Ends Oct 30: Win7 PCs, Laptops Heavily Discounted

It's the end of the line for Windows 7 -- sort of. After this Friday, October 31, Microsoft will no longer sell Windows 7 licenses to PC manufacturers, otherwise known as OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). That will force most PC makers to turn to Windows 8.1 -- at least, until Windows 10's release next year.

For businesses who don't appreciate Windows 8's main features -- like the Start screen, touch integration, and "Modern" (or "Metro") user interface -- there's some good news. Microsoft will continue to allow PC makers to produce Windows 7 Professional computers for enterprise users. Home users willing to pay an extra fee for Windows 7 Professional can also acquire it.

Limited Quantities: Windows 7 Home Premium, Ultimate Licenses

However, it's important to note that after October 31st most PC makers will no longer be able to install Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, or Windows 7 Ultimate licenses on new computers. (Source: pcworld.com)

It's worth noting that the Windows 7 Home Premium and the Windows 7 Ultimate discs are still available for purchase over Amazon.com -- but for how long, remains a mystery. Based on the news of Windows 7 OEM reaching its end of life, we expect that Amazon's offering (and similar) will be short lived. Looking back at past experience, prices for these hard-to-find discs will likely surge as stock becomes unavailable from various distributors, as was the case with the Windows 7 Family Pack discount announced a few years back.

That said, it's still not clear when Microsoft will stop allowing OEMs to install Windows 7 Professional on PCs, though experts believe the end won't come until after the release of the highly-anticipated Windows 10 (which is currently in its Technical Preview stage).

Businesses Likely to Bypass Windows 8 Altogether

It's widely expected that most businesses will completely bypass Windows 8, which many enterprise users believe puts too much emphasis on mobile computing, and wait for the release of Windows 10 before upgrading their systems.

But for many home users, news of Windows 7's demise will be a major disappointment. According to Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, it's already very difficult to find a Windows 7 PC at most vendors, such as Best Buy and Staples. "They are shipping a clear majority of their consumer PCs with Windows 8 already," Moorhead said.

OEMs Upset About Shift to Windows 8

Stephen Baker, an analyst at NPD Group, says many manufacturers will be upset about the October 31st cutoff.

"I think the OEMs are sad about this," Baker said. "The ability to provide Windows 7 Home has provided a nice incremental sales opportunity to those who were nervous or unhappy about Windows 8, especially for the desktop market where Windows 7 has proven to be a nice alternative to Windows 8." (Source: pcworld.com)

Windows 7 Laptops, PCs Heavily Discounted Until Oct 30

If you're one of those people upset about Microsoft's shift towards Windows 8, take note: Dell is currently offering major discounts on Windows 7 PCs through Thursday, October 30. The campaign, which Dell calls "Windows 7 for the win", features discounts up to 30 per cent off the regular price. That includes a 15-inch laptop for $399 (26 per cent off) and a 17-inch notebook for $899.99 (21 per cent off). (Source: computerworld.com)

As of this moment, other major PC retailers, such as Lenovo or Hewlett-Packard, have not announced similar deals for Windows 7 PCs. But, we've managed to find a few links to Windows 7 desktop PCs at Amazon.com offering some good incentive. If you need help with any recommendations at Amazon, you can chat with Dennis using the Zopim chat service (located at the bottom left hand corner of the screen).

What's Your Opinion?

Are you upset about the October 31st cutoff date for Windows 7? Would you be interested in a heavily-discounted Windows 7 PC? Do you believe Microsoft will make up for its Windows 8 mistakes with Windows 10?