source: dailytech.comSimplicity is the goal with Microsoft new OS packaging
Microsoft's Windows 7 is the mostly highly anticipated software release of the year. Built on the solid underlying guts of Windows Vista, Windows 7 provides the graphical flash and trim performance that Vista somewhat lacked. The new OS has already seen millions of installs of its release candidate and is drawing comparisons to such beloved versions of Windows such as 98 SE and XP SP3.
The company had previously provided a peak at their box art. Now Microsoft Windows team member Brandon LeBlanc has posted a Windows blog about the packaging for the new OS.
He says the goal was to provide a "fresh" feel and emphasize simplicity. He states, "We approached the packaging for Windows 7 the same way we approached the product – by listening to what our customers told us they wanted: make it a simple clean design, easy to open, and reduce waste."
The packaging is now more standard opening like a standard DVD case, with a removable seal at the top. Inside the package are only two elements -- a paper sleeve and a "simple" Getting Started Guide.
The new packages weighs 37% less than Vista's packaging and is now recyclable.
The packaging is drawing relatively positive reviews from the blog's commenters. Writes one user, "Pretty neat looking, definately (sic) better than the retail Vista packaging, which I always thought was fancy but a bit unnecessary."
Windows 7 will go on sale October 22.
Prices have dropped since Windows Vista
At last Microsoft has answered the one major remaining question about Windows 7 -- what the price point will be. Today Microsoft unleashed a plethora of information, with Windows 7 retail pricing, upgrade information, launch details, and a preorder deal all disclosed.
Likely feeling the heat from competitor Apple's $29 price point for OS X Snow Leopard (set to release in September), Microsoft has reduced the price of its most popular edition -- Home Premium -- to $119.99 for upgrades and $199.99 for full retail copies. Both price points are $40 less than Vista's original Home Premium price.
Prices for Business and Ultimate version will stay in line with current Windows Vista prices, with the Ultimate price being $40 cheaper than Vista's original debut price. Please refer to the table below for easy retail and upgrade price comparisons.
Upgrade Retail Pricing:
| Windows Vista as of 1/2007 | Price | Windows Vista as of 2/2008 | Price | Windows 7 as of 10/2009 | Price |
| Home Premium | $159.99 | Home Premium | $129.99 | Home Premium | $119.99 |
| Business | $199.99 | Business | $199.99 | Professional | $199.99 |
| Ultimate | $259.99 | Ultimate | $219.99 | Ultimate | $219.99 |
Full Retail Pricing:
| Windows Vista as of 1/2007 | Price | Windows Vista as of 2/2008 | price | Windows 7 as of 10/2009 | Price |
| Home Premium | $239.99 | Home Premium | $239.99 | Home Premium | $199.99 |
| Business | $299.99 | Business | $299.99 | Professional | $299.99 |
| Ultimate | $399.99 | Ultimate | $319.99 | Ultimate | $319.99 |
With Windows 7 the version structure (follow the link for comparison of features) has been simplified slightly, which is part of why there's not more of a price drop for Business and Ultimate. Each version is now a superset of the lesser version(s) below it. With Windows Vista this was not the case. So while you may pay the same amount for Professional or Ultimate, Microsoft says you'll get more OS for your money.
Like with Vista, upgrade or purchasing the equivalent of the previous OS version don't require a clean install, while those downgrading does (so a Vista Business to Windows 7 Professional install would not require a clean install). All XP upgrades will require clean installs, and all 32-bit to 64-bit upgrades will require clean installs.
Microsoft has tried to extend an olive branch to the EU despite having been forced to exclude Internet Explorer from the OS due to antitrust accusations. It is not going to offer Windows 7 upgrades in Europe, but will instead offer the full retail version at prices equivalent to the American upgrade prices. Microsoft say that this was the best option, despite being less profitable, as it did not have time to test the functionality of upgrades without Internet Explorer.
From June 26 to July 11, while supplies last Microsoft will offer special preorder pricing. It will be offering in the U.S. Windows 7 Home Premium for $49.99 and Windows 7 Professional for $99.99, a savings of $70 and $100 respectively (In the U.S. preorders are for upgrade versions). Canada and Japan enjoy similar deals.
Microsoft shows Europeans even more loving with Germany and France receiving Windows 7 Home Premium (€49.99) and Windows 7 Professional (€109.99) preorder prices. The UK, also part of the EU, receives Windows 7 Home Premium (£49.99) and Windows 7 Professional (£99.99) preorder prices. The EU preorders will be for full versions, and will likely be the cheapest available route to purchase a full retail version.
Microsoft also announced back-to-school upgrade bundle deals. It will be working with OEMs to offer Vista PCs which come with a copy of Windows 7, ready to upgrade upon release. Details will be found here.
Windows 7 will be released in 14 languages -- 14 languages: English, Spanish, Japanese, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Chinese (Hong Kong).
Now table-tastic!
When Windows Vista first came out, there were many complaints about its price. Then there were complaints about how Media Center was included in Vista Home Premium, but missing from the more expensive Business Edition.
Compatibility problems and misleading hardware specification led to Microsoft being sued over its "Vista Capable" labeling.
Microsoft claims to have learned from the Vista experience. "We broke a lot of things. We know that, and we know it caused you a lot of pain. It got customers thinking, hey, is Windows Vista a generation we want to get invested in?" said Brad Brooks, Corporate Vice-President for Windows Consumer Product Marketing.
With its new "Russian Doll" model of linearly progressing features, Microsoft thinks its new lineup of six editions will meet a wide range of consumer usage models. All versions of Windows 7 include Internet Explorer 8 and DirectX 11, as well as improved multi-core processing.
With improved boot times and overall system responsiveness through all versions, Microsoft believes these engineering investments will allow small netbook PCs to run any version of Windows 7, and allow customers the flexibility to purchase a system which meets their needs. It has also improved support and optimizations for Solid State Drives, targeting both netbooks and notebooks.
Expanded features were requested by corporations for the Enterprise Edition. Virtual Desktop Infrastructure allows Windows 7 to be run as a virtual machine. Branch Cache is a file caching option for branch offices of large corporations, designed to reduce access times to centrally managed files. DirectAccess is designed for corporate networks based on Windows Server 2008 R2, which is the server version of Windows 7. AppLocker is a centrally managed, rule-based group policy program for specifying which applications can run. Enterprise Search was designed as a highly secure, manageable, server-based search system. It enables users to search remote document repositories, SharePoint sites, and Web applications.
Windows 7's Search Federation uses an Open Source standard named OpenSearch. Users can select which sites are available for searching, or the IT department can populate the list by using Group Policy. The search results are presented in Windows explorer much like local files, with rich views, file details, and previews.
The data for all editions is contained on a single DVD. This allows an electronic upgrade to be accomplished quickly, once Microsoft sends the electronic authorization to your computer. Theoretically, you can upgrade from the Starter edition to the Ultimate edition within fifteen minutes.
Microsoft sees the sales of the Windows 7 product lineup in a bell curve. The vast majority of sales will be Home Premium for consumers and Professional for businesses and enthusiasts. The majority of Windows sales will be 64-bit, with over 75% of total sales through OEM installations.
However, the true value of Windows 7 can only be determined when compared against its cost. Microsoft has not yet released any pricing information.
| Windows 7 Version | Starter | Home Basic | Home Premium | Professional | Enterprise | Ultimate |
| Sales Channels | OEM (Global) | Developing | Retail and OEM (Global) | Volume License | Retail/OEM (Limited) | |
| 64-Bit Support | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Concurrent Applications | 3 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Mobility Center | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Aero Features | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Home Groups | Join Only | Join Only | Create/Join | Create/Join | Create/Join | Create/Join |
| Premium Games | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Media Center | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Touch | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Network Backup | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Domain Joining | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Encrypting File System | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Group Policy | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Location Aware Printing | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offline Folders | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Presentation Mode | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Desktop Host | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AppLocker | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| BitLocker | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Branch Cache | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Direct Access | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Enterprise Search | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| MUI Language Packs | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Desktop Interface | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Hard Disk Booting | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Unspecified | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
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