Windows 7 Pre-Orders / Deals are up.

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » June 26, 2009, 7:40 am

Windows 7 Pre-Orders started this morning. The Home Premium Upgrade pre-order pricing, normally 119$ is going for 49$ US until July 11th (Or supplies last apparently).

I just pre-ordered from Amazon.ca.

The site below has links to online retailers in the US offering the deal.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/buy/of ... order.aspx

Stonie · Post by **Stonie** » June 26, 2009, 12:35 pm

Bleh, upgrade versions =(

Windows7 Ultimate full version is $319, double bleh

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » June 26, 2009, 12:42 pm

Why would you want Ultimate? At the most I could see people going with Pro for home domains or XP mode. The only thing ultimate has over that is bitlocker for full drive encyption but you can get Truecrypt for that.

miir · Post by **miir** » June 26, 2009, 1:36 pm

Home Premium is what I ordered.

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » June 26, 2009, 1:57 pm

Same here.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » June 26, 2009, 2:25 pm

Do they have that for 64 bit as well? Right now I'm running Vista Ultimate 64 bit. Is it an upgrade to go to home premium for windows 7?

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » June 26, 2009, 2:51 pm

From what I'm reading, the disk will include both a 32bit and 64bit version.

I've been running the 64bit version of the RC1 at home and Have not noticed a single difference(other than the additional Program Files(x86) folder.)

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 26, 2009, 2:52 pm

Which one has Remote Desktop in it? That's one place they screwed you on for Vista. imo!

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » June 26, 2009, 3:18 pm

According to this page, the media includes 32 and 64 bit versions.
http://www.staples.ca/ENG/static/static ... ename=win7

Aslanna -
According to this page, All Editions of Windows 7 will have remote desktop..
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... Connection

A bit more info on Remote Desktop.
http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/win7_skus_compare.asp

According to Paul Thurott, you can remote desktop into something else will all versions of Windows 7.
However, only The Pro and Enterprise and Ultimate editions will be able to act as RDP hosts/accept connections. This obviously doesn't take into account Windows Home Server/Windows Server 2003/2008.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 26, 2009, 4:06 pm

Animalor wrote:According to Paul Thurott, you can remote desktop into something else will all versions of Windows 7.
However, only The Pro and Enterprise and Ultimate editions will be able to act as RDP hosts/accept connections. This obviously doesn't take into account Windows Home Server/Windows Server 2003/2008.

Being able to accept RDP connections is key!

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 26, 2009, 4:32 pm

The Remote connection always screws me over. I use it every day from work.

Looks like hackWindows again.

Fash · Post by **Fash** » June 26, 2009, 4:33 pm

Just go Pro.

I wish they'd let me pre-order the full version... I don't own vista aside from the oem copy that came on my asus laptop.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » June 26, 2009, 5:09 pm

Doesn't seem to be much difference between home premium and pro.

Ashur · Post by **Ashur** » June 26, 2009, 5:20 pm

Winnow wrote:The Remote connection always screws me over. I use it every day from work.

Looks like hackWindows again.

We're shocked...

miir · Post by **miir** » June 26, 2009, 5:44 pm

I use dameware~

Stonie · Post by **Stonie** » June 26, 2009, 7:12 pm

Fash wrote:Just go Pro.

I wish they'd let me pre-order the full version... I don't own vista aside from the oem copy that came on my asus laptop.

You can.

http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-FQC-001 ... 906&sr=1-6

Amazon doesn't have a "Windows 7" subcategory yet under Software > OS. So it makes finding their full pre-order list a bit more difficult. The "upgrade" versions are the only ones with discounts. I suppose with using imaging as a backup meathod, an upgrade version would be ok to own. But I still always have this urge to buy a full install version. I like to do a fresh OS install. The last upgrade type install I did was Windows 95 to 98. I think I might have tried an NT to 2000 once too.

Sargeras · Post by **Sargeras** » June 26, 2009, 7:17 pm

Fash wrote:I wish they'd let me pre-order the full version... I don't own vista aside from the oem copy that came on my asus laptop.

You can't install these W7 upgrades over an OEM?

Aabidano wrote:Doesn't seem to be much difference between home premium and pro.

Some, but not much.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/wind ... e-editions

Fash · Post by **Fash** » June 26, 2009, 8:26 pm

Sargeras wrote:
Fash wrote:I wish they'd let me pre-order the full version... I don't own vista aside from the oem copy that came on my asus laptop.
You can't install these W7 upgrades over an OEM?

I'm sure you could, but I want to order it for my desktop, not the laptop. I'd buy 2 copies if they were priced right... otherwise, I'll just pirate them.

Sargeras · Post by **Sargeras** » June 26, 2009, 9:02 pm

Here's a more detailed comparison of the W7 versions:
http://www.pcworld.com/zoom?id=167444&page=1&zoomIdx=1

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 27, 2009, 8:13 pm

I placed a pre-order for Home Premium at Amazon.com.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » June 27, 2009, 8:24 pm

If you're near a microcenter, you ask a sales dude for the coupon for windows 7. no money down, they just take your name, email, address, and give you a coupon that will make W7home $40 and W7pro $80. 10 bucks cheaper...worth it IF you have a microcenter close by, and don't want to pay a reservation amount.

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 27, 2009, 9:08 pm

Has Windows 7 been released yet?

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » June 27, 2009, 10:09 pm

The release date is scheduled for oct 22nd

Spang · Post by **Spang** » June 27, 2009, 10:56 pm

Animalor wrote:The release date is scheduled for oct 22nd

I hope it's not obsolete by then.

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 28, 2009, 3:39 am

I'll stick with XP. Maybe Windows 8 will be better.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 28, 2009, 3:55 am

Windows 7 is definitely the way to go but I'm in no rush to upgrade.

Still not looking forward to migrating from 32 bit to 64 even though it's long overdue.

Fash · Post by **Fash** » June 28, 2009, 9:56 am

I'm loving Windows 7. I have zero complaints. Ran 32 bit during the beta, 64 bit since the RC came out. It is very fast and stable, and the new task bar is the best. I fucking hated Vista.

Aabidano · Post by **Aabidano** » June 28, 2009, 5:53 pm

For the most part, you'll get better performance from 32 bit apps. And 32 bit kernel for that matter if you aren't utilizing 4Gb+.

I've seen very few consumer and office-type applications built for 64 bit, and don't really expect to anytime soon. No point really at present.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » June 28, 2009, 6:24 pm

Aabidano wrote:For the most part, you'll get better performance from 32 bit apps. And 32 bit kernel for that matter if you aren't utilizing 4Gb+.

I've seen very few consumer and office-type applications built for 64 bit, and don't really expect to anytime soon. No point really at present.

For memory as you said. Virtual OS(s).

Aslanna · Post by **Aslanna** » June 28, 2009, 8:44 pm

64bit versions of MAME run stuff faster too!

Fash · Post by **Fash** » July 1, 2009, 8:18 am

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » July 1, 2009, 10:23 am

I can't remember the last time I even used more than one or two desktop shortcuts...that is too many!

Fash · Post by **Fash** » July 1, 2009, 11:33 am

Everything close at hand... I almost never need to use the start menu, and I love the new task/quicklaunch/bar.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 1, 2009, 11:49 am

Hmmm, I prefer to have everything on my taskbar:

Taskbar is hidden on left side of screen making for clean/max desktop. What I don't have on my taskbar, I search for quickly using Start/Search. This is Vista, hopefully can do something similar in Win 7.

Fash · Post by **Fash** » July 1, 2009, 11:58 am

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 1, 2009, 1:22 pm

Fash wrote:Eww

It's beautiful! Especially when you know where the general location of your main apps are on the bar. All those huge icons blocking the desktop....no good! Remember the "IT Guy" video?

Fash · Post by **Fash** » July 1, 2009, 1:25 pm

What do I need to see on the desktop?

Showing/Hiding that task bar is slow.

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » July 1, 2009, 1:27 pm

I have no icons on my desktop. I have the 25 or so most commonly used shortcuts as medium-to-large icons in a single row on my taskbar, which is located at the top of my primary display and set to autohide for max desktop real estate. Anything else I can access through the start menu. I can appreciate your motivation, winnow, but that taskbar arrangement is hideous and would cause me to have convulsions heh.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 1, 2009, 1:59 pm

Fash wrote:What do I need to see on the desktop?

Showing/Hiding that task bar is slow.

Hmm how old is your processor/video card? My task bar opens instantly. Maybe turn off animated transitions or something?

As for the ugly icons on desktop, I have dual monitors and sometime leave one monitor open while using the other, I'd rather see a nice desktop pic on a 46" screen than a bunch of icons. Plus, I can find things faster on taskbar than scattered on desktop (or using search)

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » July 2, 2009, 4:34 pm

Will the upgrade copy install a new, fresh, full version of windows just using the old key, or will it need to have a vista install first and then install 7?

Stonie · Post by **Stonie** » July 2, 2009, 7:54 pm

Unless they've changed the way upgrade installs work, it must have a qualifying older version of Windows already installed. Back in the 95/98/ME days, you could fool an upgrade install by having a floppy or another partition with a specific uncompressed file from the older OS. But they stopped that trick long ago. There may be other tricks out there, but since W95 to W98 transition, I've always just used a full install.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 2, 2009, 8:06 pm

No tricks needed for upgrade. Just install a hacked version.

If you're going to lie about upgrading, you may as well go for the Full Monty and install a pirated copy.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » July 2, 2009, 8:09 pm

Oh, I have a legit copy of Vista, I just don't like the idea of having to install it first and then installing W7 every time I have to reformat. But the price is so good I guess I'll have to deal with it.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 2, 2009, 8:17 pm

Ah. kk. I feel your pain.

That sucks. I've been stuck in that situation before.

Stonie · Post by **Stonie** » July 2, 2009, 8:58 pm

Dregor Thule wrote:Oh, I have a legit copy of Vista, I just don't like the idea of having to install it first and then installing W7 every time I have to reformat. But the price is so good I guess I'll have to deal with it.

The next best option is to make an image of your W7 install, and store it on another partition or even better, another drive.

My usual gaming machine's C partition is only as large as it needs to be and contains only my OS, no program files or data. I make an image of that partition just after a fresh OS install with the latest OS updates and drivers. You could even go one step further and do a "sys prep" of the newly installed OS before you make your image. That clears machine specific things from the OS, like your hardware list and it's drivers. As long as it's not an activation copy, you can install that image on any machine.

Siji · Post by **Siji** » July 3, 2009, 1:31 am

New taskbar sucks balls.

That is all.

miir · Post by **miir** » July 5, 2009, 1:46 pm

Siji wrote:New taskbar sucks balls.

That is all.

Well then it's a good thing they give you options to configure it however you want.

That is all.

Animalor · Post by **Animalor** » July 6, 2009, 12:41 pm

miir wrote:
Siji wrote:New taskbar sucks balls.

That is all.
Well then it's a good thing they give you options to configure it however you want.

That is all.

I have mine setup to expand to normal size then the all is open and shrink back down to an icon when the app is closed.

It's glorious. The Taskbar setting is called "Combine when taskbar is full"

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » July 6, 2009, 6:32 pm

On the clean install, you probably just have to "trick it" like you could do with Vista. Basically, it was installing it without plugging in the authenticity code, which installs like a "trial" version of vista. Then you do the upgrade, which just unlocks stuff, and you enter the code in then. Total time was less than 45 minutes for a fresh install this way. I can't remember, only did that once for a friend. I have a full version disk.

This works, because every disk is exactly the same, the code on the packaging determines what it installs/unlocks.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » July 6, 2009, 7:11 pm

Windows 7 full installs super fast (if you have the hardware (fast HD etc)

It's super smooth running virtually in the VirtualBox for those that have a decent PC and don't want to fully install it yet.