Below is the abbreviated Microsoft upgrade table, which is useful in evaluating whether or not you can upgrade your Windows OS and if so to what.
And here is the Apple upgrade table for Snow Leopard, excluding server upgrades.
Do you notice a difference?
This post does not address pricing as it is not fully known at this time. Snow Leopard upgrades from Leopard will cost $29.00.
Update: Windows 7 Pricing information from Paul Thurrott http://windowsitpro.com/windowspaulthurrott/article/articleid/102368/microsoft-holds-the-line-on-windows-7-pricing-launches-limited-time-promotion.html
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Wow! This really reminds me of one of the reasons why I switched to Linux, and then to Mac. The simplicity of the Mac allows you to get the job done. Yeah, you pay a bit more upfront, but the end result is worth it.
@Paul
I agree the Microsoft scheme is too complex. I believe it is packaged goods pricing scheme — think variations on Oreos: original cookie, chocolate covered Oreos, vanilla cookie/chocolate interior Oreos, etc. This may stem from Ballmer’s early training, post Harvard, at Proctor and Gamble. I do not believe that Microsoft is making the right choice with all these SKUs. Almost every version has an x86 (32 bit) and an x64 (64 bit) edition, and each of those has an OEM edition, an upgrade edition and a retail edition, further complicating an overly complex scheme.
Apple’s scheme makes much more sense to me. It is also easier to communicate.
[...] There are a lot of different versions of Windows XP and Vista. In the United States there are least 24 possible upgrade paths from XP and Vista, when you factor in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. It is very easy to get confused. I created an online table for you to make some sense out of this mess at http://rhftech.com/blog/index.php/2009/06/windows-7-upgrades-compared-to-snow-leopard-upgrades/. [...]