Microsoft’s Windows 7 is set to be available in local retail stores on 22 October this year. Three versions of Microsoft’s latest operating system will be available: Windows 7 Ultimate, Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional.<\/p>\n
According to Colin Erasmus, Windows Client Executive at Microsoft South Africa, local pricing will depend on a variety of factors, including the exchange rate at the time and local market conditions.<\/p>\n
“We can’t tell you exactly what the price of Windows 7 will be until it lands in stores on 22 October this year. The final pricing will be determined by a host of factors including local market conditions, partner margins, taxation and exchange rate, among others. It’s also important to remember that we offer a fixed price to our distributors here in South Africa – they then determine the final retail and market price point,” said Erasmus.<\/p>\n
Windows 7 pricing should however be in line with Windows Vista pricing, and potentially even slightly cheaper. “Right now, we expect the prices of Windows 7 retail packaged product to be similar equal to Windows Vista, and in some cases even slightly cheaper,” said Erasmus.<\/p>\n
“That said, while Windows 7 pricing is comparable to current Windows Vista pricing, its new features offer richer scenarios and more possibilities, meaning more value for the consumer. We also expect that the premium offering — Windows 7 Ultimate — will be at the top of the price range, followed by Windows 7 Professional and then Windows 7 Home Premium,” Erasmus concluded.<\/p>\n