Impending postal strike means early Windows 7 for some Brits

While some people still think Windows 7 could be a big ol' flop (hello, Randall C. Kennedy), Microsoft is doing everything it can to make sure launch day is a smashing great success.
In the UK, that has meant moving ahead shipments of preorders so customers receive their copies before a possible postal service interruption occurs. As it turns out, Royal Mail workers have pegged October 22nd as the start date for a 48-hour strike.
Microsoft told The Register "[We are] aware of the planned postal strike and has taken action to minimise impact on those customers who pre-ordered their copies of Windows 7. As a result, some customers may receive their copy of Windows 7 a day or two early."
A nice side effect? Enthusiasm.
Nothing gets people worked up about a preorder item like receiving it a few days early. Even if that wasn't an intended result, getting the OS to a few customers in advance of launch day is sure to add to the Windows 7 buzz.
In the UK, that has meant moving ahead shipments of preorders so customers receive their copies before a possible postal service interruption occurs. As it turns out, Royal Mail workers have pegged October 22nd as the start date for a 48-hour strike.
Microsoft told The Register "[We are] aware of the planned postal strike and has taken action to minimise impact on those customers who pre-ordered their copies of Windows 7. As a result, some customers may receive their copy of Windows 7 a day or two early."
A nice side effect? Enthusiasm.
Nothing gets people worked up about a preorder item like receiving it a few days early. Even if that wasn't an intended result, getting the OS to a few customers in advance of launch day is sure to add to the Windows 7 buzz.












Comments
7
Subscribe to commentsDaveOct 20th 2009 12:17PM
Awesome! I'm off work tomorrow, I'll keep an eye out for the postman.
MalteserrOct 20th 2009 12:26PM
Lucky lol, I still have to wait until November 4th (estimate) for my copy from Amazon.co.uk to arrive.
Sam JordanOct 20th 2009 12:27PM
I got the student pricing, £30 is an awesome price. They haven't emailed me saying they've shipped it yet, but we'll see.
Hope bloody Royal Mail doesn't delay my install!
kombat wombatOct 20th 2009 2:29PM
Just FYI it's not a 48 hour strike. From BBC News:
22 October: Limited processing, movement and collection of mail
23 October: Limited delivery and collection of mail
Some managerial staff and contract drivers will be brought in to move mail but services will be "very limited"
Special Delivery and Royal Mail Tracked items will still be delivered on strike days
Post Office branches will be open as usual although collections will be affected
Parcelforce will operate as normal as it has its own collection, distribution and delivery network
SiOct 20th 2009 4:40PM
Got mine in the post yesterday and thought that it had something to do with the impending postal strike...
RelequestualOct 20th 2009 5:56PM
I got mine on the 17th or may have even been the 16th!
As a University student, I can now get it for free (legally I will add via MSDNAA), and will be selling my pre order on to my family :)
dominicneagleOct 21st 2009 9:41AM
Pre-ordered my copy from Dabs weeks ago, but I'll bet the package I've got waiting at home for me isn't Windows. I'd love it if it was, of course, but it's unlikely!
Why don't they ship all pre-orders early so as to make ure everyone gets their copy ON release day?!? Otherwise there's not a lot of point in ordering early - you might just as well pop into a shop and buy it.