Small business owners looking to install new computer systems before the end of the year just got an early present from Microsoft. Due to the delay in the retail launch of Microsoft’s Windows Vista operating system, it was thought that many businesses would delay purchases of new computer systems until the new operating system was available.
Microsoft’s new Vista Express Upgrade options may change the thinking of some computer purchasers. The program is set for computers with Windows XP pre-installed purchased between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007. Each manufacturer is allowed to have a different set of specifics regarding the Windows Vista Express program. For instance, according to Dell’s website, the program restricts a handful of systems from being eligible for the Vista Express Upgrade. Hewlett Packard/Compaq is also restricting the Express Upgrade, but is less forthcoming about which systems aren’t eligible.
If a new Windows XP system is part of the Windows Vista Express Upgrade program, a nominal fee will most likely apply to the “free” upgrade. If your new system comes with Windows XP Home edition, the upgrade isn’t free. Instead, a fifty percent discount off of the retail price applies to the upgrade.
With six versions of Windows Vista to be released, the choice of which Vista version replaces your XP version is already set in the program. For instance, Windows XP Professional Edition and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 both would receive the Windows Vista Business version via the Windows Vista Express Upgrade program. Most small businesses using in-house networks would find that these are the two most commonly used versions of Windows XP.
Naturally, the point of the Vista Express Upgrade program is to get hardware sales moving during the rest of the fourth quarter. Once Vista’s official launch was moved into the early part of 2007, the possibility of new hardware purchases for small businesses trying to take advantage of the Section 179 deduction of up to $105,000 during the tax year 2006 looked bleak. The obvious reason was that the company wouldn’t have been able to take advantage of the substantial discount applied to operating system pricing by Microsoft when it is purchased with a new system. The Windows Vista Express Upgrade program alleviates the issue for small businesses looking to make the investment before December 31.
Office 2007 will soon be released by Microsoft as well. Small businesses will be interested in the Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee program for systems pre-installed with Office 2003. Unfortunately, the details for the MOTG are even less clear than the Windows Vista Express Upgrade program.
