Windows 7 preorder a hit (save 50% ordering now) [Archive]

View Full Version : Windows 7 preorder a hit (save 50% ordering now)

SonsOfLiberty

07-02-2009, 06:47 PM

http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2243/windows7boxart254x300.png

Microsoft's program for preordering Windows 7 at a discount is proving quite popular, at least at Amazon.com.

The program, which kicked off on Friday, allows people to order an upgrade version of Windows 7 Home Premium for $49, more than half off its $119 suggested price, or Windows 7 Professional for $99, half of its suggested price.

Both options run only until July 11 and are also limited in terms of the number of copies Microsoft will sell at those prices, though the software maker won't clarify what the limits are. (Users will get their copy of the operating system after it is made broadly available on October 22.)

The two offers have proven exceptionally popular on Amazon. The Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade package vaulted to No. 1, not just in Amazon's software store, but among all electronics products on the site. Meanwhile, the Windows 7 Professional upgrade was No. 2 among software products. Amazon also has a lot of Windows 7 info on its site, as well as a paid delivery option that guarantees that the product will arrive on October 22.

I'm checking into how the preorder program is doing at other stores. It is also being offered at the brick-and-mortar and/or online outlets Best Buy, Costco, Newegg, Office Depot, Office Max, Sam's Club, Staples, Tiger Direct, Wal-Mart, as well as at a few regional spots, such as Fry's Electronics and Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Best Buy, for its part, said preorders of Windows 7 immediately took off on Friday--faster than with previous preorder programs. Overall, though, it said sales are in line with its projections.

Microsoft is also running similar programs in a few other countries. Reports from Engadget and elsewhere suggest that the program is already sold out in Japan. A Microsoft representative was not immediately able to confirm this.

Also kicking off this past weekend was a separate program in which those who buy certain PCs with Windows Vista can get a free (or nearly free) copy of Windows 7, once the new operating system is available.

Amazon Pricing Only:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium = $199.99 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHGMK0?ie=UTF8&tag=nzbsrus-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002DHGMK0)

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade = $49.99 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHLUWK?ie=UTF8&tag=nzbsrus-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002DHLUWK)

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional = $299.99 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHLVII?ie=UTF8&tag=nzbsrus-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002DHLVII)

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade = $99.99 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHGM50?ie=UTF8&tag=nzbsrus-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002DHGM50)

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate = $319.99 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHGMVY?ie=UTF8&tag=nzbsrus-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002DHGMVY)

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade = $219.99 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002DHLV8S?ie=UTF8&tag=nzbsrus-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B002DHLV8S)

:source: Source: CNET News (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10274976-56.html)

Dean141

07-02-2009, 07:44 PM

I wonder if it will be fully cracked by the time it comes out

mbucari1

07-02-2009, 07:54 PM

I wonder if it will be fully cracked by the time it comes out
probably not. Vista launched its rtm in late 06. Shortly after there was a crack that froze the activation countdown clock. Months later, Paradox released it's activation crack for 32bit only, and it had stability problems. Then a few months after that there was the softmod which actually worked really well.

That said, I think it will be a several months before there's a good activation crack.

$SnoopDo2G$

07-02-2009, 09:56 PM

I say XP >>> ...
Will get prolly Windows 7 by late 2010... when it gets rlz'd :D

SonsOfLiberty

07-03-2009, 01:42 AM

Well at least you can use the RC till December, well 2 months after that, but those 2 months it will reboot every 2 hours. So, the RC is good 'till the end of the year basically and you will still get critical updates and optional updates to while your using it. At least it's Ultimate.

mbucari1

07-03-2009, 01:53 AM

I think I'm gonna buy the professional upgrade. I don't need the ultimate features, and can't even use the bitlocker feature cuz I don't have a TCM.

manu1991

07-03-2009, 04:10 AM

Scene Pricing

Windows 7 OMG LOLZ WTF edition - Free

mbucari1

07-03-2009, 04:47 AM

yeah, if you want to wait months for a viable crack to be released.

The Flying Cow

07-03-2009, 09:06 AM

How does this "upgrade" mishigas work? Do you have to supply proof of a previous legit Windows version to upgrade from?

BTW, is Home so much worse than Professional? Where is Professional worth the extra dough?

Skiz

07-03-2009, 01:42 PM

mbucari1

07-03-2009, 03:22 PM

Scene Pricing

Windows 7 OMG LOLZ WTF edition - Free

My OS is something I've always felt was worth paying for. If for nothing else other than peace of mind. Especially an initial releases like Win7 where you'll be wanting to make sure you obtain updates as they are released.

I can understand downloading something that is as stable as say:

Microsoft.Windows.XP.Professional.SP3.Integrated.June.2009.Corporate-UP2DATE

...but not a new OS.

Alternatively, does anyone know what the main differences are in the three versions?

I never had great luck with those integrated releases. They were always more fragile than the untouched retail copy.

As for the differences, MS has a table comparison on their site.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare-editions

I've been really excited about XP mode, so I'm going to pay to get that feature. But ultimate doesn't really do anything for me.

SonsOfLiberty

07-03-2009, 03:31 PM

Don't you have to have Ultimate to have XP VM mode? Or are saying you "have" to buy ultimate for the XP mode, I'd rather have ultimate and then one day I need to use something and I get a pop up that says "you should've bought ultimate"....

As upgrades I think you have to supply "some sort of info" that you legally paid for it, I assume a "legit" key might work, and I think it's from Vista, I don't know about XP to 7, although I do have a legit "key" that I didn't pay for, that's got XP legit, so I might be able to upgrade and use that key :lol:

Skiz

07-03-2009, 06:10 PM

Alternatively, does anyone know what the main differences are in the three versions?

As for the differences, MS has a table comparison on their site.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/compare-editions

I've been really excited about XP mode, so I'm going to pay to get that feature. But ultimate doesn't really do anything for me.

Thanks for that link.

XP Mode holds no interest to me whatsoever. I always thought the default look of XP was awful as the icons are terrible.

The only real difference between Professional and Ultimate appears to be the language packs (don't care) and BitLocker encryption support (again, don't care).

The only advantage for me with Professional may be the Domain Join feature, but really, how hard is it to joining a network? :lol:

I think Home Premium is going to be just fine for my needs. :)

Gruelius

07-03-2009, 07:05 PM

afaik its vulnerable to the same sort of cracking as vista.

Wether they will put their foot down or have a way to i dont know, i think my install told me my copy was cracked before but they hadnt done anything about it.

The big question is can you upgrade a unliscenced 7 install? e.g. install a cracked copy and upgrade it with a real one :p

Skiz

07-06-2009, 12:05 PM

Do you have to upgrade to an equivalent version which you had before?

In other words, if I have Vista Ultimate now, am I required to upgrade to Win7 Ultimate or can I upgrade to any Win7 version I like?