Engadget brightened up a slow news day on Friday with a
leaked memo from Best Buy that offers a number of Windows 7 details.
Most notable is the fact that the memo puts a date on when people can start buying Vista-based machines and qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 7. According to the memo, June 26 is the magic date--and I'm hearing that date is correct.
Images: A peek at Windows 7 release candidate
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The memo also says that on June 26, Best Buy will start preselling upgrade versions of Windows 7 Home Premium for $49 and Windows 7 Professional for $99 via its Web site. It's not totally clear whether those are standard or promotional prices, although the memo says the pre-order program will run only for 16 days.
Microsoft Senior Vice President Bill Veghte did say in an interview this week that the software maker was considering requests from Vista owners to have a free or cheaper way to upgrade to Windows 7, so perhaps this pre-order option might be that program.
Best Buy also offers its marketing pitch for Windows 7 in the memo. \"This new operating system isn't just a 'Vista that works' program - it's a new operating system with improved productivity, functionality and creativity that uses less computer resources.\"
A Best Buy representative was not immediately available to comment on the memo's authenticity.
When it
announced October 22 as the official ship date for Windows 7 earlier this week, Microsoft also confirmed that it planned to have such a tech guarantee program, however the company did not say when it would start. A Microsoft representative said on Friday that the company had nothing more to add about the timing of the program.