• expired

Microsoft Windows 8 Pro $69 from Harvey Norman

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Great price for Microsoft Windows 8 Pro (boxed) $69! special launch price Pre-Order NOW! Available 26 October 2012 - Free pickup or $6.95 delivery

HN have now changed it too—
Original post was: "This version installs Microsoft Windows 8 Pro on new machines."
Now it's: "This version installs Microsoft Windows 8 Pro from a previous version of Windows."

EDIT: More comments on this deal then any of the current "TOP DEALS" going on at the moment. lol well done people! haha

Bring back the start bar in one free install ~ be a man
with this - http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/
or this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SdW9t…

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    • +38

      Microsoft.com sell this box version for $69.99
      Link- http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbpage.Wind…

      … Thats 99c saving.. big money, you go to another store save 99c… You now have 2 dollar .. you den take da two dollar !!go too the two dollar store.. you buy something weelly nice.. ~ Be a man!

      • +7

        haha…"Ae..Be a man !" - Russel Peters :)

      • +3

        No you don't, You have $1.98 :p

        You now have 2 dollar

        • +2

          It's only $1.98 if you're using eftpos

        • -1

          Math 101, saving 99¢ + 99¢ = $1.98

        • +4

          Math 101, saving 99¢ + 99¢ = $2 unless they can use magic and give you a $1.98 coin!
          Who pays eftpos at a $2 dollar store on a $2 dollar item? ^___^

        • +3

          The item you are purchasing is ticketed at a $1.98. :p

        • +3

          Not sure about magic coins… but I do have this magic card that allows me to pay exact ammounts.

        • +6

          all ozbargainers should be maximising credit card points

        • and you would have a chines lady screaming at you… no no.. minimum spend $10 dollA

        • +1

          i do
          this is ozbargain!

        • +2

          I think you meant 2 DOOOOORRA

      • +3

        Deleted.

      • +3

        you can buy 6 cones at Maccas :)

    • +2

      "The Verge, meanwhile, reported that standalone copies of Windows 8 will cost $69.99 at launch, a price that will jump to $199 after Jan. 31, 2013."

      • better get in early then!

        • +4

          Sigh apple fan bois will be even more unbearable for the next few years

          Darn tootin', my fruity mates have started up already…

        • Ermagerd yer a noob.

      • +1

        Does this install on 3 machines and is it the Pro version? The Pro version does have significant benefits like being able to be used in a commercial environment and being able to host certain services.

        • +1

          I'm pretty sure it is not a 3 machine install. The pro of windows 8 is the one that comes with media centre im pretty sure, which I think is it's selling point for a lot of people.

          Also 70 bucks is pretty cheap for a standalone non-upgrade, but obviously windows 8 is going cheaper than previous versions because microsoft knows it will make money in the app store.

        • +1

          This probably constitutes a new post, but I'm new so cant start a new deal. Anyway Media Center is not in Pro, but for the next few months Microsoft is giving the Media Center upgrade keys away for free. Go here:

          http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/feature-packs

          • Offer valid from October 26, 2012, until January 31, 2013, and is limited to five licenses per customer per promotion. To install Windows 8 Pro Pack, you must be running Windows 8. Internet access fees may apply. Prices shown are estimated retail prices; actual price may vary by retailer. If you purchase a new PC with Windows 8 preinstalled and you later upgrade that PC with Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8 Media Center Pack, a volume license edition, or a retail edition, you will no longer be able to install apps that are provided exclusively from your PC manufacturer through the Windows Store. Get the full details on our special offers.

          ** Windows 8 Media Center Pack is available at no charge for a limited time only through this promotional page on Windows.com. If you obtain Windows 8 Media Center Pack through any other location fees might apply. Offer valid from October 26, 2012, until January 31, 2013, and is limited to one product key per email address. You qualify for this promotion if your PC is running Windows 8 Pro. Additional hardware may be required to watch and record live TV. You must provide a valid email address to receive your Windows 8 Media Center Pack product key. Your product key must be activated no later than January 31, 2013. Microsoft will only contact you at the email address you provide to send you your product key and to remind you when the activation period for your product key is ending. Catalysis Corporation is a third-party company we use to collect subscription information and process the delivery of these emails. If you purchase a new PC with Windows 8 preinstalled and you later upgrade that PC with Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8 Media Center Pack, a volume license edition, or a retail edition, you will no longer be able to install apps that are provided exclusively from your PC manufacturer through the Windows Store. Get the full details on our special offers.

    • Free upgrade to Windows 8 if you bought a Windows 7 machine between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013

      https://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-AU/Registration

  • +4
    1. it's not out yet, is it? 26 oct?
    2. likely to be available for $39.99 here (digital version, but you can burn to your own disc): http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2…
    • +1

      Your version is upgrade though. Vid_Ghost post is for standard installation I believe.

      • +1

        i thought the $69 version was also an upgrade only:
        http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2…

        "Starting today, you can reserve a packaged DVD of the upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for $69.99 USD ERP* (U.S.) at select retailers. When you receive your copy of the Windows 8 Pro upgrade, …"

        • +3

          Why do you keep quoting from a totally different article to the one that was posted? Your link was for an UPGRADE, while the PM's link is for a full copy.

          EDIT: Seems HN have now updated their site to show that it's an update now. So you were actually correct in the end.

      • +1

        "This version installs Microsoft Windows 8 Pro from a previous version of Windows."

        http://www.harveynorman.com.au/homepage/microsoft-windows-8-…

        • Yes but does Win 3.1 count?

        • Guess so. Clean install.

  • are they the full or upgrade version or doesn't matter?

    • Looks like its the full copy - at the bottom of the link i posted above it says:
      "This version installs Microsoft Windows 8 Pro on new machines."

      • Most likely HN got it wrong. The naming convention indicates that Win 8 Pro is for upgrades from previous windows versions. A new install is WIn 8 System Builder, from Amazon for $99: http://www.amazon.com/Windows-System-Builder-DVD-64-Bit/dp/B…

      • +2

        You may want to check that again..

        At the bottom of the HN page it states

        "This version installs Microsoft Windows 8 Pro from a previous version of Windows."

        They must have just updated it?

        • +1

          THEY just did!! :)

        • +1

          HN did change it.

          Original post was: "This version installs Microsoft Windows 8 Pro on new machines."
          Now it's: "This version installs Microsoft Windows 8 Pro from a previous version of Windows."

        • +1

          I wonder if you can just use whatever upgrade media you've got to perform a clean install anyway, I think I've got a friend that's done that before.

        • you might as well just torrent a .iso because that's illegal and you're product key won't work anyway I'd just stick with the pro upgrade version or buy a new computer (I know I'm due for an upgrade). Alternatively go thirds with other ozBargainers and all keep an install each.

        • +2

          it's far 'less illegal' than torrenting outright. And it'll still be a legit copy to MS, so updates and WGA will work fine.

          That method has always worked for w7, so I won't be surprised if it works with W8 too.

    • at HN botton screen
      This version installs Microsoft Windows 8 Pro from a previous version of Windows.

  • +4

    good price for the "pro" version.

    How much is the "amateur" version…

    It will be interesting to see if this takes off… Big risk in changing the interface so much and it's not getting very good feedback in the Tech media…

  • Does anybody actually like Windows 8?

    I gave the RTM a go for couple of weeks & wasn't overly fussed with it…a casual google seems to imply many folks are of the same opinion! It did give me the motivation to switch back to Linux Mint though! :o

    • One caller on a podcast talked about his upgrade.

      His kids usually used his computer but after struggling to do anything for 10 mins, they said, don't worry dad, we'll just use mum's computer from now on…

      • +1

        Yup, that about sums up my experience…"hang on, how do I do that in this interface…CAN'T…oh, bugger it I'll switch to the other…damn, gotta switch back to do something else…doh, endless loop!!!"

        • On my desktop I just stick with desktop mode. Metro only appears if I hit Start, so I've named it the fullscreen start menu. Everything works mostly the same if you look at it that way.

        • +1

          Everything works mostly the same…

          Key word there is 'mostly'. ;)

          I simply found that there was some stuff you just couldn't do from the classic interface without major fiddling; or that even if you could, the process was so convoluted it was just easier to switch back to Metro.

          Some folks might like it, more power to 'em; but I found the inconsistency of interface/functionality somewhat irritating. Maybe they'll sort some of it out in SP2 or Win8se! :p

        • +2

          Yes.. there's definitely an adjustment period needed as I mentioned in another comment, but it's nowhere as mind-blowing as how some tech writers put it. It sounds like a lot of these news outlets are doing it for the sensationalism, or because it's the new cool thing to do.

          What can you not do in the classic interface?

          The things that annoy me the most is pressing start and typing a name only searches documents by default (in w7 it searches programs first, making it easy to launch a prog), and the inability to change a folder's view mode by pressing alt-v-x for large thumbnails and alt-v-d for details.

          Other than that it's pretty much the same for me.

        • +2

          "What can you not do in the classic interface?"

          Use Modern/Metro apps which will be the most common app type going forward (considering developers can deploy them across multiple devices/form factors). But most people will still have classic apps too.

          I'm in Classic. Now I'm in Modern. Wait, where did all my apps go? Oh, they're back in that other environment. Great.

        • Oh I actually was referring to StewBall's comment where he said there's stuff he couldn't do from the classic interface without major fiddling.

          Right now I just ignore the Metro interface altogether. I treat it as a fullscreen Start menu, so everything is still mostly the same as Windows 7.

        • +1

          Fair enough. It's when the time comes that you have Modern apps that you regularly use and Classic apps that you regularly use that things will get awkward. I don't have a need for Modern apps right now but I think they'll be unavoidable in the future.

    • +4

      i dont think anyone without touchscreen monitor should get windows 8.

      • Nah, I use it on both my desktop and touchscreen laptop. It's more intuitive on the touchscreen laptop, but works perfectly fine on a regular desktop. It does take a short period of getting used to of course.

        • what is the advantage on regular desktop then?? i dont see real improvement against my windows 7 atm

        • For classic desktop use, there probably isn't too much reason to upgrade unless you want to use windows 8 metro apps. I upgraded some of my home computers, but will leave my work computer running W7 as it runs really well as-is.

          However if I were to buy or build a new computer, I'd most likely install W8 rather than W7.

        • +3

          it uses less cpu, ram and hdd space.
          it boots up, shuts down, logs off and wakes up faster
          believe it or not you'll be more productive with W8 by doing this

          Change all the default apps so that you're not opening everything in full screen
          Link your most used apps to your task bar at the bottom of the screen
          Link the rest of your apps to the desktop

          shutdown by pressing alt +f4 from desktop
          access all administrative options by pressing Windows Key + x (control panel, etc)

          also W8 Pro is cheaper than W7 Pro and includes downgrade rights so you can simply install W7 using that key. You also need the Pro version to join a domain.

    • +3

      The shots i've seen of it resemble Windows Phone 7 and that is an utter pain in the ass unless you are into total external control of your OS. :-(
      W8 could be MS's biggest flop ever.

      • +1

        There's the WP7 mode you saw and there's regular desktop mode which looks just like Windows 7, apart from the missing Start button (press the windows key on the keyboard instead). You switch to desktop mode by clicking on Desktop - the UI will be back to normal.

    • +2

      I've not used it yet but will take a look.
      I have not seen anything in it that would benefit me moving from Win7 tho.

    • +3

      I actually like it, though I am perhaps the minority by doing a bit of google-fu.

      It was weird at first, I didn't know how to shut down etc. but a few days, I really enjoyed it. Really fast, no crashes, drivers all work out of the box. No problems with the touchpad or mouse. I'm still waiting for my laptop manufacturer to release windows 8 compatible software so I can use the f keys to lower brightness etc. though

    • Mint you reckon. Ubuntus unity drove a huge wedge into my fandom. Tho not the same as what M$ is doing the unity/gnome3 backlash is over a similiar issue, changing the interface to a less productive/practical one

      • -2

        Yep, I'm loving Mint (Maya with MATE desktop). Played with it as a live distro off USB, then decided to install it. Almost everything worked out of the box! The only thing I had any hassle with was my USB speakers (Logitech Z5), that required some fiddling with ALSA script/config files to get USB audio recognised…in retrospect I should have just plugged in one of the Meritline 3.5mm cables & done an end-run around the whole issue, but I feel like a Linux geek again now for doing it the hard way! ;)

        • I had to do a complete reinstall of Lubuntu just to get sound working on all three of 2-channel, DTS passthrough and Flash in Chrome. Needed a nasty hack to get magnet links opening in Transmission in LXDE (xdg-open no help there). Sometimes when I exit xbmc-standalone, my LXDE desktop has no icons or toolbars. Now a recent kernel upgrade gives me a black screen instead of the desktop. I wonder why Linux has never taken off on the desktop ;)

        • I presume you're running it on a netbook or similar low spec machine, in which case you've chosen a lightweight distro for a purpose.

          If you're not hardware limited, I'd recommend a more full-featured distro - I chose Mint because it's widely recognised for being one of the easiest to use desktop linux distros; and as I've said pretty much everything works OOTB. Gotta laugh at the negs for saying that though…

          Agreed, linux is a DIY OS, the community makes no bones about that…hence the price!!! :p

        • True but I'd still have the sound and video issues on a full distro. ATI Radeon support in Linux is not great - there's the open-source and proprietary drivers and they both have their issues. Sound is even worse with the mess that is ALSA and Pulse Audio. Application/desktop issues are fine - I'm happy to work my way through them but driver issues are far more tricky and inconvenient. Bottom line is that when I tell my girlfriend that I chose Linux for it's stability, I feel like a bit of a goose ;) That's why I'm going to give Windows 8 a shot on this box. Even though I was trying to avoid the evil empire, I just need something that works and is reliable.

        • That's odd, my Radeon 4830 is working fine under Mint, using either proprietary or stock drivers (I've tried both)…but I agree, Linux audio is a mess! HDMI audio worked fine OOTB though for my ATI, I just wanted to get USB audio working.

          Just remember, when you're talking about Linux stability, you're not talking about driver issues causing hardware to simply not work, you're talking about system uptimes & crash proofing…I honestly can't remember my last linux kernel crash…but windows desktops in frequent use usually have at least one per month. Even the server variants are far more prone to crashes than *nix counterparts!

          That said, by nature Linux will pretty much always be a work in progress; but if you choose the right distro the tweaking can be seriously minimised, if not obviated completely. I could drop my Linux Mint build on a basic desktop system & never want for another OS under many different scenarios. By the same token, there are also many people in situations that require the Windows release of the moment, that is the harsh reality of the IT world…sometimes it's better the devil you know! ;)

    • +2

      I do. It's significantly faster than Windows 7 in most aspects, and the lack of the start menu(which is obviously replaced with the Metro interface) isn't that big of a deal tbh as you can easily install software to mimic the old start menus(I'm not going to, but you could).

      Obviously there's a little bit of a learning curve, but you'll be fine in an hour or two.

    • +1

      Does anybody actually like Windows 8?

      Yeah! Steve Ballmer may like it.

      • LOL, touché! :)

  • +3

    Strangely enough I seem to remember lots of people commenting they didn't like Windows 7 when it was in RTM version either. All it takes is a bit of getting used too. See what the comments are in a year.

    • +10

      Nah, most folks I know loved Win7 from the early RC's…reason being that it was more of an 'evolution' than a failed 'revolution!'

      • +2

        +1

        • -1

          Win 8 is another evolution

        • nah it's a revolution and people hate change (I think the change is good so meh to them)

      • +5

        Yep. Windows 7 was very positively received as far as OS releases go.

        • +1

          yeah.. maybe we should skip Win 8 and go to Win 9?… Win 7 works a beauty any way.

          by the way, Win 7 is more expensive than Win 8.. so.. worth a thought…maybe Win 8 is just a 'test'.

        • Up to the individual. I barely use W7 at home as I have a Mac….do keep a VM around for the odd task. I plan tu upgrade (think it's about $35 until Jan for an online update).

          I know certain companies I do work with will be skipping Windows 8 for now but…some of which have just gotten around to deploying 7.

    • +3

      You're thinking of Vista

  • +1

    Unless you need to there is no real reason to upgrade, unless you have a touch display and just use the desktop upgrading to Windows 8 isn't really required.

    I use it at work but at home theres no real reason yet to upgrade as I mainly use the desktop..

  • -2

    Name one major Windows revision that has got good press? And before you say "7" it wasn't major

    I know the tides are changing at the moment but Windows is still the most useful, compatible PC OS around and the only option for PC gaming

    People complaining about the start button should checkout all the annoying changes the make to Ubuntu every new release

    • +1

      Name one major Windows revision that has got good press?

      Windows XP…and it's still deployed in countless organisations & govt offices nationwide, if not worldwide! :)

      • I thought on release it was canned because it was too resource hungry as most pc's didnt have enough ram at the time. Windows 98se was snappier with the same amount of ram. I think it was especially true of games.

        • +1

          Nope, you're thinking of WinME…and 98se was released in 1999, XP was released 2yrs later; in 2001 IIRC; to fairly unanimous praise. WinME was also commonly referred to as Motherf…er Edition!!! :p

        • +1

          ~Insert sarcasm~

          Hey StewBalls I totally forgot about WinME, which is really surprising given the awesome product that it was.

        • LOL, don't stress…I still have an OEM copy somewhere if you need one bro! ;)

        • +2

          That's just not true. It was widely panned. Less than 10 percent of Microsoft's installed base upgraded to Windows XP in the first year of release. Enterprise in particular stuck with Windows 98/NT/2000 until SP2. Which was sensible - it sucked before then. Don't take my word for it:

          http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8-is-the-new-xp-7000006095/

        • exactly - people conveniently diss windows me but in fact nobody was using it and hardly anybody was upgrading from windows 98se either unless you had an uber spec pc.

          I remember having a decent spec pc but didnt upgrade right away either because it did run games slower.

        • +1

          @dazweeja, I don't know how much you know about corporate OS deployments, but NOBODY rolls out a new OS in the first year of release…well, no self-respecting admin in their right mind anyway!!! To say it was not rolled out wholesale because "it sucked before then" simply demonstrates a fundamental lack of understanding about how the industry works.

          Sorry to disappoint kids, but my recollections of XP are just fine. I was working in IT at the time & recall myself & two colleagues being asked to road test it thoroughly for a potential small-scale test rollout in an educational setting prior to deployment.

          What we found was a very well rounded (not perfect - that's what SP's are for), balanced and solid OS right out of the box. It had all the best of 2k, ME (cringe), and 98se merged into one! There was a strong kernel with driver base built on the NT>2k evolution that ME simply did not have; along with all of the DirectX & multimedia functionality from the 98/ME derivatives without the inherent instability of ME & the kernel deficits of the 95/98 variants (which were pretty much built on MS-DOS).

          You can't just rely on what appears to be a pretty shoddy single bit of journalism by ZDnet written in retrospect 11+years on for a factual account…you need to talk to those that actually worked in the industry rather than those that simply pontificate about it.

          @voter1, Windows ME was shit, that's a fact. You had a bulky, convoluted top heavy shell powered by a very meagre kernel…hmm, I wonder what could go wrong there!

          FWIW, the recommended system specs for 2k & XP were identical @ 300MHz/128MB…those for ME were also 300MHz/64MB, so complaining about hardware requirements for XP is pointless at best.

      • +3

        You have a bad memory, it was considered very buggy at time of release, it was after SP2 that people started using :-P

        • +1

          No my memory is fine, as I've just said above I have professional experience where you guys seem to be relying on speculation & old wive's tales… :p

    • Windows 95. One of the biggest selling pieces of software ever. Is that major enough for you?

    • -1

      Windows XP, Windows 95, Windows 7. In yo face.

      • Ummmm… Win 7 was classified as a 'Minor' release.
        It kind of goes like this
        Win 8 - MAJOR
        Win 7 - minor
        Vista - MAJOR
        XP - minor
        2000 - MAJOR

        Before 2000 I'm not too sure since ME, 98 & 95 was a DOS system and 2000 is a NT system.
        So at least 2/3 of what you said were minor releases.

        • I know what you're saying, all these "minor" releases are using the same kernal as the previous release..

          But calling them minor and major releases is stupid.

          also.. a major release that received good press..? by your standards.. Win2k

        • XP - minor

          I beg to differ…first consumer OS based on NT kernel…sorry, but that's right up there as a milestone in my books! ;)

  • Mmmm buy now before January 31 for $70. Wait till Febuary 1st sell for $100-$150 and undercut Microsoft's RRP? Interesting thought….

    On another note… even the promo vid is for touchscreens. Either Microsoft is being ahead of the time and encouraging touchscreen integration or they're being a PITA, po-tay-toes po-tah-toes.

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