LOL, or maybe he just made a joke.

Probably. You know how Jafo is.

Ok.... i get it

I was hype.... nah... whatever. Take care....

pffft $200?

I refuse to pay more than $50 for a game...which entertains me, i'll be damned if i'm going to pay $200 for an OS that will (without fail) cause me grief time and time again.

Most PC's in the world are old, they are old because people either don't enjoy spending hundreds on constant upgrades or simply can't. The majority of sane people arn't going to want to pay that sort of money for an OS and will just pirate instead. You'd think MS would cotton on that their constant loss of ground to linux et al isn't because their products are inferior (though they are!), its because they charge extortionate amounts. They need to start doing digital downloads for $25-50 and realize they'll make a hell of a lot more money that way.

Strange, I even use the beta and have no problems whatsoever. Windows is not always the faulty one...

If you don't want to update constantly then don't. If you pirate you DO want to update, but then you should also pay for it.

I disagree. But I prefer Windows because contrary to all Linux distributions they actually can make a user friendly OS. Sure, not everything is perfect, and if you know just a bit more about PCs then you'll undoubtedly see some odd design decisions, but at the end of the day everyone can use it. My grandpa can send a mail on Windows, millions of people can use computers for their work and we can play games. Wanna try that on a Linux PC? You might succeed in the end but it'll be a pain to get there. And yes, I've tried on multiple distributions. I'm not saying Linux is useless, but they need to get out of their "We're so smart and pwn Windows" ivory tower and start thinking about the users, because with most current distributions they are not exactly very appealing for the 'normal' user to learn. I guess Ubuntu is a step in the right direction, but they are nowhere near where they should be.

Agree, they overcharge a lot on Windows. It's their cash cow. I buy my Windows installations, saying they are too expensive is hypocritical because you use it pretty much every second that your PC is turned on. But it can be a lot cheaper and license terms are pretty strict imo.

That's true, Linux needs to get rid of the "You have to be this nerd to use me" reputation. Besides , if you play games, windows is the only choice because of DirectX, there not many OpenGL games on the market nowadays..

well actually yes you can because of ...

The only thing the upgrade version does is look for a previous windows installation.  When it find the code it looks for it will validate your current installation and proceed with an upgrade and essentially do a clean install by doing exactly what Starkers stated.  It will leave intact some files and references but will create a new windows folder and rewrite a registry.

Though you may be right about the attitude, but there is a reason for this...  Linux is the way it is because it allows for customization beyond appearance.  With this kind of functionality you lose compatibility and usability.  Windows is the way it is because it has to accommodate so many different types of users and generalizes everything so that it loses it security and stability.  Windows serves its purpose and so does Linux.  When linux usage increases i am sure someone will make it easier to use and market it and capitalize on it.  But then they will turn themselves into a miniature Microsoft.

How is someone "brainwashed" to use Windows? 

Dunno about brainwashed, but those ultra-smug Mac ads would've tipped many towards going with Windows. 

Hmmm, would that be considered reverse-brainwashing?

Lets see the Title/Subject of this thread is 'Windows 7 Pre-orders at 50% Off'. 

Damn those Microsoft folks duped and brainwashed me again.

Never thought of it like that... but yeah!  Add to that the ultra-smug Mac ads and you don't really have a choice, do yer!

Reverse brain washing....intriguing. Either one's brain gets soiled or cleansed....depending on your viewpoint.

Isn't anything simple anymore?

Hey Doc, there are still simple things in life, unfortunatly us humans just don't except anything as being simple.  In our minds it's much to complicated to think that way.

EDIT:  Well I just pre-ordered my Windows 7 Home Premium update, and no it was not simple.  Can't believe what happen, I tried online ordering from Best Buy with a Debit Card, they wouldn't take it because the card expires 09/09.  Went to Amazon and ordered it with no problem.  See, simple is too complicated for some people.

Well I read confirmation from Microsoft that we ARE allowed to order 'foreign' copies op Windows for the reduced price, just as long as you have it delivered at a 'local' address (read: an address in the country that has the reduced pre-order price). All you need is a friend in one of those countries you can send the Windows copy to and he can then send it to you and/or just give you the key and you can install it yourself (with any provided copy of the DVD). Just make sure you trust that person, or you're screwed

That's not a 'reputation' it's a prerequisite....