February 27, 2009 (Computerworld) A Seattle-area PC seller will offer free Windows 7 upgrades to customers who buy new Vista-powered machines starting next week, beating Microsoft Corp. and its biggest hardware partners to the punch by months.
Puget Sound Systems Inc., an Auburn, Wash.-based system builder that sells PCs nationally, will launch its own Windows 7 upgrade program next week, said Jon Bach, the company's president, today.
"This is completely independent of any Microsoft [upgrade] program for Windows 7," said Bach.
Beginning next week, Puget customers who purchase PCs that cost at least $1,000 and are equipped with the 64-bit edition of Windows Vista Ultimate will be eligible for a free upgrade later this year to the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate. During a Friday interview, however, Bach said Puget would consider also offering upgrades from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium.
"We're seeing more and more people who are hesitant to purchase a PC because they're hearing good things about Windows 7 and wonder whether they should wait three-fourths of a year before buying," said Bach, explaining why Puget is jumping into the upgrade offer. "We see this as an opportunity to do something exciting when there's not a whole lot of things happening in the business at the moment."
Manufacturers begin to offer upgrades 