Windows7 is getting close, beta’s have been flying out the door and it’s nearing Release Candidate status. However, pricing information has yet to be released. What is known is that if you are a student there are some ways you can get Windows 7 at a pretty deep discount or even for free when the final version is ready later this year.
1. Any new computer sold between June 26, 2009 and January 31, 2010 that comes installed with Vista will qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 7. So if you’ve got your sites on a new PC, you should hold off just a little while longer (this applies to everybody, not just students).
2. Many schools belong to the MSDNAA or Microsoft Developers Network Academic Alliance. If your school is one of them, check with their MSDNAA site (each school has their own) when the Windows 7 is released and see if your MSDNAA site offers it.
3. There is also a a special site from Microsoft which provides free software to people with a valid e-mail address from any of the qualifying schools listed. It’s called Microsoft DreamSpark and it’s possible Windows7 will be released there as well.
4. If you’re in the US, Canada or Europe, and are in school, there’s a site called Journey Ed that gives out software and other kinds of products at a discount. All you need is some kind of proof.
This is a great news for all the tech students
they must utilise this oppurtunity
Detectives
Just to let you know, any student from those qualifying schools can sign up for DreamSpark; they don’t have to have a school email address either. I signed up for DreamSpark back in December using my regular GMail account. All you have to do is just prove to them that you are currently enrolled in college/high school, and they’ll activate your account. I can still hardly believe how much software Microsoft is handing out for free. I was really pleased by this.