{"id":46480,"date":"2012-10-26T11:17:25","date_gmt":"2012-10-26T09:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/?p=46480"},"modified":"2012-10-26T11:43:31","modified_gmt":"2012-10-26T09:43:31","slug":"groupon-blunders-on-windows-8-pro-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/business\/46480-groupon-blunders-on-windows-8-pro-deal","title":{"rendered":"Groupon blunders on Windows 8 Pro deal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Groupon South Africa has backtracked on its previous promise that the product which they are offering is the full version of Windows 8 Pro, and not an upgrade copy.<\/p>\n

Earlier this week Groupon South Africa announced that it \u201cwill be the first to offer the long-awaited Windows 8 Pro Microsoft software at up to 70% off the recommended retail price\u201d.<\/p>\n

The company said that the recommended retail price for Windows 8 Pro was R2,000, and that they are offering the product at R599.<\/p>\n

Consumers were quick to question whether this was the full version or the regular upgrade version as it made a significant difference in value.<\/p>\n

When Groupon was asked whether their deal was the \u201cfull Windows 8 Pro\u201d, or whether it is a Windows 8 Pro upgrade copy which needed a previous version of Windows, the company\u2019s response was clear: \u201cThe Windows 8 Pro deal is the full package that gets delivered in a box to the customers address\u201d.<\/p>\n

This feedback from Groupon South Africa put most consumers\u2019 minds at rest that they are getting a full version of Windows 8 Pro, but comments from Microsoft revealed that this is not the truth.<\/p>\n

Colin Erasmus, business lead at Microsoft South Africa, told MyBroadband that unlike previous versions of Windows, Windows 8 will not have retail copies that can be installed without owning a license for an older version of Microsoft\u2019s operating system.<\/p>\n

This means that users will need a version of Windows XP with Service Pack 3, Windows Vista, or Windows 7 to use their copy of Windows 8 bought on launch day.<\/p>\n

\"Groupon<\/a>

Groupon Windows 8 Pro deal<\/p><\/div>\n

Groupon South Africa has now changed its tune on which version of Windows 8 Pro they are offering consumers.<\/p>\n

The Groupon SA website now clearly states that their Windows 8 deal is \u201cfor an upgrade and you will need either Windows 7, Vista or XP to upgrade\u201d.<\/p>\n

Consumers are not happy about being provided incorrect information by Groupon South Africa, partly because they can get a Windows 8 upgrade in digital format<\/a> from Microsoft directly at US$39.99 (\u00b1R350), instead of Groupon SA\u2019s R599. Be warned that Microsoft is advertising this deal in Rand, but will bill you in US Dollars.<\/p>\n

\"Windows<\/a>

Windows 8 Pro upgrade from Microsoft<\/p><\/div>\n

It is not clear whether Groupon South Africa will refund customers who feel they have been misled by the Windows 8 Pro deal.<\/p>\n

Here is some pricing of Windows 8 upgrade version from various companies:<\/p>\n