Get Microsoft Windows 7 for free (or close)

David M Williams
Tuesday, 06 October 2009 20:47

Your IT - Entertainment

They’re also an excellent source of two fundamentals: pizza and swag. User groups love to give away freebies. These might range from pens, stress balls, travelling mugs to books and other serious products.

Frequently, the giveaways include software, and not just trial versions but regularly full versions of commercial software.

Chances are positive that Windows 7 will be given away in user group meetings. Microsoft will be keen to promote its latest release. Proactive user group leaders can capitalise on this to secure at least some – if not a boxful – of Windows 7 disks.

These may be stamped “not for resale” but that’s fine; they’re still the full product, the release code and legally licensed.

To find Microsoft user groups in your vicinity visit Culminis and INETA.

Buy a new PC
Well, it’s not really “free” but buy a new PC now and although it will still ship with Windows Vista until later this month you will get a Windows 7 upgrade free when it is available from October 22nd.

This offer is available for all major computer brands like ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, Sony, Toshiba and others.

You don’t need to buy a computer; if you have a computer that you are happy with but isn’t yet running Windows Vista then you can get a free Windows 7 upgrade too.

This time you need to purchase a Windows Vista upgrade, meaning you can upgrade right away to Windows Vista and then again to Windows 7 on release. This offer is valid until January 31st, 2010.

Join a Microsoft subscription programme
An outstanding way to get your hands on all of Microsoft’s latest software – not just Windows 7 but Microsoft Office, SQL Server and many other products – is to join one of Microsoft’s subscription-based programmes.

Ok, again, these cost money – but they compare favourably to buying several pieces of the included software by themself, especially when you consider that each product is licensed for 10 separate installations.

That’s right; you could install Windows 7 on all the desktops and laptops in your house and still be completely legal.

For most people Microsoft’s TechNet Plus programme is the one to join. For $USD 349 or $AUD 512 you could be using full versions of any Microsoft operating system, server product or Office application.

The catches are you don’t get physical media (although you can pay more for a subscription which does include DVDs) and have to download the software, plus you are only licensed to use the software for evaluation purposes. You can’t use it in a production environment.