Microsoft's new Windows 7 Option Upgrade Program isn't much of an option for corporate users and could end up adding thousands of dollars to the cost of migrating to the new operating system for those who blindly jump at Thursday's offer of a free upgrade for new PC buyers.

John Fontana, Network World/PC World

The issue is that the Option Upgrade Program only applies to 25 PCs per "physical address" and that limitation likely leaves corporate PC buyers out of the market until October 22 when Windows 7 officially ships.

 Gartner analyst Michael Silver says users who buy new PCs now and don't get a free upgrade will find down the road they have to spend upwards of $150 per PC to get to Windows 7. "That is a pretty significant percentage of what they're paying for those PCs to begin with."   [Comments...]