to conk out two weeks after the one-year limited warranty ran out. Maybe I just bought a lemon, but I'm definitely reluctant to go that route again. On the pro side...the compact size was great.
Posted by: Kathy Rosenkranz | October 21, 2009 at 09:12 AM
Yes, the operating system IS OVERPRICED and the hardware is becoming SUPER CHEAP.
Posted by: Edward Comer | October 21, 2009 at 11:02 AM
I have the same problem as Shirley on my Dell laptop at home and laptop at work. The cursor just jumps around or if I try to shift, hightlights lots of text and then deletes it! I thought I bouught a lemon but it seems to be a common problem.
Posted by: Lisa Gorrell | October 21, 2009 at 04:29 PM
For Shiurley,
When the size changes, just hold down the "control" key while using either the "+" or "-" and the writing will either get larger or smaller accordingly.
Bobbi
Posted by: Bobbi | October 21, 2009 at 06:00 PM
When my cursor started jumping all over the page, and going haywire, I figured it was the mouse dying. I replaced it with a logitech lazer mouse, and all the problems I had been having for a couple of years went away. Also, all the crashing I was having trouble with, disappeared. It all had to do with the mouse. You need younger mice in your house.
Posted by: Carolyn | October 22, 2009 at 12:01 AM
Your wording made it sound, to me at least, like you were buying the pre-installed Win-7 OS package so that could be re-installed on a better box. In reality you are buying the OS on that box as a single unit - so you'd better like the hardware. The OS is, most likely, an OEM license and cannot be migrated to new hardware. The Win-7 OEM license reads "This software is intended for pre-installation on a new personal computer for resale...and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is installed."
Posted by: Edward Comer | October 23, 2009 at 11:43 PM
Hardware is becoming super cheap. For the first time in a long time, a version of Windows is being priced almost affordable.
Posted by: Sean Feeney | October 28, 2009 at 04:42 PM