MSFT to charge for Win98 bug fixes?
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news.com
Microsoft to charge for
Windows 98 bug fixes
By Michael Kanellos
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
April 6, 1999, 5:25 p.m. PT
Windows 98 users planning on getting bug fixes and new
features that Microsoft has been preparing for its
consumer operating system had better be ready to shell
out some bucks.
Microsoft is working on another version of Windows 98 Second
Edition, adding technology and eliminating bugs that appeared
in the maiden release. Called StepUp, the latest SE package is
designed for consumers who are already using Windows 98,
according to beta testers.
But users will have to pay for Second Edition StepUp, whereas
Microsoft had previously indicated that the upgrade would come
for free.
To date, Microsoft has discussed coming out with upgrade
packages that will take users from Windows 3.1 or Windows 95
to Windows 98, as well as a new full version of Windows 98.
Windows 98 Second Edition is due in the fall. (See related
story)
Microsoft is expected to offer the Second Edition SetUp for an
estimated retail price of $89, the same as other Second Edition
upgrades, according to a spokeswoman from Waggoner
Edstrom, Microsoft's PR firm. Microsoft will sell the StepUp CD
on its Web site, but not post the bug fixes and other
technologies for free downloads, she said.
Put another way, it will cost as much to upgrade from the
current version of Windows 98 to the fixed version of Windows
98 as it will to go from Windows 95 to Windows 98.
The charge will not likely sit well with users. In many cases,
bug fixes are posted for free by software companies.
"If I'm right in assuming they will charge for the release, a lot of
people are not going to be too happy, since Windows 98 SP 1
was supposed to be freely available on Windows Update," said
Nate Mook, webmaster for the site BetaNews.
Additionally, some of the new features due with the new version
of Windows 98, such as Internet Explorer 5.0, will be free
elsewhere. A letter that went out today from Microsoft to beta
testers read as follows:
"The next major release of the Windows 98 Second Edition
Beta is right around the corner and we need some information
from our testers. This release will be shipped as the Full and
Upgrade versions, but one more version is being added
specifically for those upgrading from Windows 98 Gold (retail).
We are looking for testers planning this type of upgrade to test
this special version, called the StepUp version, of Windows 98
Second Edition.
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