Windows 7 UK upgrade pricing brings new meaning to “Rip-Off Britain”

The Windows 7 upgrade pricing was released last week, we were finally given an indication how much netbook users would have to pay to upgrade from Windows 7 Starter Edition to more fully-featured editions such as Home Premium or Professional. The prices we saw were only US prices, although we’ve now seen the UK prices and it brings new meaning to the term “Rip-off Britain”.

In the UK, the move from Starter Edition to Home Premium will cost netbook users £69.99 (US price: $79.99). To then move from Home Premium to Professional will cost £119.99 (US: $89.99) and to move from Home Premium to Ultimate will cost £124.99 (US: $139.99).

I really don’t know how Microsoft worked out their pricing, but it seems extortionate in our view. On our calculations, if you take the current exchange rate (£/$ 1.68) and add 15 percent VAT, then the move from Starter Edition to Home Premium should only cost just under £55. Microsoft is charging £15 more.

Using the same methodology, the move from Home Premium to Professional is a staggering £58 more expensive than it should be, whilst from Home Premium to Ultimate is £29 more expensive.

Okay, we know that exchange rates never stand still, but even if you use a rate of £/$ 1.5, then all of the upgrade pricing is still much more expensive than it should be. Starter to Home Premium is £9 dearer, Home Premium to Professional is £51 dearer and Home Premium to Ultimate is £18 dearer.

Companies always make some excuse when overcharging for their products in the UK, however I’d love to hear what Microsoft’s excuses are for this frankly ridiculous over-pricing.