UK Windows 7 Offers

Following your e-mail advising of 'opening-offers' for Windows 7, I have just tried to order Windows 7 Home Premium from Amazon.com but was unable to complete the process because of my UK delivery status, were you aware of this problem?. Does this mean we will have to wait for UK offers and then discover we have to pay twice as much once again as our US cousins. Shame on Microsoft if this is the case and if it is, then on principal I will stay with XP or Vista.

Don't worry, it will be available to the UK soon There's a paragraph about it under the UK section on the offers thread:

Buy Windows 7 - Latest offers listed here

We actually get a better deal in the UK, as we get the full retail version for £50 - rather than an upgrade.

Thanks for the information but I cannot find the 'details' of likely UK offers such as the one you mentioned. Anyway it sounds more encouraging and not too long to wait for definitive offers.

Here's some more details on it from MS : http://www.microsoft.com/uk/windows/...pre-order.aspx

Hello Ian,

The US can get hold of 7 ( albeit the upgrade version ) for a far lower price than the UK can get hold of 7.

The pre order deal in UK for full version is £49 ($81) and for Professional £99 ($163).

I am not sure that is better - the $49 USD and $99 USD price is unavailable in U.K.

As far as I know, the difference between the upgrade and full is simply that when doing a clean install with the upgrade version - you need to show it a qualifying version of Windows ( or do the double install ).

Simply popping e.g. any Vista dvd in the drive during the installation of 7 will do it.

It adds a few seconds to the rare occasion you need to clean install.

I am sure there are many who wouldn't mind that at all - and would like the same price as the U.S.

Totally agree with this comment. I would much prefer an upgrade at $49.99 (£30.00) than a full version at £50.00..This is more 'clever' stuff from Microsoft why they do this I do not know because all they achieve is resentment for the 'brand'.
Another good question is why can't this upgrade be ordered from Amazon .com
the reason is that Microsoft are totally controlling the so called 'free-market'

Yes I take it back, I suppose you are right - the full version makes no difference if you've got an old version of Vista (which 95% of us will do). I guess we've got the EU to thank for no upgrade editions!

Europe requiring that IE be taken out is why there is no upgrade available. If there was a previous version without IE then you would have your upgrade option in Europe. Microsoft is trying to be kind by giving the full version at a discount because there is no version to upgrade from.

£49 is not a bad price - it is just just galling the US always get a much better deals.

Plenty of Aussies are pretty annoyed about what they are being expected to pay.

Clifford - I am afraid you are mistaken :

It was a completely unilateral move by MS.

MS are not being kind - they will maximize their income with the differential pricing policy - it is a marketing tool. Note the high pricing in Oz and elsewhere - nothing to do with IE.

The low pricing in U.S. is also a marketing decision

The purpose is partly to generate income ahead of the release - and persuade those who were happy with XP or Vista to switch.

If you are happy with what you have - unlikely you will pay $200 for another o/s just because it is new. If it's $49 - what the heck , may as well get it.

The major goal is to generate good PR - best seller at Amazon - brings it to the attention of the big business market and reinforces to the Press the succes of the product.

It keeps the momentum going - and costs MS nothing - in fact they generate income from people buying who wouldn't have at the regular price.

I preordered windows 7 premium upgrade from the usa with the help of a friend in the us, he will simply post the dvd to me when he receives it.

$49 equals €42

49uk pds €57

quite a difference