Microsoft Windows 7 Packaging

Will you be buying Windows 7 when it is released on 22 October 2009? If so, you are better pre-ordering a copy of it, between today and 9 August. But hurry, stock is limited – sold on a first come first serve basis, and they’re selling out fast!

Windows 7 Home Premium E is available to pre-order for £50 and Windows 7 Professional E for £100. Some sellers have reduced the prices slightly, Amazon.co.uk charging £44.97 and £89.97 respectively.

The “E” versions for the UK ship without Internet Explorer, so you will have to install your own choice of browser after installing Windows, and you won’t be able to upgrade directly from a previous version of Windows. Atgram Systems recommends choosing Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

See Microsoft’s pre-order offer

Google Chrome Logo

Until earlier this year, all of our websites were designed & developed with Microsoft Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox compatibility mainly in mind. Since the turn of the year, we have had to ensure our websites were compatible with the newest and fast upcoming browser – Google Chrome. Like Firefox, Chrome is an open-source browser that allow users to browse fast and securely with ease. We have found the switch from Firefox to be seamless as they are very similar in appearance and functionality.

Chrome Pros

• Address bar includes powerful search with results from your default search engine
• Tabs and windows are interchangeable – detachable and attachable
• Application shortcuts for web-only applications such as Gmail or Calendar
• Private browsing without tracking browsing history

Chrome Cons

• No addons/developer extentions like Firefox available yet
• Potentially high memory usage if too many tabs are open as each is its own process

We highly recommend everyone to download Chrome or at least upgrade to the newly released Firefox 3.5 for the best possible Internet surfing experience.

Microsoft Windows 7 Packaging

Microsoft has just published the pricing for Windows 7. You can upgrade from Windows XP or Vista, or buy the full retail version. Here are the prices:

Windows 7 Home Premium: $119.99 UPGRADE or $199.99 FULL VERSION
Windows 7 Professional: $199.99 UPGRADE or $299.99 FULL VERSION
Windows 7 Ultimate: $219.99 UPGRADE or $319.99 FULL VERSION

However, you can pre-order Windows 7 for just $49.99 or $99.99 for Home Premium or Professional, respectively.

In Europe, we’re a little less lucky. Here are our local prices:

Windows 7 Home Premium: £80
Windows 7 Professional: £190
Windows 7 Ultimate: £200

For us, the “upgrades” are actually the same as the full retail versions. However, these prices are only until 1 January 2010, and after that, they will be bumped up to cost:

Windows 7 Home Premium: £150
Windows 7 Professional: £220
Windows 7 Ultimate: £230

Luckily though, we too can pre-order our copies of Windows 7 from 15 July 2009 for £49 for Windows 7 Home Premium E and £99 for Windows 7 Professional E. The “E” stands for “no Internet Explorer”, as requested by EU regulators.

Microsoft Windows 7 Packaging

Microsoft is doing everything to push the new Windows 7 far beyond Windows Vista ever made it. Today they’ve unveiled the packaging Windows 7 will ship in. They’ve apparently increased the economic value by 50%, by ensuring that the packaging is 37% lighter than that of Vista, and it includes just the disc, the plastic box, a cover sleeve, and a basic Getting Started Guide.

View the Ars Technica article with a photo of inside the packaging.