Microsoft announces yet another version of Windows 7 - the Family Pack

Windows 7 Family Pack looks to be an enticing offer for anyone looking to upgrade more than 1 computer

Microsoft has officially publisized their latest addition to the ever growing family of Windows 7, the Family Pack. The offer was leaked previously as there was a reference made to it in a test version of 7. This latest offering will allow a maximum of 3 computers to upgrade to the standard Home Premium edition of Windows 7. Users of Vista or XP can utilize this offer for $149 USD.

As of 2009 to upgrade one computer to Home Premium would cost you $119 while buying a full retail copy will set you back the full $200. Clearly if you have, as Microsoft says, a family and they do all feel the irresistible urge to upgrade to Microsoft's shiny new offering then the Family Pack will be an excellent choice.

This deal may not be around indefinitely though as this Pack has been offered "While Supplies Last". Ina Freid from CNET spoke to a representative from the company about the matter as one would assume Microsoft would be in a position to make as many copies as they pleased. The representitive stated that the Family Pack was a new offer that they were testing although she would not elaborate on how limited it would be.

In related news, Windows seems to be looking to cash in on expected boom in ultra-thin market. Chief Executive Steve Ballmer has stated at Microsoft’s annual Financial Analyst meeting in Redmond, Washington that windows "Screwed up" by not offering low price laptops with more functionality than a netbook. Presumably he is referring to a new sub-group of laptops labelled ultra-thins. These computers are in the same category as netbooks but are catering for users who find the small keyboard and screen frustrating.

Steve Ballmer goes on to saying that windows revenues were damaged by offering a low priced version of XP for netbooks (they were initially shipping with Linux). Microsoft looks determined to cash in on the likely boom of ultra-thins with Windows 7 which will October in time for Christmas. Unfortunately netbooks are likely to increase in price with the release of Windows 7 as Microsoft looks likely to cut the low-cost XP.