windows 7 available to students for $30

[julie anne]

Recently, my law school's Office of the Registrar sent out the passwords to download the latest version of test-taking software Examsoft.

That's all well and good except, as discussed before, I'm a Mac living in the PC world that is law school. (By the way, based on the students who use PCs and those who use Macs in my law school classes, I can affirm that those who use Macs are in fact hipper and more attractive than their peers who use PCs.)

I had put the whole Mac or PC thing at the back of my mind in favor of learning the intricacies of personal jurisdiction, but the email brought the issue back to the fore: Should I buy a separate laptop for test taking, or should I just go ahead and install Windows on my MacBook with BootCamp?

The $120 price tag of the new Windows 7 operating system had me leaning the way of just buying a netbook that runs Windows, however, a new promotion for students from Microsoft has me considering the other option.

For a limited time, Microsoft is offering Windows 7 for $30 for students with a university email account. 

Here's a bit from an Ars Technica article about the promo:

"'In the US, students can pre-order their copy of Windows 7 beginning September 17th and can download the OS beginning on October 22nd (general availability),' a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed with Ars. For US students, we checked and saw that they need to have a .edu e-mail address or be attending one of the 158 schools."

My school wasn't on the list, but I registered my school email address anyway and received an email several minutes later confirming that I was cleared for download.

You can pre-register at www.win741.com.

Comments

[Jon Rogers]

Just to let you know, the $30 windows discount is for the "upgrade" version of windows only. Not the full version you need to install for bootcamp. You need to have some flavor of old windows to upgrade from to use the $30 version they are sending you.

[Julie Anne I.]

Hi, Jon. I'm following up with Microsoft on the Windows 7 install. I'll post more when I get more information :) Thanks for your comment.

[Muffin]

I don't think all Mac-using law students are hipper and more attractive than their PC-using counterparts...there's a flaw in your logical reasoning.

[Julie Anne I.]

UPDATE ON WINDOWS 7 OFFER: According to a Microsoft spokesperson, the offer only "applies to upgrade versions of the software only (for US students), meaning that students need to have a genuine version of Windows XP or Windows Vista on the PC they’re looking to upgrade. More information can be found on the Windows team blog: http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/09/17/student-offer-for-windows-7.aspx."

I guess it's back to contemplating buying a netbook or the windows xp/vista os for me. :( boo.

[ugg]

You need to have some flavor of old windows to upgrade from to use the $30 version they are sending you.

[loans]

Im gonna get it no matter what.

[Procrastination Free Living]

Hmm I think that's for upgrading the software. Windows 7 is great and easy to use it..!!

[forum watches]

Thanks for all of the hard work on this web site. I admit, I have not been on this website in a long time, however it was joy to find it again. It is such an important topic and ignored by so many, even professionals! I do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin.

[kompiuteriu remontas]

For students windows 7 should be for free :) Or I'll choose ubuntu instead.

[Computer Repair San Antonio]

Great article! Would love to read more like it!

[Buy Sandals]

Don“t part with your illusions . When they are gone you may still exist , but you have ceased to live.