Windows 7

[Spazosaurus]

And for those who don't know what a MAK key is...

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/existing-customers/product-activation.aspx

or

http://microsys.unity.ncsu.edu/documentation/Microsoft-Volume-License-Activation/MAK/index.php

[Netizen1]

But posted about this already, and W1nTry was back and forth with quick replies...

http://www.carigamers.com/cms/forums/index.php/topic,14080.msg215087.html#msg215087

[TriniXaeno]

we know, it's just more awesome when awesome says it. lol

[Netizen1]

we know, it's just more awesome when awesome says it. lol

[woodyear99]

Windows 7 Pricing released.....pre-order discounts.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/06/25/windows.7.pricing/

MS details Win 7 prices, free PC upgrade program
Microsoft this morning outlined its final pricing for Windows 7. Extending an olive branch to Windows XP owners refusing to upgrade to Vista, the company says it's allowing both these and Vista owners to pay $120 to upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium, $200 to move to Windows 7 Professional, and $220 for Windows 7 Ultimate. Full, non-OEM copies will cost $200, $300 and $320 respectively.

To offset reluctance from early buyers, however, Microsoft also says it plans to offer large discounts for pre-orders. A limited early program will price upgrade versions of Home Premium and Professional at $49 and $99 respectively. Additionally, large PC manufacturers like Dell and HP are planning free Windows 7 upgrades, in many cases beginning today, that will give buyers of new Vista PCs a copy of the newer operating system when it ships October 22nd.

Costs for other Home Basic and Starter, which are targeted at the developing world and netbooks, aren't yet public. Unlike Apple, Microsoft also has no multi-user license for home and makes buyers purchase individual copies, though the company is reportedly considering a solution to the problem.

The pricing of Windows 7 is particularly vital for Microsoft, which suffered a rare revenue decline in early 2009 owing both to economic troubles and active resistance to Windows Vista. Most businesses still avoid the 2007 releases due to app incompatibilities or concerns about sluggish performance on existing systems. A smaller portion of home users have also resisted Vista, but nearly all netbooks have had to run XP due to Vista's excessive performance demands and have cost Microsoft money as it dumps the price on XP to keep Linux out of the field. Windows 7 can run on these systems regardless of version and should boost the prices of netbooks by $20 or more, helping Microsoft's bottom line.

The Windows developer is also facing indirect pressure from Apple, which undermined Windows 7 by pricing an upgrade-only copy of Snow Leopard at $29; the impact is largely symbolic given the inability for non-Mac owners to upgrade but will potentially lead to a greater percentage of Mac users running the latest software than Windows customers. An upgraded version of the Mac Box Set with Snow Leopard, iLife and iWork will still cost less than the full retail price of Windows 7 Home Premium.

[Spazosaurus]

Wow. That aint no chump change for the Ultimate version. Show of hands anyone who was or are considering making a purchase for this one? I know I am considering it, but at that price...

[woodyear99]

Hmm in these tough times plenty people will be heading to the usual sources for OS love lol.

[Redfish]

You can call me cheap but hell no I'm not paying 320us for ultimate 7, unless they do some recalculating in the pricing I will be getting that OS like how I did for all the others....

[TriniXaeno]

Wow, these prices are pretty cheap. Especially the upgrade routes. Not bad at all for such an awesome OS.

Microsoft getting a sale here for certain. Ultimate is too expensive but always was. Most people won't need the few extra features it brings to the table.

XP home worked fine for like 99% of our customers over the years. Windows 7 home premium should be no different.

[Arcmanov]

I am sorry, gimme meh Ultimate, however that price gives me pause, especially when I consider the fact that I
may need a few licenses well.  I may only spring for ONE legit copy yes.

I wonder if I install it, activate it, then clone that activated installation to another PC...will it throw
a licensing fit and ask for reactivation on that new machine?  Something worth testing out.

[Spazosaurus]

That may or may not work. I think the chances are slim and will be even slimmer if you resealing before imaging.

[W1nTry]

Just installed on my work lappy. So far so good.

[W1nTry]

It's pretty, runs on hardware that's years old, stable, what's there not to like? I am dual booting Win 7 with Ubuntu 9.04 and I have to say I am happy to see that most of the hardware (wireless, etc) is working fine on BOTH OSes. Win 7 does have 1 unrecognized device and honestly I not sure what it is XD. Quite pleased with my exprience so far and keep in mind this is my primary OS on my WORK lappy. At least the RC is good until march 2010. By then i'll want to reinstall anys. Will post my experience as time progresses.

[Spazosaurus]

Using as my main office on my work lappy as well. I employed virtual xp apps to help with the incompatibility between live communication server tools and excange tools plugins for AD for creation of mailboxes on the domain etc. Everything else runs nicely on it...Specs: 2.4ghz c2d, 4gb ddr3 1066, intel 4500hd.

[W1nTry]

Microsoft to put Windows 7 on USB sticks
For netbook upgrades
By Nick Farrell
Monday, 29 June 2009, 11:44

RUMOURS HAVE IT that Microsoft will offer Windows 7 on USB thumb drives.

The report surfaced at Cnet, which heard the news from one of its sources close to the Vole, apparently, who may or may not have heard it from a bloke down the pub.

The thought is that doing so will enable netbook owners to upgrade their machines, but it will break the tradition that only allowed Voleware to be distributed on DVDs or through downloads.

Since netbooks don't come with optical drives and downloading Microsoft's bloated Windows 7 upgrade would take punters a very long time, the only other option the Vole has is to bung it onto USB sticks.

Apparently the Vole is also worried that netbook users will not want to download its latest Vista service pack because, at 2.8GB, it might take a big chunk out of most people's broadband caps.

Microsoft executives have said that they recognise that upgrading netbooks poses a challenge and are exploring ways that the company can make it easier.

Cnet's hacks spoke to Microsoft senior vice president Bill Veghte who said that the Vole had nothing to announce on the subject yet. µ

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10273188-56.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1

[Spazosaurus]

If they dont do it officially, you know that people will find a way to do it on their own just like they did with XP. Better they do it and make money off of it rather than dont and make nothing.

[Redfish]

Hmm interesting, the question is what will be the cost of those thumb drives if they do that??

After looking at the offerings of Windows 7 which one would be best to put on a system?

Home Premium,Professional or ultimate?

I see they have upgrades for alot cheaper but I think steering clear of upgrades may be the best thing for me.

[Spazosaurus]

Forget the upgrade. Home premium would do quite nicely...

See for yourself...

[Redfish]

Hmm I see but what about that Windows XP mode?? or that isn't necessary to have your older programs work?

Haven't really fiddled around with Windows 7 as much as I wanted to yet to excuse my ignorance.

[Spazosaurus]

For my work lappy xpm is important, but for my home pc, all my regular applications are supported so there's no need for it. Besides, if you really need to use an incompatible application, there's always the good old fashioned virtual pc.