Microsoft plans Windows 7 Family Pack?

July 3, 2009 | 13:33

Tags: #eula #windows-7

Companies: #microsoft

Eagle-eyed Windows fans may have spotted a secret SKU for Windows 7 that didn't make it into Microsoft's official announcement: the Family Pack.

As reported over on CNet, Windows fans have tracked down an obscure paragraph in the licensing agreement of a recently leaked build of Windows 7 which suggests Microsoft will be selling a three-pack bundle for households with multiple computers.

In a post on his blog, technology enthusiast Kristan Kenney points out that the licence agreement makes reference to “Qualified Family Pack Users” being able to “install one copy of the software marked as 'Family Pack' on three computers in your household for use by people who reside there.

While the language makes it pretty clear that a multi-system bundle has at least been thought about – and in a build so close to release date, is almost certainly going to make it into the final version – Microsoft is remaining tight lipped, offering no confirmation nor denial that a Windows 7 Family Pack will be offered.

With no official statement from Microsoft, it's impossible to guess as to the pricing level at which Family Pack may be offered: it's certainly likely to be a substantial discount over the cost of three full retail packs, however. Neither can we know which of the various Windows 7 editions will be offered in this way: while Home Premium is a near-certainty, will Microsoft offer triple-packs of Professional to those households with greater demands on their computers?

Would you buy a Family Pack if it were offered at a substantial discount, or should Microsoft just sell the standard retail box for a sensible price in the first place? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Discuss this in the forums

Posted by lewchenko - Fri Jul 03 2009 13:11

Well you can buy a 5 pack 'Family Suite' of OSX for £126 (or £83 for one licence). I doubt Win7 will be as good a value as that !

Other than the pre-order pricing for Win7, I find the normal retail version pricing over the top. In OSX land you also do not have OEM (for obvious reasons!.... wonder if Psystar gets a discount though !! ) , so its a much simpler model. All versions are the same as well... none of this home/premium/starter/ultimate stuff.

And whilst Apple runs into criticism regarding 'yearly upgrade fees' for your OS (if you choose to buy them), it must be noted that Snow Leopard will only cost about £20 this time. Ive never actually bought an upgrade before though.. just run the same OS until I replace the machine usually.


I will be buying x1 licence of Win7 at pre-order pricing only for my desktop gaming PC. No more than that despite having a few PC's/laptops. They can carry on with XP/Vista etc until they die.

Posted by yuusou - Fri Jul 03 2009 14:11

Who the hell buys 5 OS X? 1 is already rare enough.

Posted by dicobalt - Fri Jul 03 2009 17:36

Apple doesn't like people who don't buy their hardware, they say &^%* off to people who want to buy OSX. Why would I buy 5 of something I can't install?

Posted by ch424 - Fri Jul 03 2009 18:29

dicobalt
Apple doesn't like people who don't buy their hardware, they say &^%* off to people who want to buy OSX. Why would I buy 5 of something I can't install?
You wouldn't. I'm sure a household/small business with 5 macs would though.
null
YouTube logo
MSI MPG Velox 100R Chassis Review

October 14 2021 | 15:04

In line with recent changes to data protection legislation in the UK and Europe we would like to direct you to our updated Privacy Policy here.