Pre-order Windows 7 and get 50%+ off

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

Today residents in the US, Canada, and Japan have the opportunity to preorder Windows 7 upgrade versions of both Home Premium and Professional editions (read: no deal for Ultimate) for significantly reduced prices. The deal lasts until July 11 in the US and Canada, and until July 5 in Japan. Microsoft emphasizes that these dates can only be taken into consideration while remembering the phrase "while supplies last." The software giant refused to reveal how many copies it was allowing to be sold at the reduced rates.
Here's the list of retailers that are offering the preorder deal (online only): Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Fry's Electronics, Office Depot, Office Max, Sam's Club, Staples, Tiger Direct, Wal-Mart, NewEgg, and Nebraska Furniture Mart (yeah, we were confused too). That's for the US; Canada's list is slightly smaller: Staples, Future Shop, Best Buy, London Drugs, Amazon, and the Source. In Japan there are four online retailers to check out: Yodobashi Camera, Amazon, Yamada Denki, and Bic Camera. At publishing time, only some retailers had a prominent banner of the offer on their homepage (chances are you'll have to do a product search for "Windows 7" to the two products).

A Microsoft spokesperson told Ars that the preorder deal would start at 12am EST today. However, at publishing time, the Microsoft Store was down with a message that explained it would be up in 30 minutes. Taking down an online store before releasing a product just seems so awfully familiar. Indeed, the main reason for the downtime is listed as the first option. Here's a screenshot:

microsoft_store_preorder_win7.png

Yesterday's Windows 7 pricing announcement was overwhelming, to say the least. We're breaking things up for you so that it's easier to digest. Again to reiterate, the pricing for the preorders that start today is as follows:

* US: Windows 7 Home Premium ($49.99) and Windows 7 Professional ($99.99)

* Canada: Windows 7 Home Premium ($64.99) and Windows 7 Professional ($124.99)

* Japan: Windows 7 Home Premium (¥7,407) and Windows 7 Professional (¥14,073)

These upgrade versions can be purchased by both XP users and Vista users. If you have Windows XP, you'll have to perform a clean install and will have to do the backup process yourself. If you are moving from 32-bit to 64-bit, you'll have to do a clean install. If you are moving to a version that is lower on the food chain (from Ultimate to Professional or Home Premium, or from Professional to Home Premium), you will have to perform a clean install. Otherwise, the upgrade installation will take care of everything.

Preorders for the UK, France, and Germany don't start till July 15 but don't worry; we'll remind you when they begin. Once preordered, your copy of Windows 7 will arrive on or after the day of general availability, October 22, 2009.

Update

The Microsoft Store appears to be back online. If it doesn't work for you, it's because Microsoft is having problems dealing with the traffic. In that case, we recommend trying one of the retailers linked above.

Update 2

Upon further inspection, the Microsoft Store is worth checking out if you can get there. While certain online retailers are only carrying Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade and Windows 7 Professional upgrade at the reduced prices, the Microsoft Store and a select few major online retailers seem to be offering more. In addition to the two discounted versions, Windows 7 Home Premium full, Windows 7 Professional full, as well as both upgrade and full versions of Windows 7 Ultimate are ready for preorder. These may not be madly discounted, but the fact that you can preorder them now as well is a pleasant surprise. This preorder business appears to be a much bigger deal than just a discount of two upgrade versions.

Update 3

In response to questions about which flavor you'll be getting with a purchase of Windows 7, here's your answer according to the Microsoft Store: "This product includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions."

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/06/windows-7-preorders-begin-in-the-us-canada-and-japan.ars

Click to read more...

 

[Andrew_as 10+ year member]

or torrent it free....

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

BOOOOOOO MAC FTW, BTW apple was going to sue Microsoft for stealing some of there functions from there OS. I hope they win too.

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

or torrent it free....

One think I won't torrent as it's too easy for root kits and other nefarious things to be embedded in the OS that way.

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

BOOOOOOO MAC FTW, BTW apple was going to sue Microsoft for stealing some of there functions from there OS. I hope they win too.

Sorry, not true at all, they are completely different and NEITHER company had any of these ideas first.

 

[97gp 5,000+ posts]

BOOOOOOO MAC FTW, BTW apple was going to sue Microsoft for stealing some of there functions from there OS. I hope they win too.

and I hope you die.

 

[Andrew_as 10+ year member]

i wait for other people to torrent stuff like this and read what they had to say about it

 

[littlepucker]

or torrent it free....

This.

just wait till the black version comes out. Boot disk then delete the registry keys that require activation.

 

[littlepucker]

BOOOOOOO MAC FTW, BTW apple was going to sue Microsoft for stealing some of there functions from there OS. I hope they win too.

You lose this argument everytime...

What "functions" do you speak of? At least acqurie requisite knowledge to forumalte a comprehensible argument when you fanboy.

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

Sorry, not true at all, they are completely different and NEITHER company had any of these ideas first.

:laugh:Let me know when you get you head out of the clouds you can not sit there and tell me that windows 7 looks nothing like Mac OS X. You are too funny that is why I look forward to reading your BS.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif I do not lose at all you just have sides the believe what they want to believe and their interface looks more like OS that before.

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

:laugh:Let me know when you get you head out of the clouds you can not sit there and tell me that windows 7 looks nothing like Mac OS X. You are too funny that is why I look forward to reading your BS.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/laugh.gif.48439b2acf2cfca21620f01e7f77d1e4.gif

Where did I say that? First you can't patent the look of software, so Apple has no grounds to sue on, secondly both Apple and Microsoft took those ideas from other software that had them first.

Oh, BTW, I like that you laugh since I have proved every single post you have made in any Mac vs. Windows thread wrong.

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

You do not have any proof that I am wrong. It is you word against mine and considering I not only gong to school for computers. But also get almost every magazine related to computers I like to think I know what I am saying is true.

 

[bose301s 5,000+ posts]

You do not have any proof that I am wrong. It is you word against mine and considering I not only gong to school for computers. But also get almost every magazine related to computers I like to think I know what I am saying is true.

You are exactly right you THINK you know about computers when in actuality you have no god damn clue about them.

And woopty doo, I am going to school for EE, I know how to design the processor you use in your POS Mac.

 

[jco1385 5,000+ posts]

You do not have any proof that I am wrong. It is you word against mine and considering I not only gong to school for computers. But also get almost every magazine related to computers I like to think I know what I am saying is true.

if there was a lawsuit, there would be a record of it. where is teh link?

 

[bigaudiofanati2 10+ year member]

LOL just enjoy your new crappy windows OS and the 4 SP's that have to be released with it.