Microsoft has announced that it will be slashing the price of its Windows 7 operating system in the UK when it launches in October, and selling it for just £50 to customers who pre-order it in July.
In the past Microsoft has offered low-cost ‘Upgrade’ editions of Windows users who already own a previous version, but Microsoft says that “technical issues” related to its removal of Internet Explorer from Windows 7 have prevented it from doing the same with Windows 7 in Europe.
However, from its launch on the 22nd October until “at least” the end of the year full copies of Windows 7 Home Premium will cost just £79.99 in the UK. This is the same price as the more limited Upgrade editions of Windows Vista.
“We’re very interested in making sure that UK consumers get as good value as everyone else in the world”, said Microsoft’s John Curran.
In addition, the company will be releasing a “limited” number of copies for pre-order from the 15th July. These will cost £49.99 for Windows 7 Home Premium or £99.99 for Windows 7 Professional. These copies will be delivered when Windows 7 launches on the 22nd October.
Mr Curran would not confirm how many copies would be available at this price, or how long this price would be available, but said that he “would expect that people will be excited, and they may go quickly”.
After these special offers expire full copies of Windows 7 Home Premium will cost £149.99, with the Professional and Ultimate versions costing £219.99 and £229.99 respectively. This makes Windows 7 Home Premium £20 cheaper than the same version of Vista when it launched.
Microsoft also announced that it will be allowing PC makers to sell Windows Vista computers with a Windows 7 upgrade included from tomorrow (26 June). Vista PC sold with the Windows 7 Upgrade Option will be eligible for an upgrade to Windows 7 on its release in October. The upgrade will be free, although buyers may have to pay a small fee for delivery.
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