Microsoft's European online store crashed yesterday under the load from customers eager to grab discounted copies of Windows 7.
UPDATE (17/7/9): Microsoft drops Windows 7 discounts
During the outage, the site displayed a message that said, "Due to the eagerly anticipated Windows 7 pre-order offer, we're experiencing a higher level of demand on our website than usual. This means you can't access the site right now and we're sorry about that".
Amazon UK store claimed that it had sold more copies of Windows 7 in the sale's first eight hours than it did in the 17-week run of a similar pre-order offer in 2006 for Windows Vista.
Microsoft is selling Windows 7E Home Premium in the UK for £49.99, a 67% discount from the list price of £149.99, and selling Professional for £99.99, 55% under the usual £219.99.
European customers will receive Windows 7 in special editions, dubbed 'E' for 'Europe', that have been stripped of Internet Explorer 8 (IE8). A month ago, Microsoft decided to remove IE8 from Windows 7 in an effort to head off EU antitrust regulators, who may still force the company to take more drastic measures.
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Comments
Dom said: Microsoft should have hosted their site on a Linux server - it probably wouldnt have crashed then -
Techie Tess said: Microsoft said from the outset that the 49 offer was both stock-limited and time-limited so its not a huge surprise The big surprise is that demand for a Microsoft OS was high in the first place
dave said: Well done microsoftlooks like you have screwed up again
rdave13 said: About time we had a chance to pay a fair price for a Microsoft OS in the UK although time limited
2bathred said: So I guess the pre release copies are all sold 7497p seems to be the set price now so I will wait and see if the Family 3 pack makes it to market otherwise Ill be sticking to Vista
tuttut said: How can you be that incompetent as an ICT company Please tell us that this is a marketing joke