If Microsoft thinks their free or discounted upgrade coupons for Windows Vista are going to skyrocket fourth-quarter PC sales, they might be in for a surprise. Gartner, the research firm thinks it won’t do much to keep sales up as users may not want to pay US$49 to receive Vista Home Basic, or US$79 to upgrade to Vista Home Premium. If I were a user, I’d wait at least a year before I jump into any Vista to make sure my software programs run as they are now. Any downtime is a waste of time.

Gartner Views Vista Free coupons Are NoBig Deal source

According to sources close to Microsoft, the Redmond Wash. developer will toss a coupon into each Windows XP- or Tablet PC-equipped computer bought between 26 October 2006 and 15 March 2007 for a free or discounted upgrade to Windows Vista. Gartner is skeptical of the coupon’s ability to move PCs because of the upgrade prices most buyers will face. Under the “Express Upgrade” program, people who buy a PC pre-installed with Windows XP Home, the most popular SKU, must pay US$49 to receive Vista Home Basic, US$79 to upgrade to Vista Home Premium.