Ways to Save on an Upgrade to Windows 7

Wouldn't it be nice to upgrade to Windows 7 and save some money? This article will walk you through a few options ranging from easy to options that may require a little computer expertise.

First, consider a computer upgrade as well

The easiest way to upgrade to Windows 7 is buy a new computer with it already installed. Yes I know this means spending more money overall but there are many launch sales right now with notebooks as low as $300 - $400. The upgrade version of Windows 7 retails for $199 from Microsoft. If you were going to buy it anyway why not get a whole new laptop for just a couple of hundred dollars more?

OEM Versions - A little harder but about half the cost of an upgrade to Windows 7

A little know secret is that you can get an OEM version of Windows 7 for about half the cost of an upgrade to Windows 7. Of course there are some drawbacks but the savings are usually worth it.

OEM is the version of Windows 7 that system builders and manufacturers use when they build new machines. The Windows 7 OEM license ties the software to that particular machine. When you buy it you do have to buy it with some sort of hardware to qualify as a builder. But don't take this to mean that you have to buy a complete system; most retailers will sell it to you as long as you buy some sort of hardware. It could be anything from a hard drive to a cheap mouse.

You will have to install it as a brand new install as you can't use it as an upgrade. You will also have to re-install all of your other applications but a fresh install usually ends up much cleaner than an upgrade anyway. The easiest way to do this is to but it with a new hard drive, we all need more storage anyway, and then use that as the install destination for Windows 7. You can use your old drive for additional storage. You can even leave the old Windows version on it which has the added benefit of allowing a quick switch to our old version if needed.

The OEM version of Windows 7 does not come with any type of phone support from Microsoft. Some see that as a drawback but if you're technical enough to get through the install you probably aren't the type to be calling Microsoft anyway.