Microsoft is making Windows 7 Family Pack available again for a limited time. If you missed out on this great sale last time Microsoft offered it, now is your chance to upgrade at an unbeatable price. The Family Pack pricing is $149.99 and allows you to install it on three home PCs (that's about $50 per PC). You can purchase Windows 7 Family Pack directly from the Microsoft Store or from many participating retailers.
On Monday, Microsoft issued an Out of Band Security Update for Windows 7, Vista, and Windows XP (SP3) to stop the spread of a vicious new worm taking advantage of a vulnerability in Windows LNK (shortcut) files. The vulnerability is already being used by malware. The update (KB2286198) will automatically install if you have Windows Update enabled. If you don't currently use Automatic Updates, you need to install the patch without delay.
Microsoft Windows 7 is currently available for Pre-Order until July 11th (while supplies last). At only $49.99, the Premium Home version is a steal. I wasted no time in pre-ordering my upgrade licenses and will be counting down the days until October 22nd (the expected shipping date). If you don't plan on purchasing a new PC in the near future and your PC currently has Windows Vista or XP, this is your best chance to get a fantastic Operating System at a great price.
Windows 7 RC (Release Candidate) is scheduled for May 5 and the final version of Widows 7 is expected to ship during late summer/early fall.
Users currently using Windows Vista will be able to purchase an upgrade version of Windows 7 and upgrade easily to the latest Operating System.
Windows 7 will be available in two primary editions: Home Premium and Professional. In addition there will be an Ultimate version, but it is not expected to receive as much press as the two primary editions and might only be available as an upgrade through Microsoft.
Current Windows XP Users:
Windows XP users will be able to purchase a discounted upgrade license for Windows 7, but the pricing structure for Windows 7 has not yet been released.
Rumors are circulating that a new version of Microsoft Windows is already in the works and is expected to be released by the end of next year. According to articles in Computer World and Internet News, Windows 7 is planned for release late next year and will use less memory, be more efficient and less bloated than Windows Vista. For now, the photos circulating show Windows 7 looking very similar to Vista but that is expected to change by the time the operating system is ready to ship.