Windows 7 - For Those With volume licensing and software assurance

[David]

You will get it early too, for free!

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/windows7/archive/2009/07/21/when-will-you-get-windows-7-rtm.aspx

For Business Customers:
If you are a Volume License (VL) customer with an existing Software Assurance (SA) licenseyou will be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 7th via the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). The rest of the languages for Windows 7 RTM should be available within a couple of weeks after that.
Volume License customers without a SA license will be able to purchase Windows 7 through Volume Licensing on September 1st as we announced last week at WPC09. Mark these dates on your calendar and start making your deployment plans!

I'm not totally sure whether you need XP/vista software assurance or just any software assurance though, anyone know?

 

[Initiale]

If you already have OS through it then you'll get volume licence keys for 7 so you can start to use it when the download site is up.

 

[ChrisR]

Yup as chap above says if you have an OS with SA you're good to go with this. As for it being free, that's the point of paying the 'extra' for SA, you get version upgrades included.

Our enterprise agreement will cover us so will have a play with it soon

 

[David]

we have server OS SA but i'm not sure if thats gonan cover us?

 

[Scottydog]

I iz SA license.

Will be getting 'Windows 7 Enterprise'

Brilliant.

 

[Initiale]

we have server OS SA but i'm not sure if thats gonan cover us?

Don't think so, likely only to cover Windows Server 2008 and the previous and next versions.

 

[ChrisR]

we have server OS SA but i'm not sure if thats gonan cover us?

No it won't. SA covers you for versions within that prodict line.

So you're ok to install server OS up to 2008 if you have SA on it.

 

[rctempire]

Technet and MSDN will cover this too.

Speaking of which the RC is pretty good, under 30 seconds to boot, however a few flaws with it.

Feel sorry for people with vista, who are buying right now, with no downgrade rights or upgrade rights.

 

[TimMB]

Wohoo! I've got my copy of Enterprise.

 

[pablo_ni]

installed Ultimate from MSDN. I had to go find drivers! In this day and age. Vista worked out of the box all I had to do was enter the wifi password.

 

[ChrisR]

Didn't need any drivers for my Windows 7 installs, been impressed with it so far coming from XP.

 

[Scottydog]

We have Windows 7 Professional after all that. Just creating images for Deployment

 

[Initiale]

Downloaded 7 Pro over the last couple of days from MS. Seems OK, no slower than Vista, perhaps less bloated in fact. The Action Pack versions just come with IE8 built in, so no messing about luckily.

Just had to hack about with Dell drivers to get rid of exclamation marks in the Device Manager though. One machine done, four to go...