7 things you need to know about Windows 7

June 28, 7:12 PMSF Technology ExaminerNicholas Amoroso

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There have been quite a few reports buzzing about the internet lately regarding the upcoming release of Microsoft Windows 7, but few offer a reasonably comprehensive list of what is to be expected. We've done the footwork for you to bring the answers to some pertinent questions and some information on what Microsoft may do.

When will Windows 7 be released?
Windows 7 will be available October 22, 2009. You can still download the Windows 7 Release Candidate for free until August 15, 2009 here.

I'd like to know more about Windows 7 features and what is new. Who has a good list of features?
Microsoft - List of a few changes that Microsoft introduced with Windows 7

PCWorld - A list of 10 Cool Desktop Features that includes screenshots and explanations

What are the minimum system hardware requirements to run Windows 7?
- 1GHz or faster 32-bit(x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
- 1GB RAM (32-bit) / 2GB RAM (64-bit)
- 16GB available hard drive space (32-bit) / 20GB (64-bit)
- DirectX 9 graphics processor with Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) 1.0 or higher

Will Windows 7 be offered on USB/Flash drives or digital downloads?
This has yet to be confirmed, but it may be good news for those of you that do not have an optical drive. Our Las Vegas Gadgets Examiner, Michele McDonough, covered this briefly yesterday in regards to a report from CNET. It turns out that Microsoft may release Windows 7 on a USB drive or via digital download (transferred to a bootable USB drive possibly) in response to the proliferation of netbooks and other small form factor notebooks with no optical drive.

Where and how do I pre-order a Windows 7 upgrade?
Windows 7 is being conveniently offered for pre-order through Amazon.com, Best Buy, Costco, Fry's Electronics, Office Depot, Office Max, Sam's Club, Staples, Tiger Direct, Wal-Mart, and NewEgg. Please see the following links for the edition you would like. There are a limited number of pre-orders available and you need an Amazon.com account to purchase one. The pre-order sales discount expires July 11, 2009. You can also purchase the same Windows 7 upgrades listed below at the Microsoft Store. More information about the pre-order offer can be found here.

Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade - $49.99
Windows 7 Professional Upgrade - $99.99
Windows 7 Ultimate Upgrade - $219.99

I purchased several new PCs for my business on or after last Friday. Is there a limit to how many PCs I can get a free upgrade on for Windows 7?
A recent report on InformationWeek noted that Microsoft may be capping the free upgrades on PCs purchased on or after last Friday to 25. This seems to impact businesses mostly. The report suggests that Microsoft may institute a cap to bolster the sales of its Software Assurance license. A business pays between $100 to $150 per PC to have unlimited upgrades at no additional cost for three years.

I live in the European Union(EU). What should I expect to pay for Windows 7?
According to a report on Computerworld, EU residents should expect to pay the following:

Windows 7 Home Premium - €119.99 / £79.99 ($168.66 / $132.14 US)
Windows 7 Professional - €285 / £189.99 ($400.60 / $313.84 US)
Windows 7 Ultimate - €299 / £229.99 ($420.27 / $330.36 US)


For more info: e-mail me at technic.amoroso@gmail.com