I read (PCPLUS) that one of the big PC Chains in the UK (PC World/Currys/Dixons) are offering W7 for £50 if you pre order in the next few weeks.
Sounds like a good idea, unless anyone has heard of any catches.
 

Steve: N.M.N.F.
If something is popular, it must be wrong: Mark Twain

I just spotted in another post that someone has pre-ordered W7 for $49. Hmm $50 = £50 ? I dont think so, but only to be expected I suppose.

Steve: N.M.N.F.
If something is popular, it must be wrong: Mark Twain

catch: HOME PREMIUM...

UPDATED: Windows 7 Pre-Order Sales Soar
http://www.trustedreviews.com/software/news/2009/07/15/Windows-7-Pre-Order-Sales-Soar/p1

Date: July 17, 2009

Quote:

Amazon UK reported that they sold more copies of Windows 7 in the first eight hours of the offer, than they took in 17 weeks of pre-orders for Windows 7.  I was one of the lucky buyers in the UK and I managed to snag myself a copy of Windows 7 Professional.

source: [link http://windows7news.com/2009/07/17/windows-7-pre-order-offer-disappoints-users/]Windows 7 Pre-Order Offer Disappoints Users[/links]

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

And remember EU editions don't get a browser included ...

So its sold out already then? But I will check.
 
If so then they have shot themselves in the foot because now 1000's of users, myself included, will stick it out (virtually forever) with Vista.

I just Checked on The PC world site and they are still offering it for £69.93 until end August (which is when the £50 offer was supposed to end) £69.93 (which is not £50 + VAT is it!!) But still reasonable I suppose.

Home Premium is fine for my home machine! (running Vista HP now).
It will be 'a month of Sundays' before anyone asks me to install W7 at work!!!

 

Steve: N.M.N.F.
If something is popular, it must be wrong: Mark Twain

Quote (Mike):

And remember EU editions don't get a browser included ...

I suppose an upgrade might not remove pre-install programs [e.g. IE8] anyway. Assuming it will do an upgrade?

  

Steve: N.M.N.F.
If something is popular, it must be wrong: Mark Twain

You'd like to think so. However, sadly not. Microsoft published an upgrade document earlier this month in which they categorically state

Quote (Microsoft):

Upgrades from Windows Vista to ... Windows E are not supported

if you want to read it for yourself, the document can be downloaded from here

The light at the end of the tunnel is that Microsoft seem to have backed down in the last few days and pitched a new solution about browser inclusion to the EU which will hopefully result in a European SKU that does include a selection of browsers. However, until the EU decide whether they like this idea or not, the E SKU will continue to be European offering.

Hi

I installed the beta and have been using it for a couple of months.

Microsoft sent me a link that allowed me to preorder Windows 7 for $49 from Amazon.com.

I'm guessing that's about 30 pounds.

It's not to late to download and install the Beta.
It's solid, I'm running all my software in it.

I dual booted with XP and installed it on my second hard drive.  I haven't been back to XP in weeks.

Mike

>It's not to late to download and install the Beta.

Why would you download the beta when you can download the release candidate?

Hi

Sorry I meant the Release Candidate.

I still think of it as the beta since they have changed it several times since I installed it and solved several problems connected with networking and hardware compatabillity.

I'm guessing that if you downloaded it now you would get the latest version that really is the final version since they are putting in boxes and distributing it to computer builders right now.

.

I suspect that anyone in the UK ordering a $50 upgrade from Amazon in the USA, will be buying a 'Grey' import! [A copy of Windows designed for a country other than that where it is installed]
With all that that implies i.e No support, No upgrades? No activation? Etc, etc.

 

Steve: N.M.N.F.
If something is popular, it must be wrong: Mark Twain

You *can* upgrade but there are only like for like upgrades eg from Ultimate to Ultimate. I have tested this myself and it works fine.

EU versions may not install a browser however an upgrade will retain the browser rather than remove it.

All has gone smoothly so far and it is nice and fast.

Zel, correct me if I'm wrong but I don't believe that the currently downloadable RTM version from either Technet or MSDN is the E version, and thus is not subject to the E version upgrade limitations.

What Zel says makes a lot of sense.

Why would M$ bring out a cheaper version of a full copy.
Upgrades are always the least expensive.

And why would an upgrade remove your installed software (browser)?




 

Steve: N.M.N.F.
If something is popular, it must be wrong: Mark Twain

Steve,

the "like for like upgrades eg from Ultimate to Ultimate" is the standard upgrade policy for Windows 7, but not the policy for the E version. And I'm pretty certain that Zel is using a non-E version from MSDN or Technet which is why he can do the upgrade (and it naturally won't remove the browser)

 

According to some German and Swiss Web News (Golem.de and Computerworld.ch are just two), Windows 7E will not be shipped if the EU Commissions sanction the MS plan to allow installing of third party browser at installation time...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

Indeed; as I said several posts ago ...

I've not played with the E version and as strongm says, I used an MSDN version for my install / upgrade.

I concur with my learned colleague..."what he said".