Microsoft annouces Windows 8 upgrade offer for students from the 21st of February.

I was talking to a student yesterday and let them know the Windows 8 Pro upgrade was coming to an end on the 31^st of January.

Whether to upgrade or not is always a difficult question. I estimate that over 100 million computers running Windows XP simply can’t be upgraded effectively turning them into boat anchors come 2014. When you upgrade to a new version of Microsoft’s operating system often something doesn’t work and Windows 8 is no different. As an example my ageing colour laser has no driver for use under Windows 8 (worked fine under Windows 7) and I’ve found other issues. If you need to pay to have your computer upgraded, the time involved will most likely mean it isn’t worth it. Often it will be better to save your money and put the money towards a new computer when you need it.

For students wishing to upgrade their computer to Windows 8 Pro, as long as they could do the upgrade themselves, the upgrade represented good value for money. But I couldn’t help feeling after the Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer finished there may be an educational offer available for students and if that happened, the difference between the Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer and the student edition may not be that significant. Students could then upgrade when they wished to.

Today I read about Microsoft’s Windows 8 Student offer. For those students who wish to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro from Windows XP (SP3), Vista, or Windows 7, Microsoft is releasing a student price on the 21^st of February. As an indicative price the price in the States will be $69.99 (which usually doesn’t include tax). The upgrade will be available from the Microsoft Online Store. (You can find a link to the online store on my advertising site www.JustLocal.com.au.)

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problem.
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