Microsoft is making a tweak to the way it will enable Windows Vista users to upgrade to higher-end versions of Windows via its “Windows Anytime Upgrade” program.Windows Anytime Upgrade is a Vista marketing program via which Microsoft has allowed customers to move from lower-cost,
Microsoft Office 2010, less feature-rich variations of Vista to higher-end versions.Starting February 20, Microsoft is planning to finish distribution of digital product keys, company officials said on February 7. Instead, customers will need to obtain a Windows Anytime Upgrade kit,
Windows 7 X64, consisting of a Windows DVD and product keys,
Windows 7 32 Bit, either directly from Microsoft, via snail-mail, or in person through a Microsoft retailer. Anytime Upgraders still can order the upgrade kit online,
Microsoft Office 2007 Pro Plus, but the key will be sent by snail-mail.)Why the change? A company spokeswoman said it;s due to customer feedback. She sent me the following statement by way of e-mail:“Since the current implementation of Windows Anytime Upgrade requires the use of a physical Windows Anytime Upgrade DVD,
Office 2007 Ultimate, consumers have told MSFT that they would prefer to use the DVD and a standard 25-character product key to perform the upgrade-rather than the combination of the DVD (via mail) and digital key which arrive separately.”There;s been plenty of talk about downgrading (especially from Vista to XP) in recent months. But has anyone out there used Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade to a pricier version of Windows? How was your experience?