Easy Upgrades

• Windows 7 allows for easy upgrades with no trade-off on features and simplifies the OEM testing and manufacturing process.

• Starting from any version of Windows 7, customers can move up to the next version of Windows 7 without losing any features, provided they have the necessary hardware.

• If customers want to move from one version up to the next, there will be no trade-off on features. All features of the previous version will be available in the higher version.

• For business customers this means that consumer features, including for example Windows Media Center, will be available in Windows 7 Professional, Windows 7 Ultimate and Windows 7 Enterprise (through Software Assurance) offerings.

Developed Market Restrictions

• Microsoft will simplify the available Windows 7 SKUs in developed markets by eliminating Windows 7 Home Basic. It will be offered solely in emerging markets.

• In developed markets, Windows 7 will have two primary editions - Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional. It is anticipated that these two SKUs will meet the vast majority of customer needs.

Updated! Windows 7 Pricing Details

Here are the final pricing details for Windows 7 :

Of course, the upgrade pre-order program was only available for a short period of time. In the US and Canada, it was available from June 26th until July 11th; while in Japan, it was available until July 5th. In the UK, France and Germany, Microsoft offered the same deal from July 15th until August 14th.

There are actually no upgrade versions for the European Union because of the EU requirement (see here) for Windows 7 to ship without Internet Explorer 8. So all upgrades purchased in the EU are actually the full versions of Windows 7, sans Internet Explorer 8.

More Windows 7 Information

• The Latest Microsoft Windows 7 Roadmap
• The Microsoft Windows 7 Free Upgrade Option Program
• Direct3D Improvements In Windows 7
• An Inside Look Into The New Windows 7 Experience Index!
• Windows Anytime Upgrade For Windows 7 Revealed!
• Downgrade Rights For Windows 7 & Windows Vista Leaked!

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