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Posted: Sep 17 2009 08:42 pm

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/179501.asp

Short version: if you have a .edu email address and order by January, you can upgrade to Windows 7 for thirty bucks. I know a lot of us here are students of one kind or another, and a lot of people may want to upgrade. Well...there you have it.

And if you already knew about this, my apologies.

Posted: Sep 17 2009 08:54 pm

What if you only work for an .edu address?

Posted: Sep 17 2009 10:03 pm

ill let my buddy know, and have him hook us all up

Posted: Sep 17 2009 10:15 pm

Fuck, I'm not a student...want good deal

Title: Titlating Joined: Dec 17 2007 Posts: 5042

Awesome I am stoked I was just figuring I had to ignore windows 7.

Joined: Apr 09 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3112

Sweet, a reason to go to PSU besides drinking.

Posted: Sep 18 2009 01:28 am

jackfrost wrote:

What if you only work for an .edu address?

Well, the phrasing in the article says you have to order it with a .edu address. I'm betting you can get away with it. The worst they can tell you is no.

Opti, I had the exact same reaction. I really wanted 7, but I wasn't willing to pay 130 bucks for it. Reading this was like Christmas. I KNEW there was a reason to go back to school!

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

jackfrost wrote:

What if you only work for an .edu address?

It counts.

It ALWAYS counts.

A perk of working for a university is that you are considered a part of the educational process, and therefore eligible for student perks.

I have worked for universities for the last 6 years and can tell you I have always gotten the benefits and never been questioned about it.

Joined: Mar 13 2009 Location: Arlington Posts: 467

Thanks for the info. Microsoft had a big tent on campus where I work and was promoting this. I through it was just a test promo and no real discount.

The other thing is, faculty/staff and students I assume can usually get this software for free once the University purchases the user agreement. I got Windows Vista for free(same with xp, office, etc) just by saying I needed to do some work on my home computer. I gotta check to see if we're buying 7. If not, you can't beat $30 bucks.

Posted: Sep 19 2009 01:23 pm

Fuck. I wonder if my old college email still works.

Posted: Sep 19 2009 01:30 pm

Will alumni addresses ending in .edu work?

Joined: Aug 05 2008 Location: CA Posts: 867

Thorton02 wrote:

Thanks for the info. Microsoft had a big tent on campus where I work and was promoting this. I through it was just a test promo and no real discount.

The other thing is, faculty/staff and students I assume can usually get this software for free once the University purchases the user agreement. I got Windows Vista for free(same with xp, office, etc) just by saying I needed to do some work on my home computer. I gotta check to see if we're buying 7. If not, you can't beat $30 bucks.

Yeah its sounds like you’re talking about the MSDN Academic Alliance, they offer a whole bunch of free stuff through my school on it, they have had the retail version of Windows 7 Pro up for quite a while now.

Posted: Sep 20 2009 04:48 am

GPFontaine wrote:

jackfrost wrote:

What if you only work for an .edu address?

It counts.

It ALWAYS counts.

A perk of working for a university is that you are considered a part of the educational process, and therefore eligible for student perks.

I have worked for universities for the last 6 years and can tell you I have always gotten the benefits and never been questioned about it.

That is very good to know. Thank you. I really need to start playing that card more often. It did indeed apply.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Dr. Jeebus wrote:

Will alumni addresses ending in .edu work?

Your school offers an alumni .edu address? That is actually odd.

I don't know if it will work, but it is worth a shot. Obviously places that require an ID card don't give a shit about your email, but online stuff might work for you.

Joined: Feb 10 2008 Posts: 32

I think this is just Microsoft's way of trying out the lower price. They wanted to offer it to only a limited number of customers to see if it does increase sales.

In other words, I don't think they care so much about whether you are a student. It's just an easy way to divide their customers, using an already existing concept of "educational editions."

You'd better bet that I'd sell it if I can. My computer barely meets the true minimum specs (1.6 Ghz), and that's not counting the fact that I'd have to upgrade my memory to 2 gigs and get a true 128MB card, instead of built in noe. At this point, I'd be more likely to just buy a new computer.

Posted: Sep 21 2009 06:48 pm

Probable Muppet wrote:

Yeah its sounds like you’re talking about the MSDN Academic Alliance, they offer a whole bunch of free stuff through my school on it, they have had the retail version of Windows 7 Pro up for quite a while now.

I was going to join this or did but forgot how I get there or what I need to do. Like I said I forgot.

Docinsano's Channel 63 · Posted: Sep 28 2009 01:41 am

Does anyone know if I can upgrade from Windows 7 RC? Because this deal is too fucking sweet to pass up and this would be a great time to get the retail version of 7. I can't pass up a good deal and 30 bucks sure sounds sweet. But, this is only me hoping that I can use the upgrade version, if I can't upgrade, then, fuck.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

No upgrading from pre-retail.

PS: on your new system you should run the 64 bit version of Win 7.

Docinsano's Channel 63 · Posted: Sep 29 2009 11:21 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

No upgrading from pre-retail.

PS: on your new system you should run the 64 bit version of Win 7.

Are you sure, because I thought I read somewhere that there is a simple hack you can apply to the upgrade version which allows you to upgrade from RC to retail. Either that or I'm smoking crack.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

docinsano wrote:

GPFontaine wrote:

No upgrading from pre-retail.

PS: on your new system you should run the 64 bit version of Win 7.

Are you sure, because I thought I read somewhere that there is a simple hack you can apply to the upgrade version which allows you to upgrade from RC to retail. Either that or I'm smoking crack.

I wouldn't do it.

Posted: Oct 21 2009 09:51 am

I took full advantage of this promotion. Apparently all you need was a working student email which I still use for FB. I'm very psyched for tomorrow. Finally, Vista will die.

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

I have been running the RTM since it was released for Technet users (I think about 3 months or so). It has been fantastic. Only one system reboot required other than Adobe updates. Also it is much smoother with app loading.

If your hardware supports it, I strongly suggest you do the 64-bit plunge at this point and make your life easier in the future.

Posted: Oct 21 2009 04:52 pm

GPFontaine wrote:

I have been running the RTM since it was released for Technet users (I think about 3 months or so). It has been fantastic. Only one system reboot required other than Adobe updates. Also it is much smoother with app loading.

If your hardware supports it, I strongly suggest you do the 64-bit plunge at this point and make your life easier in the future.

I already know I'm going to buy another PC in the next two years, so I'll upgrade to 64-bit then. I ordered the 32-bit upgrade after a lengthly debate of pros and cons. In the end, the hassle of putting Vista 64 on my laptop first was just too much to bear, especially when I didn't know which programs would be compatible or not.

Posted: Oct 21 2009 07:02 pm

So here's my issue with upgrading...

I have all my data backed up, so a fresh install will be a nuisance, but not too difficult. H?owever, I am worried about not being able to play some of my old games anymore--games like Starcraft, MechCommander 2, Half Life/HL2, Oblivion, etc. I've googled around and gotten mixed results, so maybe someone here can answer: what determines what games will run on a 64 bit OS (or Windows 7 specifically)? Would I be in danger of not being able to play them anymore?

Joined: Dec 06 2007 Location: Connecticut Posts: 11244

Tebor, I was under the impression that all disks are both 64 and 32 bit and they come with 32 and 64 bit keys. I might be wrong on this, but I swear I have read it several places.

Hawk, Starcraft will run, but it is a bitch. Half Life 1 and 2 work, Oblivion works, no clue what MechCommander2 is. 90% of games will work fine, the rest will need to run in XPM (Free virtual XP). The 64 bit portion of the OS can run 32-bit apps, however certain apps like Antivirus must be 64 bit to be effective. Only specific utilities must be compiled for 64 bit. I have been playing older games on my system since August and have found 7 to be more compatible than Vista.