July 11, Last Day for Discounted Win 7 Upgrade
Psst... wanna get Windows 7 on the cheap? Check inside...
Are you set on upgrading to Windows 7 when it releases October 22, 2009? Then this could be your last chance to get your hands on an upgrade copy or Windows 7 Home Premium or Ultimate for less than half price.
Last month, when Microsoft announced retail pricing for Windows 7, it also rolled out a pre-order program that offered a significant discount. The special offer from Microsoft prices the Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade at $49.99 – a huge savings from the usual price of $119.99. Those looking for the Professional version can get for half price at $99.99 as part of the deal.
Those in Canada and Japan were also be able to take part in the deal. Canadians can pay $64.99 for the Home Premium Upgrade and $124.99 for the Professional Upgrade. Those in Japan can get the Home Premium Upgrade for 7,777 Yen, while the Professional Upgrade will run 14,777 Yen.
Europeans will get their chance to preorder at a discounted price on July 15, but they’ll have perform clean installs thanks to the deal with IE8 and the EU.
Microsoft said that quantities would be limited, and only said that it'd be limited to around the same number of Windows Vista licenses sold at retail in its first year. That means that Microsoft is aiming to break the previous generation’s sales record before Windows 7 is even released.
So, are you in? Hit up Microsoft's pre-order and retail partner page here.
Also, check out the full pricing details and let us know if you think that the prices for Windows 7 are fair.

Also, will I need a CD key, official media, etc.. to actually perform the upgrade? I have an old XP Pro CD for my own computer, by my fiance's XP Home is an OEM version, and I don't have a Microsoft-branded CD.
Of course, since Win 7 copys everything, and what you can run is based on the product key you enter, maybe its doesn't matter, but it would have been nice to know in advance.
You didn't really miss anything on the family pack if it goes the way some are saying. At $150-ish for a Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade pack good for three machines that's $50 each. Only you didn't have to buy three to get the deal.
Actually this is Microsoft trying to be nice. For a limited time, they are offering preorders for a large discount. If this pisses you off, you are free to wait and pay the regular price at release.
It could be wrong but I believe it. Not sure about product keys only but as long as you have the CD of the original it should work in full, clean install and all.
One thing I am not sure about is what bit I will get? When I bought the upgrade, it did not let me choose between the two.
Being an Aussie I'd quite happily pay 50 USD for an upgrade. Instead I am going to have to pay the exhoprbitant upgrade price of 200 AUD which I wont do.
I don't see how MS are serious about helping to reduce piracy in the AsiaPac region when they wont offer the pre order price globally!
=]
I believe that is supposed to be Professional instead of Ultimate.
Looking for information about the Windows 7 Pre-Order Offer? The reduced-price offer has ended. But you can still be one of the first to get Windows 7. Just pre-order it from the Microsoft Store.
Nicely done, Microsoft! (sarcasm...) Could they have already run out of their "limited quantities"?
Kinda sucks since I wanted the upgrade but not sure if I will spend the $120 now.
Moral of the story: Procrastinating too far is a bad thing (notice the emphasis there