While the scheme will undoubtedly represent a promotional bonanza for Microsoft, the winner will still have to pay for their copy. However, Harvey Norman is offering a 10% discount on hardware sales for any customer brave enough to queue all night, and giving away free cameras to the first 100 purchasers.

That copy won't quite qualify as the first commercial sale for Vista anywhere in the world, however, as midnight openings in New Zealand stores will beat it by a couple of hours. A total of 43 Harvey Norman stores are planning the special midnight openings.

There's been much speculation as to whether the hype for Windows Vista will be matched with retail demand, but Harvey seems confident. "We're excited about the demand Windows Vista is generating at Harvey Norman, it's fantastic," he said in a statement announcing the promotion.
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