All About Microsoft

Mary-Jo Foley

Microsoft and PC makers launch new Windows 7 promotions for grads and students

By Mary Jo Foley | May 10, 2010, 8:53am PDT

When PC makers think about promotion dates, May is the real start of the graduation/back-to-school cycle. To that end, Microsoft and its OEM partners are gearing up with new Windows-7-focused offers, the first of which kicked off this past weekend.

There are three new deals Microsoft and its partners are offering:

1. Sony VAIO E series laptop loaded with Windows 7 Professional and a free Blu-ray disc drive upgrade starting at $799.99. Sony also is providing a $90 credit towards the purchase of movies. (THe fine print: Only available to U.S. residents through May 29, 2010.)

2. Amazon.com offering $50 off on select Windows 7 notebooks and netbooks. Available models are from Dell, HP, Gateway, Asus and more. (The fine printe: Only available to U.S. residents through May 29, 2010.)

3. Dell Studio XPS 13 with Windows 7 Home Premium, Office 2007 Home & Student (with a free upgrade to Office 2010 Home & Student) and free shipping for $989. (The fine print: Available through the Microsoft Store only. U.S. residents only through June 25 or while supplies last.)

Microsoft officials noted that the Windows Anytime Upgrade is one promotion that is still ongoing. As part of that promotion, users can move from Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Home Premium ERP $49.99 (normally $79.99); or Windows 7 Home Premium to Windows 7 Professional ERP $79.99 (normally $89.99). The Windows Anytime Upgrade offer ends in the U.S. on July 3.

Microsoft is hinting more Windows 7 promotions will be coming later this summer and will be touted on www.windows.com.

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily e-mail newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

More from “All About Microsoft”

How is Microsoft planning to hawk Office 2010?

Office 2010: Microsoft to charge PC makers less for preloading more

Topics

Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Mary Jo Foley

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

Full Bio
Disclosure
Contact

Vendor HotSpot

The 360° Conversation around Cloud Computing

TECH VISUALIZER brings the social conversation to life... powered by Brocade

Learn More »

Comments

Add Your Opinion

Join the conversation!

Follow via:: RSS; Email Alert

Just In

dough rounder

dough rounder 18th Dec

It's awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn't the same old rehashed material. Wonderful read! I've bookmarked your site and I'm including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
Hi! I've been following your blog for a long time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Atascocita Texas! know more information please contact me (Michael Ling ) http://www.chinacateringequipment.com

View in thread

Please Select
Please Select

0 Votes

+ -

They can enjoy it while it lasts but it won't last much longer

OS Reload Updated - 10th May 2010

Most new entrants to computing are doing it via mobile devices, a territory where microsoft windows is persona non grata.

The consumer market is eroding for Microsoft, these are their final shots.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

It just has to last this year

ericesque 10th May 2010

@OS Reload By BTS next year MS will have a premier mobile OS that Dell has already committed to building devices on.

You're right though, bundling Windows 7 with Windows Phone 7 will be a mean duo to compete against. Windows 7 with Office 2010 bundles wouldn't stand a chance!

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Who else is even close to a fully integrated system?

rock06r 10th May 2010

How do you connect home with office with mobile phone with business laptop with living room entertainment system? How about with Microsoft Products?! I love my Droid, but it's still way too clunky to ever replace my home laptop and office desktop. There isn't a single vendor on the planet other than MS that even tries to compete in any meaningful way, that has such a breadth and width in their product line. I can't imagine anyone running their business from a 4" keypad and a 3.5" touchscreen. And if I ever see one, I probably will roll my eyes and find someone else to do business with. The google apps are essentially a collection of hobby gadgets. I keep hearing about how all kinds of businesses are jumping on their email products, but ... I haven't heard anyone announcing that they are using google apps to do business. Or store their data. Or...anything else?! Linux? Well, between the teeny-bopper desktops, never-ending usability problems, and non-existent support...it's good enough for techies but decidedly not user-friendly enough for grandma. So... a MS world it is, after all.

0 Votes

+ -

RE: I try to avoid responding to trolls...

Isocrates Updated - 10th May 2010

The lack of meaningful competition to Microsoft and its products is easily explained. Microsoft stole all their IP and destroyed them all.

I am neither a troll nor a fanboy of a Microsoft competitor. I have been here and involved in the computer industry since long before there was a Microsoft or an Apple company. I have been here since before there was a Xerox company. I have watched history being made and the ways that it was made. What I write is how Microsoft succeeded through theft and abuse of others.

Microsoft has destroyed many wonderful companies and bright people who had created better products than Microsoft ever could. Before there was Microsoft Word, there was Word Perfect, MultiMate, WordStar, and others. Before there was Excel, Microsoft introduced MultiPlan for CP/M (I liked that one), and before that there was Lotus 1-2-3 and, before that, VisiCalc.

Before there was Microsoft Office, there was Open Access and before that, Ability. Open Access had all the components of full office productivity as a suite with working interrelationships between all the components and documents that could be opened and accessed by each component. However, Microsoft, which had only MultiPlan as an office product to start with, convinced businesses that standalone components were more specialized and therefore superior to integrated office products. So, Open Access died.

Microsoft expanded into more and more areas as it destroyed smaller businesses and stole their IP under the guise of "buying licenses" in order to gain access to each business's code to duplicate it. Once established, Microsoft began using and evangelizing software patents to prevent any other company from using its own methods and doing to it as it did to so many others. And Bill Gates and Microsoft have not been alone in this behavior. Steve Jobs and Apple have done the same as has Intel and like-minded business people and their businesses.

Now, that great hypocrite, Microsoft, speaks out of the other side of its marketing mouth and extols the virtues of its own fully-integrated office suites when originally it condemned them to steal their market.

There have long been those who have commended and crowed about Bill Gates's and Microsoft's unethical conduct as examples of shrewd business. However, anyone who supports or commends unethical behavior is, themselves, guilty of unethical behavior and none of them are to be trusted or supported.

Thus, the many who have watched these unethical activities have worked, first alone, and then, gradually, more and more united to be ethically open and respectful of other's IP. Whether Microsoft fanboys wish to stay in denial or not, the majority will abandon Microsoft and good will finally succeed. A great teacher once said, "The meek shall inherit the earth." And so they shall.

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Microsoft and PC makers launch new Windows 7 promotions for grads and students

raimu koyo asu 6th Jul

If Microsoft drop support on Windows XP and many people will going to court to complaint then sue Microsoft company. Microsoft will face fines. I know and feeling in the future will get worse.

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Microsoft and PC makers launch new Windows 7 promotions for grads and students

gogon gondrong Updated - 20th Jul

many people will going to court to complaint then sue Microsoft harvest from another game make a wish from hawaii to taste of the past key in order to governor election from national company.

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Microsoft and PC makers launch new Windows 7 promotions for grads and students

musdahi Updated - 14th Oct

Microsoft and PC makers launch about it is bank that website attacked from the site support from any soldier site to the light home page is great new

0 Votes

+ -

Did you copy/paste that post from 1999?

rock06r 10th May 2010

That's probably the first time I heard it. Europe has had much greater cell phone penetration and has adopted cellular data networks much sooner than the US did, and they are still buying windows, office, and server products from MS faster than they can print product key stickers. Every financial indicator shows that you couldn't be more wrong. Exactly where do you draw your conclusions from?

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Sure thing, whatever you say.

John Zern 10th May 2010

Sorry if we don't take your word for it, but while Android is becoming splintered, MS is becoming more cohesive.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Cohesive with vaporware???

wackoae 10th May 2010

If you call the never ending and always late WinMo 7 cohesive ......

0 Votes

+ -

RE: RE: Microsoft and PC makers launch new Windows 7 promotions for grads and students

joe620 Updated - 11th May 2010

@OS Reload,
So students are doing their homework on phones? I don't think so, the amount of laptops whether they be MAC or PC at universities is at an all time high.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Refurbished is a great alternative

apexwm 10th May 2010

I recommend refurbished PCs to my friends and family. Why buy something brand new, that is out of date so quickly? I've purchased Dell refurbished PCs and they look like new when they arrive. Very happy customer. Another way to cut the costs is to download Open Office (NOT purchase Microsoft Office). A great combination at a fraction of the price of a new system.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Open Office: for those who don't need an office suite (nt)

ericesque 10th May 2010

@apexwm

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Microsoft and PC makers launch new Windows 7 promotions for grads and students

joe620 11th May 2010

@apexwm,
I will spend the $100 - $250 on a real office suite thank you.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Count it

mstrsfty 10th May 2010

One analyst estimated that Microsoft will sell 135 million copies of Windows this year. Count it! 135 MILLION. When Apple can sell that many iPhone OS and OS X in one year, you wake me up.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Windows 7 is rip off!

consoleclassix 11th May 2010

Windows 7 is rip off! Now I not trust Microsoft anymore! If my computer broke and will not buy anymore. End life of world and cause all companies to collapse or defeat. To blame all game industry to die and will stop making games due to market problems.

Windows XP is outstanding in the world and powerful sell and make people happy that why. Vista and 7 are laggy and slow like bloat will cause you to become angry to throw your computer away. No joke!

Microsoft = Junk and poor support

If Microsoft drop support on Windows XP and many people will going to court to complaint then sue Microsoft company. Microsoft will face fines. I know and feeling in the future will get worse. This is truth.

Microsoft is pure evil!

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Microsoft and PC makers launch new Windows 7 promotions for grads and students

jackson1984-24316069205748857739440257893812 10th Oct

Was Just was carrying out research and shocked with nfl jerseys 2012 the information you wrote. Look and feel at especially what I wished rather. This rocks!

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

hangÃ?Â tags

ice machine Updated - 15th Nov

Hello would you mind stating which blog platform you're working with? I'm going to start my own blog soon but I'm having a hard time making a decision between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I'm looking for something completely unique. P.S Apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!http://www.bestgarmentaccessories.com/

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

garmentÂ accessories

ice machine 28th Nov

I'm still new to everything. Do you have any recommendations for rookie blog writers? I'd definitely appreciate it.http://www.bestgarmentaccessories.com/

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

fine

ice machine 30th Nov

Have you ever considered publishing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog based on the same subjects you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my viewers would enjoy your work. If you're even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e mail.
http://www.bestgarmentaccessories.com/