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14 Jul 2009
Microsoft's web site for UK customers looking to pre-order Windows 7 at a discount goes live Wednesday, but the firm is warning buyers that stocks are limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
As reported on V3.co.uk previously, Microsoft is making Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional available at substantial discounts for UK buyers prepared to pre-order.
Under this offer, the two editions will be available at £49.99 and £99.99 respectively, compared with the full prices of £149.99 and £219.99.
The web site will be taking orders from just after midnight on 15 July, but customers will not receive the software before the launch on 22 October.
Buyers can also pre-order from partners including Amazon.co.uk, Argos, Comet, Currys, Dixons, Ebuyer.com, John Lewis Partnership, Littlewoods, Micro Anvika, PC World, Play.com, Staples and Tesco.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has confirmed that volume customers will only have access to Windows 7 from early September, despite the fact that the operating system is expected to be released to manufacturing (RTM) at the end of July.
"At RTM our partners begin their final preparations for Windows 7, including testing and building images for new PCs," said Windows communications manager Brandon LeBlanc in a blog post.
"RTM is essentially the final 'stage' of engineering for Windows 7 before it hits the market at General Availability. Engineering continues on Windows 7 from RTM until General Availability on 22 October."
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Windows 7
Just ordered my copy of Windows 7 for £49.99 from http://www.buy-windows-7.co.uk/ cant wait for the release now!
Posted by: Windows 7 20 Jul 2009
@Matt
The FAQ on Microsoft's site does say that you need to have a genuine copy of XP or Vista to qualify for this special offer. Whether your copy is OEM (i.e. came installed on a PC you bought) or a boxed copy should not make any difference. You will get a full version of Windows 7, and a clean install is what Microsoft recommends. If you buy one licence, you can only legally install this on a single PC. The FAQ says you can buy up to three licences as part of the pre-order offer.
Posted by: Daniel Robinson, V3.co.uk 16 Jul 2009
Re: A couple of things
My understanding was that no previous version of Windows is required; in effect there is no upgrade path due to the change in bundling IE with Windows 7. I certainly hope it's a full copy and not an OEM version but I don't know. I don't want an OEM copy (tied to a particular PC forever). But I'm pretty sure you can still only install it on one PC as it has always been one licence = 1 PC install.
Posted by: Ralph Bacon 15 Jul 2009
Couple of things
If I buy this do I already have to own a copy of windows already? (Their faq hints at this) And is it alright if that copy is oem? Also if I do buy this, can i do a clean install and how many pcs can i put this os on if i buy 1 copy?
Posted by: matt 14 Jul 2009