Microsoft has announced the release details of their new OS – it’s a little complicated so I’ll try and make it as clear as possible!

On October 22nd, Windows 7 will be available in the following 14 languages:

English, Spanish, Japanese, German, French, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Chinese (Hong Kong).

Then on October 31st, the remaining 21 languages will become available:

Turkish, Czech, Portuguese, Hungarian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Greek, Ukrainian, Romanian, Arabic, Lithuanian, Bulgarian, Estonian, Slovenian, Hebrew, Thai, Croatian, Serbian Latin, and Latvian.

Anyone who buys a new computer between now and January 31^st with Vista installed should get a free Upgrade when Windows 7 is released.

If you wish to buy a copy to upgrade your computer that is currently running XP or Vista the situation is slightly murkier –

In the US, Canada and Japan there are two versions of the software available… ‘Upgrade’ and ‘Full’ –

The Upgrade version allows you to pop the DVD into your Windows Vista system and click ‘Upgrade’ and a couple of hours later you have your new Windows 7 system complete with all your programs and data intact.

With an XP system, you have to do a clean install.

The Full version is exactly that, you must install it from scratch on your computer.

Now, if you are in an EU country, there is no ‘Upgrade’ version available at the moment – this is because the European Commission in their infinite lack of wisdom demanded that Microsoft provided Windows 7 with a choice of browsers, not just Internet Explorer. Microsoft responded by producing a Windows 7 version with no browser at all – you will get a separate CD with Internet Explorer.

Because Microsoft has spent its time ensuring that the IE containing ‘Upgrade’ version works, it hasn’t had time to test the browser-less ‘Upgrade’ version, so EU countries get the ‘Full’ version with no browser.

Mad? Yes.

Pricing

Now, if that little lot was confusing, wait for this – here are the U.S. prices for Windows 7:

The estimated retail prices for Upgrade packaged retail product of Windows 7 in the U.S. are:

• Windows 7 Home Premium (Upgrade): $119.99
• Windows 7 Professional (Upgrade): $199.99
• Windows 7 Ultimate (Upgrade): $219.99

And the estimated retail prices for Full packaged retail product of Windows 7 in the U.S. are:

• Windows 7 Home Premium (Full): $199.99
• Windows 7 Professional (Full): $299.99
• Windows 7 Ultimate (Full): $319.99

I estimate that the European and UK pricing will be roughly to swap $ for € and £, although until an ‘Upgrade’ version is available for the EU, you will get the ‘Full’ version at ‘Upgrade’ prices.

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Now if you are in the U.S. or Canada you can pre-order an ‘Upgrade’ copy from companies like Amazon.com from June 26^th – July 5^th, while stocks last at much reduced prices:

• Windows 7 Home Premium (Upgrade): $49.99
• Windows 7 Professional (Upgrade): $99.99

If you are in Japan – tough luck – they’ve already ‘Sold Out’.

If you are in the UK, France or Germany you can pre-order from the 15^th July – 14^th August while stocks last at the following prices:

• Windows 7 Home Premium (Full): £50/€50
• Windows 7 Professional (Full): £99/€99

Again Amazon is amongst the suppliers.

Pre-orders are ONLY available in the above countries.

So, basically, if you buy a new computer you should get a free Upgrade, if you want to get Windows 7 for your current computer(s) you can save up to 60% as long as you want an English, French or German version by pre-ordering, and if you want any other language version, tough, you’ll have to wait and pay more.