Microsoft initially offered an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for as low as $39.99, trying to get consumers more interested in the touch-centric OS. However, the latest version of Windows will get expensive in the near future.

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From February onwards, an update to Windows 8 Pro will cost $199.99. Presently, the DVD copy of Windows 8 Pro is available for $69.99 at local retailers.

While the pricing of the Pro version is set to jump significantly, Microsoft will offer an upgrade to the basic version of Windows 8 for $120, which still costs considerably higher than the $39.99 upgrade to the Pro version and comes with fewer features.

In a blog post on Friday, Jan. 18, Microsoft announced the following:

- The Windows 8 Pro upgrade edition will be available online and at retail for $199.99 MSRP (U.S.).

- The Windows 8 upgrade edition will be available online and at retail for $119.99 MSRP (U.S.).

- The Windows 8 Pro Pack will cost $99.99 MSRP (U.S.).

- The Windows 8 Media Center Pack will cost $9.99 MSRP (U.S.).

The Windows 8 Pro Pack, which is an upgrade from the basic version of Windows 8 to Windows 8 Pro, is presently available for $69.99, while the Windows 8 Media Center Pack is available for free.

Microsoft's limited time upgrade offer will expire on Jan. 31 and the new pricing will take effect from Feb. 1.

Microsoft also revealed that consumers who bought Windows 7 PCs between June 2, 2012 to Jan. 31, 2013 can upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $14.99. However, the consumers will need to register for the special offer before Jan. 31 at windowsupgradeoffer.com.

At the launch of Windows 8, Microsoft announced a limited time price offer for the Windows 8 update. The $39.99 Windows 8 Pro upgrade offer is too good to last forever and is set to expire shortly.

The Windows 8 preview builds - Consumer Preview, Developer Preview, and Release Preview - all expired earlier this week. Users running Windows 8 preview builds are facing system restarts every hour, until an upgrade to the RTM version of Windows 8.

So, if you want to upgrade to Window 8, do it before the promotional offer expires. 

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