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HybridX
02-07-09, 01:16
OK heres the deal.

Microsoft have announced a very attractive offer for anyone buying windows 7 E, but first some other information.

(E= european edition, which has no "upgrade pack" like previous windows and contains NO INTERNET EXPLORER! So you will need to have the install files for a Web browser on a USB pen etc)

The Versions and their difference:
Versions

Windows 7 Home Premium

Windows 7 Professional (
Windows 7 Ultimate (limited availability, includes everything)

Those are the main versions of Windows 7 E

NOTE: HOME PREMIUM DOES NOT HAVE XP COMPATABILITY MODE or a FULL BACKUP AND RESTORE FACILITY! PROFESSIONAL DOES!

SEE: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/compare-editions
System requirements

A PC with these minimum recommended specifications:


1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit)
16GB available disk space (32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit)
DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver



General Release date: 22 Oct 2009


So:


Im buying a new PC between NOW and 22 Oct 09?

If you buy a new pc with windows vista Home premium, Ultimate or Business PRE-installed between now and 22nd October 2009 you will get a FREE License for Windows 7 E when its released for you to "upgrade" to Windows 7 E using the vista updater.

Can i buy an upgrade pack like vista upgrade etc?

No these arent available, if you have xp youll need to do a complete fresh reinstall using Windows 7 E. Vista can be "upgraded" in the sense of overwriting all of vista with Win 7 E but all copies of Windows 7 E will be full versions to start with.


How much will it cost?


This is the real reason im posting this!

Early Preorder Discount (confirmed on microsofts website)

Microsoft is hosting a special preorder discount program.
Its available, while stocks last, to anyone who puts in an order between July 15th and August 9th.

You can buy:

Windows 7 E Home Premium - £49.99
Windows 7 E Professional - £99.99

Limited to 3 copies per customer

Normal Preorder (Unconfirmed from Overclockers.co.uk.. looking for sources)

Aug 10th – 31st Dec

Windows 7 E Home Premium - £79.99
Windows 7 E Professional - £189.99
Windows 7 E Ultimate - £199.99

Normal Purchase (Unconfirmed from Overclockers.co.uk.. looking for sources)

Jan 1st 2010 – onwards

Windows 7 E Home Premium - £149.99
Windows 7 E Professional - £219.99
Windows 7 E Ultimate - £229.99


As you can CLEARLY see anyone planning to switch to Windows 7, even if not for several months would be FOOLISH not to use the Early Pre-Order option and save themselves anywhere from £30-£120 pounds depending on what version you want and when you buy it.


Where to buy windows 7 E?

Staples
Pc world
Currys
Comet
Amazon
Ebuyer
Littlewoods
Microsoft
Anvika


EDIT: IM trying to find out if youll need a Valid legal existing xp or vista key to be able to use the extremely cheap Windows 7 Pre order theres some confusion.

Element66
04-07-09, 01:52
so what advatanges does Windows 7 have over say xp 32 bit? all i know is its less performance hungry compared to vista...

SqnLdr
04-07-09, 13:23
My personal favourite:
A Maths Input Panel!
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a76/pancake_demon/mip.png

HybridX
04-07-09, 14:37
Windows 7 is generally faster in everything!
Its shiney and New :) Plus if you preorder it its the cheapest version of windows youll have ever bought.
For example:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=3789&page=3

Vilhelm123
04-07-09, 14:43
HOME PREMIUM DOES NOT HAVE....FULL BACKUP AND RESTORE FACILITY!

For a thick person what does that mean?

HybridX
04-07-09, 14:44
Also the confusion about windows 7 needinga genuine xp or vista key to install is still unclear ALTHOUGH it looks like the windows 7 FAQ may have been copied from the US FAQ.
The menaing that US Win 7 users cna upgrade fomr xp or vista needing a genuine key but since Europe cant upgrade we prob wont need a Xp vista key.


Regardless of which if you do need a genuine key and dont have one... £28 for a xp oem sp3 off ebay....

Hope this helps anyone

HybridX
04-07-09, 14:48
HOME PREMIUM DOES NOT HAVE....FULL BACKUP AND RESTORE FACILITY!

For a thick person what does that mean?


Edited that section as it was originally wrong.


Backup and Restore—improved for Windows 7—creates safety copies of your most important personal files, so you're always prepared for the worst.
Let Windows choose what to back up, or pick individual folders, libraries (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/libraries), and drives yourself. Windows can back up files on whatever schedule you choose. Just set it and forget it. In Windows 7, you can back up files to another drive, your network, or a DVD.



Backup and restore im assuming is backing up personal files etc as well as windows settings like in current versions of windows.


So essentially professional allows you to easily backup perosnal files eg documents photos music etc as well as the usual windows backup and restore, while premium only offers normal backup and restore as in current versions of windows.



Inshort: Windows 7 Home premium has the existing restore and backup facility, Windows 7 professional has the exisiting restore and backup facility plus it allows you to earmark folders and their contents to be easily automatically backed up.. eg photos etc

HybridX
04-07-09, 14:56
A better chart of differences between the 3 versions:

http://www.intowindows.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/differencebetweenwindows7homepremiumprofessionalan dultimate.png


With thought ill be getting home premium since essetially the only thing that Professional has that i use... and rarely at that! is Remote desktop.

£50 more for remote desktop seems a bit :S

Eddieboi
06-07-09, 20:58
Im tempted to get windows 7 before I leave, I actually leave for my holiday on the 15th of July so pushing it lol

HybridX
06-07-09, 23:31
for £50 rather than £150+.... use your brain! i will be doing! ;)

Eddieboi
07-07-09, 18:31
Matter of money tbh :P

Eddieboi
13-07-09, 17:53
Just wondering whos gonna pre-order windows 7 on wed? Im gonna go for the Home Prem since I cant really afford another £50 but I think someone stated for extra £50 for professional you only get one thing extra

HybridX
13-07-09, 22:53
well theres no much great beenefit to getting premium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions

comparison chart

Earliest i can order is thursday night/friday morning due to getting paid... just hope to god theres some copies left!

wardlemjw
14-07-09, 09:48
my system backup and restore never bloody works anyway (and yes it is switched on) - it never automatically generates any restore points.

Eddieboi
14-07-09, 17:23
To be honest I never use the system restore anyways, I usually backup all my music etc on an external hard drive

Eddieboi
15-07-09, 00:19
Just ordered my version of Windows 7 Home Premium from Staples.co.uk they seem to be the first to allow pre-orders as Play.com and Currys for example havnt got the Buy feature up yet, although Amazon only has Windows 7 Pro for pre order available atm

HybridX
15-07-09, 00:53
ebuyer is selling it... 80quid inclusive fo vat for premium! and only 240 copies left

But ebuyer isnt selling home premium yet ... strange.

I dont get paid till thrus night/ fri morn! hope theres some left by then!

Vilhelm123
15-07-09, 01:20
Just ordered my version of Windows 7 Home Premium from Staples.co.uk


Ditto, now I can stop worrying about places running out as I have mine :)


Lol just read on staples that they are sending out each copy with a disk that has Internet 8 on it. Something of a slap in the face for the people who forced mircosoft to not put it in the operating system itself.

HeXeY
15-07-09, 02:06
Lol just read on staples that they are sending out each copy with a disk that has Internet 8 on it. Something of a slap in the face for the people who forced mircosoft to not put it in the operating system itself.

Not really, all they wanted was for IE not to be installed along with Windows, now you have to install it manually after Windows is installed ;)

epoch
15-07-09, 08:06
Pre-ordered from Amazon.

Would have preferred eBuyer, but couldn't find it listed ....

HybridX
15-07-09, 09:36
its listed under retail software
but around 300 copies of home and 300 copies of professional sold out in 2hrs!
from midngiht to 2am

Katash
15-07-09, 10:38
Pre ordered from TPB :)

HybridX
15-07-09, 10:38
tpb?... nvm i just realised

Eddieboi
15-07-09, 10:41
I was up till about 1:30 waiting for one of the websites to allow me to pre-order Home Prem lol

Vilhelm123
15-07-09, 14:08
Pre ordered from TPB :)


Well the guys who have bought it want to make it a proper paying download site, so who knows maybe one day soon you will have to actually pre-order from TPB?

HybridX
16-07-09, 23:15
Ordered from comet for £44.99 thats including vat :)


Comet and currys are the cheapest i can see at £44.99 the rest are £49.99 (inclusive of vat for both prices)

Comet, Micro anvika, currys and staples all have pre-preorder copies left
Amazon, ebuyer, microsoft ran out and are now on regular preorder prices of 79.99 etc for home

HybridX
17-07-09, 10:54
Comet have realised they've been selling ti £5 cheaper than they should so increased it back to £49.99

Ebuyer has aorund 30 copies of home and professional in stock again

TheMedic
19-07-09, 22:26
Comet...Pffft

HybridX
21-07-09, 02:03
staples and microanvika are the only ones with the £49.99 home premium left

currys, microanvika, staples, ebuyer all have the professional £90-99 version left

HybridX
31-07-09, 21:20
If anyone still cares, first phase of windows 7 preorder is done..... all the £49 + £99 copies fo home and pro are gone

now its the £79+£129 phase

wardlemjw
02-08-09, 16:20
anyone got any issues with running PR in windows 7 etc? assuming people have got it to install obviously !

epoch
02-08-09, 17:03
No issues.

Katash
02-08-09, 17:10
Alt-Tab in and out of game is sometimes unresponsive.

Eddieboi
02-08-09, 21:56
Hurry up windows 7! Darn have to wait till 22nd October gggrr!

HybridX
07-08-09, 17:16
ive installed the RC on my new mate/new housemates pc and it runs a dream on his peice of shite and it looks SO nice.

After having played with the RC for a while im SO happy i ordered the Home premium for £45

Eddieboi
08-08-09, 10:51
I was thinking about installing the RC myself so might do that this weekend!

HybridX
08-08-09, 20:12
august 20th is the last day u can download it.

download it asap and get a key

Element66
19-10-09, 19:32
one of many reasons why being a student is awesome:

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/education/studentoffer/

"Anyone with an .ac.uk address can get it for £30."

thats Professional or home premium

or oyu can get office 7 seperately for £38

LeChuck
19-10-09, 20:05
or you can get it for free if your school is a member of MSDNAA

Element66
19-10-09, 20:48
or you can get it for free if your school is a member of MSDNAA

already done that, jsut wasn't sure how common it is/was

Eddieboi
19-10-09, 21:45
well i have preordered Windows 7 Home Prem and im hoping it will arrive thursday!

Harrod200
19-10-09, 21:46
Since Staffs uni never cancelled my MSDN access, I have 2 free, legit 7 Pro licences, and since I now work for the MoD I bught Office 2k7 Enterprise for the grand sum of £8. A legit computer for £8 :D

As yet, no problems with Win7. As it's built on Vista, drivers are 99% compatable, and it runs nicely. Only problem I have had is with my laptop occasionally freezing up for a few minutes running FFox...

HybridX
20-10-09, 09:13
well this will be the first genuine copy of windows ive bought/used since 1998 + win 98 so for £44.95 i cant complain, i skimped on the postageeg free so itll be here on 2nd nov lol

Eddieboi
20-10-09, 17:19
to be honest hybrid Id be suprised if it didnt turn up on the 22nd, as im gonna guess companies will make sure they get to you on the actually launch day but I might be wrong. With Play.com any pre-orders normally arrive at mine the day before or on the day of launch

Katash
20-10-09, 17:25
Mine arrived yesterday, ironic really as I have no intention of installing it atall as its going straight on ebay.

Katash
20-10-09, 17:26
By the way, the postal strikes are due to start on Thursday (22nd)

epoch
20-10-09, 17:52
Mine's been despatched, but yup it'll probably be delayed.

HybridX
20-10-09, 18:48
mines not been dispatched yet according to comet

Eddieboi
20-10-09, 19:37
Ive got no idea with mine, I ordered from staples

Katash
20-10-09, 21:16
mines not been dispatched yet according to comet

I got mine from Comet

HybridX
20-10-09, 21:56
what delivery option did you select katash?

Katash
20-10-09, 22:08
The cheapest one, gave me an est delivery date of 28th or something

Rico
20-10-09, 22:42
Really shoulda done what Katash is doing, easy money... doh

HybridX
21-10-09, 01:09
i chose the free one which states early nov for mine lol im in no hurry

Katash
21-10-09, 01:28
Think I should wait until the price goes up before I sell tho, ebay is already swamped with copies .... Thinking about it I'm sure mine said early Nov too now.

Eddieboi
21-10-09, 22:37
Woo im happy! Got a email from Staples stating my WIndows 7 has been posted and will be arriving tomorrow :D RESULT! Ive already backed up all my stuff

Eddieboi
22-10-09, 21:56
christ windows 7 is great!

HybridX
22-10-09, 22:50
indeed it is did you not use the RC?

Eddieboi
22-10-09, 23:29
nope couldnt be bothered. But glad I got windows 7 either how.

Funny enough Firefox seems to work better on windows 7...had really bad loads time with facebook on vista 64bit on facebook 3.5.3 version

wardlemjw
23-10-09, 18:04
ive got mine (havent installed yet) I have an AMD dual 64x chip but the thing is telling me i cant use 64 bit - dosent seem to be anywhere which says what graphics card is best (which i think is my issue)

Eddieboi
23-10-09, 21:42
Erm you lost me?

HybridX
06-11-09, 21:56
Well i got my copy from comet on 4th Nov when it was meant to be delivered on the 2nd Nov. Rang comet up as their online tracker is a shambles and is STILL showing it as nto dispatched even though i have it in my hands.

Customer services reps were nightmares one even told me its prob out of stock and that ill have to wait for it. My reply was well i ordered it over 3 months ago and everywhere in the world has stock bar you apprently and i told her she hasnt got a clue and she hung up on me.


I'll never buy anything from Comet ever again, complete shambles of a place.

epoch
06-11-09, 22:34
I'll never buy anything from Comet ever again, complete shambles of a place.

And you only just found this out?

HybridX
06-11-09, 23:31
First time ive dealt with them

Eddieboi
07-11-09, 12:17
thank god i didnt buy from comet!

Sir.Fingers
08-11-09, 18:39
Edited!!!!

Katash
09-11-09, 05:41
unfortunately fingers the google spiders have many eyes, and a long memories.

Freddy Chickenbatter
20-12-09, 09:13
ask eddie ..thats all

imp
20-12-09, 19:13
Does this pricing scheme also apply to the old windows 7? I need to buy it eventually (using the RC still) until march but I was going to order this month until the price goes up.

edit: I just realised that I can get an "upgrade" version of w7 pro 64bit for just 60€, I hope I can install it as a standalone though.

HybridX
20-12-09, 19:41
upgrade version is like the vista upgrade, its a purely upgrading from one to another its not a stand alone

the Pricing has changed now.

Get windows 7 before jan 1st otherwise itll increase in price AGAIN


For example
for windows 7 Home Premium

aug 15th - 22 oct (release) £45-£49
22oct-dec 31st £85-£95
Jan 1st onwards... around £110-£120

These were special prices for early adopters

imp
21-12-09, 18:20
Actually there is work-around so I ordered it :)

http://www.itler.net/2009/11/windows-7-upgrade-direkt-installieren-ohne-altes-betriebssystem-auf-pc

Have fun, it's in german :p

Freddy Chickenbatter
21-12-09, 18:49
lmao a german site called itler.net no way lol

HybridX
21-12-09, 18:59
lol i wonder if theres a hitler.net considering this



ROFL if you type in hitler.net you get redirected to

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitler.html

imp
21-12-09, 19:29
its IT ler.net :P

Freddy Chickenbatter
30-12-09, 12:54
My daughter who is at college got one of those educational cheap windows 7 doo dahs its £30 if anybody wants it , I havent paid for it yet and it will no doubt run out at some point.

MadTommy
30-12-09, 13:52
Me please!

I'll PM you mate.