Retail version
Unless you've been living under a large rock for most of 2009, it won't have escaped your attention that Microsoft is launching Windows 7 today. We've looked at deployment, user interface, media interface, networking and security, and applications. Now we turn our attention to pricing.Correct as of 13:20 on October 22, 2009, here's the current pricing of the three consumer editions (64-bit) - Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate - at seven UK etailers.
Full-retail edition
| Windows Edition/etailer | Home Premium | Professional | Ultimate |
| Scan | £75.98 | £170.24 | £174.88 |
| Dabs | £114.98 | £160.98 | £169.03 |
| Ebuyer | £81.34 | £148.00 | £154.13 |
| PC World | £99.99 | £147.99 | £159.99 |
| Amazon | £114.98 | £148.00 | £159.99 |
| Novatech | £141.42 | N/A | £159.67 |
| CCL Online | £78.99 | £157.45 | £169.95 |
For users requiring a clean-install Windows 7, launch-day pricing varies considerably for the Home Premium pack. A far cry from the £45 that some, including yours truly, paid a few months ago on pre-order, there are no standout bargains right now - at least from these (r)etailers.
Scan and CCL Online's pricing is good for Home Premium, and most etailers report having plentiful stock. A few are selling a three-license Family Pack for £129.99, we note.
Professional and Ultimate editions are priced far more consistently. Stock of Professional is reasonable, but a few etailers are pointing to week-long lead times for the Ultimate edition.
Don't need the full-retail box for a clean install?
