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19 Sep 2009
Microsoft has announced that it will be offering a discounted version of its Windows 7 operating system for students.
In the UK, eligible students will be able to obtain the new version of Windows for £30. The discounted price will cover both the Home Premium and Professional versions of Windows 7.
To qualify for the discount, students must have a valid university email address and be running a Windows XP or Vista system capable of supporting Windows. The company said that it would begin offering the discounted price for pre-orders on 1 October.
Microsoft's lower than usual offer allows students to purchase Windows 7 for the same price as Apple's upcoming OS X Snow Leopard release. Student sales has been a particularly strong area for Apple's Macintosh line in recent years.
Also like Apple, Microsoft is charging UK buyers a higher price when adjusted for exchange rates. In the US, Microsoft is charging $30 (£18.45) for the student version of Windows 7.
A Microsoft spokesperson said that there were several causes for the price discrepancy.
"Windows 7 Student Offer pricing varies by region and is dependent on a variety of specific factors including, but not limited to exchange rate, local taxes, duties, local market conditions and retailer pricing decisions," said the spokesperson.
"Microsoft will continue to explore ways of bringing value to all of our customers through compelling offers, this is just one option we're trying with Windows 7."
The company plans to release Windows 7 worldwide on 22 October. The release will be the first major Windows overhaul since the 2007 release of Windows Vista.
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Do you agree?
HOW MUCH?!?
I actually considered purchasing a legitimate copy of windows 7...that is until i saw the price. Not being a student, and currently using XP (and therefore can't use the upgrade version) i would be expected to pay £240 for a copy of windows 7 professional. As i have 2 family computers that comes to more than the computers themselves are worth...so it looks like tonight i will be searching google for a Windows 7 Professional torrent and stick with my 'free' version. Sorry microsoft, you could of had my money but you got too greedy.
Posted by: Lord Bosh 22 Oct 2009
Windows 7
I'm fed up with Microsoft. If Windows needs to be rebuilt every couple of years, then there must be some inherent problem. I'll continue using XP while it is still supported, but dual-booting with linux Mint, which is both free and actually easier to use. It's also faster and updated more frequently. However I still believe we all owe Bill Gates a big "thank you" for bringing simple home computing to everyone.
Posted by: George Marner 06 Oct 2009
UK Fleeced Again
"local market conditions" - Microsoft Spokesman. Corporate speak for "everyone else (Apple) stiffs Britain over the £/$ cost so why shouldn't we"? How long will we in Britain keep taking this attitude that we should pay double what the US does? It's about time we British, as consumers, stood up en-masse and tell these hypocrites that we will vote with our wallet and they can stick their new product until they charge a fair (global) price for it.
Posted by: Andy Faulkner 21 Sep 2009
windows 7
i still use windows xp, vista is rubbish xp does all i need so ill not be upgrading. still angry at how windows rips us brits off. well ill stay with xp for now.
Posted by: kimmo 20 Sep 2009
Ain't good enough
Most students use a pirated version or OEM that comes free with there computer. Most students have debts and too many costs to pay for something quite intangible as a software license and even £30 will seem too much, its not gonna stop piracy still, £30 vs free still doesn't cut it, the £30 should provide a marketing strategy such as free itunes, or free ebooks online, free encarta, but for a student a more realistic price is £10.
Posted by: Student 20 Sep 2009
Vista sufferers should get it free
All of poor people who have been forced to run crummy Vista should get 7 free as an upgrade, perhaps then my pc will boot in under 10 minutes!
Posted by: Chrome is on the way! 20 Sep 2009