Windows 7 digest: Intel thumbs up, Signature edition, eBay shenanigans
The countdown to Windows 7 continues with news that Intel testers have given an overwhelmingly positive response to the system. Meanwhile several unorthodox editions are available: an official signature edition for party hosts and some somewhat less official editions on eBay.
The Intel feedback comes from 300 testers who compared Windows 7 with XP. (The company decided to skip Vista, which was a significant blow to the system’s public image.) A whopping 97 percent said they would recommend the system to Intel colleagues, while on average the testers rated every aspect of Windows 7’s performance at least four out of a maximum five.
(One note of caution was that 10 percent of those questioned encountered some problems running the system on their main work machine, usually because of an application incompatibility.)
Besides the image boost, the results are also good news for Microsoft’s bottom line: Intel has more than 100,000 machines currently running XP. With the firm estimating that upgrading could save it around $11 million over three years, that’s one corporate order that’s looking solid.
Meanwhile people who are taking part in the Windows 7 house party promotional scheme have begun receiving their party packs, including a limited edition copy of the Ultimate edition, complete with a copy of Steve Ballmer’s signature. That follows up a similar scheme with Bill Gate’s moniker during the Vista launch.
While at least one Ballmer edition has already found its way to eBay, the site is playing host to some unconvincing copies of the system. While some sellers outright admit they are selling the release candidate, and others turn out to simply be selling activation codes (leaving the buyer to get hold of the software itself), boxed copies of the full Ultimate edition are supposedly on sale for $90, an unlikely price for a currently unreleased $319 package.
Still, at least one seller does have a reassuring customer service policy:
We are honest Ebay Seller and always hope to serve our customers best. But accident be happened once in a while. No matter what the issue is, please kindly contact us by email firstly. In order to let you satisfied absolutely, we will solve the problem for you without delay!
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October 5th, 2009
Thank you for article. Many of the selected party hosts (who are still waiting for their Host Party packages with the official signature edition of Windows 7) are upset to see some of the packages with pictures coming up for auctions on ebay.
I find it very interesting that promotional items can be auctioned on ebay, even though most of the party hosts have not received their packages yet.
One of the auction listings I personally saw, wanted to charge a $20 shipping fee.
I hope those auctions are being pulled immediately by ebay, since Windows 7 has not launched yet.
October 17th, 2009
as one of the lucky people to get a party pack in the UK i was suprised to see a few on E-Bay but if thats what they want to do who am i to disagree i might no like it but so its there loss
i am running my FREE copy right now and its AWESOME lol big word but there it is AWESOME
October 21st, 2009
I too got my Windows 7 signature edition and running it,Have been running the beta one on my pc with a back up of the original Vista 64 bit,lon a different drive just in case,I m very please with WIndows 7 and very happy to be a lucky winner,will be at the party on the 22 like many,even offer Norton 2010 free to run with it but I never use it before or will now,Well I can t see why would anyone would sell theres but they do, a choice they decided,issue about legallity thats up to Microsoft…….like they seem to update very often I wonder if they kept all the list of the one given ?????