Bring the Windows 7 Family Pack to Oz!

The big day has finally arrived and we Antipodeans have the good fortune (by way of being ideally situation right next to the International Date Line) to be amongst the first to witness the launch of Microsoft Windows 7.

Hurrah and huzzah, let wine flow and jubilation reign supreme. Actually it is pretty damn nice, and I’m convinced that Windows 7 is set to reshape the dynamics of the PC market. I’ve had access to the product via MSDN and TechNet for a few months and all my systems have been upgraded, and while I was one of those few (seemingly vanishingly few) people who had absolutely no problem with Windows Vista, Windows 7 is such a marked improvement – it’s a real joy to use. Anyone who has asked my advice about buying a new PC over the past few months has received the same message - “Wait until Windows 7 is released – you won’t regret it”.

But there is one teensy fly in the Windows 7 joy…

The one teensy fly in the ointment is that Aussie families (“Working Aussie Families”, as our Prime Minister would put it) won’t have access to the Family Pack – a licensing option which allows a household with three PCs to upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium. At present, this is available in other markets like the US with a view to bringing it to Australia (as well as other markets) if all goes well.

I have two problems with this. First, the Australian IT market is not a bastion of conservatism. We’re well known for large-scale uptake of brand-new technology (and hammering the c**p out of it if it doesn’t work), but the point is that if you want to test something, Australia is THE place to do it. Unfortunately we’re not a huge market so we tend to get overlooked, but the message should be “Bring us your brand new products if you dare…”

Second, Microsoft have made a VERY big deal about the connected nature of Windows 7, particularly HomeGroup. This is excellent technology, which allows multiple Windows 7 PCs which are connected on a “Home” network to seamlessly share data and media content, but to spruik this feature on one hand and then deny the licensing model which would make it financially viable is crazy.

So, it’s time to jump on the bandwagon and let Microsoft know that whether or not they are ready to bring Family Pack licensing to the Australian channel, we (their customers) ARE ready and want it now, now, now! Jump on to Twitter and send a message to Microsoft using the #Win7FamilyPackForOz hashtag – send it round to your friends and retweet like crazy. Let’s get the message out there!