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Add Windows Media Center to Windows 8 Pro for FREE Save $9.99

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Add Windows Media Center to Windows 8 Pro for FREE Save $9.99Affiliate
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PYabadabadoo on 25/10/2012 - 22:37 windows.microsoft.com (2808 clicks)
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Hello all,

Got Windows 8 Pro and want Media Center ?? Don't go to the "Add features to Windows 8" to get the key as its $9.99.

Go here: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/feature-packs and put in your email address for you FREE Key. - Your product key must be activated no later than January 31, 2013.

Details from site:

If your PC is running Windows 8 Pro and you'd like to get Windows 8 Media Center Pack so you can watch and record live TV with Windows Media Center, you can take advantage of the following special offer:

For a limited time, get Windows 8 Media Center Pack for free **

To receive a free product key and get Windows 8 Media Center Pack, provide a valid email address in the space provided. Once you receive your free product key through the email address you provided, follow the instructions for adding Windows 8 Media Center Pack that appear later on this page.

  • Offer valid from October 26, 2012, until January 31, 2013, and is limited to five licenses per customer per promotion. To install Windows 8 Pro Pack, you must be running Windows 8. Internet access fees may apply. Prices shown are estimated retail prices; actual price may vary by retailer. If you purchase a new PC with Windows 8 preinstalled and you later upgrade that PC with Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8 Media Center Pack, a volume license edition, or a retail edition, you will no longer be able to install apps that are provided exclusively from your PC manufacturer through the Windows Store. Get the full details on our special offers.

** Windows 8 Media Center Pack is available at no charge for a limited time only through this promotional page on Windows.com. If you obtain Windows 8 Media Center Pack through any other location fees might apply. Offer valid from October 26, 2012, until January 31, 2013, and is limited to one product key per email address. You qualify for this promotion if your PC is running Windows 8 Pro. Additional hardware may be required to watch and record live TV. You must provide a valid email address to receive your Windows 8 Media Center Pack product key. Your product key must be activated no later than January 31, 2013. Microsoft will only contact you at the email address you provide to send you your product key and to remind you when the activation period for your product key is ending. Catalysis Corporation is a third-party company we use to collect subscription information and process the delivery of these emails. If you purchase a new PC with Windows 8 preinstalled and you later upgrade that PC with Windows 8 Pro Pack, Windows 8 Media Center Pack, a volume license edition, or a retail edition, you will no longer be able to install apps that are provided exclusively from your PC manufacturer through the Windows Store. Get the full details on our special offers.

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closed Comments

    • StewBalls on 26/10/2012 - 08:44
      +5

      There's little option since Foxtel is shit.

    • lardlad on 26/10/2012 - 08:44

      This, especially with the shit they broadcast.

  • Yarkin on 26/10/2012 - 07:55
    +12

    This is OzBargain, of course we watch free to air TV.

  • bleugh on 26/10/2012 - 09:10
    -4

    Thanks!
    just got myself 20 licences, it's great owning your own domain :-P

    • pinoy on 26/10/2012 - 10:02

      20 licenses ey? did you also happen to buy 20 windows 8? … probably why most of us ain't getting KEYS despite having our own domain names too… people signing themselves to 10+ keys and microsoft looking into it?

    • CuteBirdy on 26/10/2012 - 11:37

      What's the point in having more than 1 of these keys?

      Also, you've just made it really easy for Microsoft to ban your domain (if they can be bothered).

    • johnno07 on 27/10/2012 - 07:50

      Bleugh.

  • laser on 26/10/2012 - 10:31
    -1

    So windows 8 is a downgrade from Windows 7?

  • Mattycee on 26/10/2012 - 10:43

    Apart from the one report of receiving their email has anyone else got theirs as I have not received mine and I tried it last night.

    I also tried again this morning with no luck. It goes through OK but the email never arrives.

    • eug on 26/10/2012 - 10:44

      I received mine overnight.

    • hollykryten on 26/10/2012 - 23:40

      I got my email with product key this morning after waiting overnight for it. The registration key server is really hammered.

    • RI4V4N on 27/10/2012 - 15:33

      Yep, mine took about 24 hours.

    • amaslam on 29/10/2012 - 11:15
      +1

      Got mine this morning (took the whole weekend).

  • Grok on 26/10/2012 - 10:48

    I have tried quite a few times, no key has arrived.

    What's going on?

  • bern1992 on 26/10/2012 - 10:51
    +2

    I applied for mine about 11pm last night, just got it at 10:11am, so they are coming through.

  • Sheve25 on 26/10/2012 - 11:44

    how much would it cost for people that dont buy the pro version

    • scrimshaw on 26/10/2012 - 12:24
      +4

      The answer lies within the title.

  • AzzaD on 26/10/2012 - 12:46

    Still waiting for my key, tried a couple emails too

  • kirt on 26/10/2012 - 13:53

    I applied last night about 10pm WST…key just arrived ;)

    • AzzaD on 26/10/2012 - 16:02

      I did mine at about 12:30 am this morning …still waiting, hopefully it comes soon

      • AzzaD on 26/10/2012 - 16:48

        just came then - disappointing that its still the same app from Windows 7 - you'd think that they'd update the UI to be in line with everything else at the least …this should always be free, until they actually release a new version would it be worth any extra money.

        • backslashio on 26/10/2012 - 20:19

          Its exactly the same? That's pretty disappointing! For a suddenly paid exclusive you'd think it'd have some advantages over the original

  • ejsteven on 26/10/2012 - 17:06

    The amount of time, money and effort that they have to go through to generate these free keys including writing software, setting up servers etc. plus hiring staff to deal with complaints when people don't get their keys and then to deal with the inevitable wave of outcry when people miss out makes you wonder why they didn't just include this for free in Win 8. Especially when they are only going to charge 10 bucks to a much diminished customer base due to this promotion.

    • giggles on 26/10/2012 - 18:04

      and only in PRO version. What a crock huh, seeing as Media Center is a HOME app!!! Maybe it will make Steve Balmer dance more.

    • eug on 26/10/2012 - 18:11
      +2

      It's only free for 2 months. The next 3 years or so, it won't be free.

      Time, money, and effort to generate keys? This is Microsoft, the world's largest software company. They'd be swimming in servers and their 94,000 staff.

      The reason why it's not free is because it includes commercial codecs that they have to pay for. Not many people use it, so why charge every single person for it?

      The Win 8 upgrade is $15 - $48, cheaper than Windows has ever been, and you're still complaining that a feature few people use has now become an add-on, making it fairer for everyone else?

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 26/10/2012 - 19:50

    I wonder if someone will be selling keys on eBay for a dollar a piece sometime in the near future. They'll make [Divide by zero error]% profit?

  • jl434 on 26/10/2012 - 23:21

    did not get the email yet

  • ashlikesnow on 27/10/2012 - 01:45

    I still haven't receive the email, how long does it take?

    • kiwipride on 27/10/2012 - 08:00

      been 24 hours and still nothing.

      Edit. Tried again and it came straight away.

  • aceagain on 27/10/2012 - 08:48

    The email just arrived for me!

  • jl434 on 27/10/2012 - 12:21

    Yeah, email arrived this morning

  • backslashio on 27/10/2012 - 17:40
    +3

    Got my email today after almost 2 days of waiting. Well at least I now know I entered the right email address!

  • francis.tks on 28/10/2012 - 13:43

    Whatsss since when it isn't there, all companies are getting stingier……..
    Not to mention its a high end edition, not some home basic.

  • ClintonL on 29/10/2012 - 13:53

    To all who are saying it should be bundled with the OS i'm pretty sure one of the reasons why it isn't originally bundled is because they had some complaint from Europe about some anti competition laws or something like that about WMC/WMP having an unfair advantage over its competitors. So i guess releasing it seperate and giving it away for free kinda goes around it.

    • StewBalls on 29/10/2012 - 14:02

      they had some complaint…about WMC/WMP having an unfair advantage over its competitors.

      Interesting, I recall a very similar debate regarding IE & Netscape many moons ago! ;)

    • eug on 29/10/2012 - 15:15
      +1

      Nah, you're mixing it up with the IE anti-trust lawsuit.

      WMC is not bundled because few people use it. Rather than make everybody pay for commercial codecs that MS has to licence, splitting it up means only those who actually use it will pay for it.

      http://www.anandtech.com/show/5813/media-center-for-windows-…

      excerpts:

      In data Microsoft published last year, Media Center was launched by 6% of Windows 7 users.

      Codec licensure is something the public can generally ignore, but it’s the reason DVD players will never cost a penny, and why the original Xbox required a dongle for playback. Since Windows XP Media Center, users have been paying for MPEG-2 and Dolby Digital decode support. With Vista, the audio side was bolstered with Dolby Digital Plus, and this was maintained in Windows 7. Windows 8 will not have DVD playback out of the box, though with the addition of the Media Center Pack will gain the appropriate licensure.

      In the era of Ultrabooks and tablets, optical drives are on the decline, so omitting support for DVD-Video playback, and entirely ignoring BluRay support, is sensible.

      When you're probably going to sell 100 million copies, the cost of licences that few people use can really add up.

  • kspec on 24/11/2012 - 08:00

    So this key mist be activated before february or it will expire or its free till then only?

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