777 copies of Windows 7 for Seven Houses, Netherlands, says Microsoft seven times fast

Not content with letting a good numeric opportunity pass it by, Microsoft Netherlands has announced that it'll be handing out up to 777 copies of Windows 7 to residents of the small town of Zevenhuizen, the name of which translates to "seven houses." The installation requirements are a bit peculiar, however, as Microsoft won't actually give you a disc, instead opting to either make you ship it to them or actually bring a technician to your house to do the dirty work. The offer isn't valid to Windows employees, those younger than 18 years, or people who use Macs or Linux machines as their primary computer -- however they prove that. Zevenhuizen residents who read Engadget (hallo!) can point their browsers to the read link for all the relevant details -- signups end tomorrow, and installations will occur from October 17th through October 23rd.

[Via Ars Technica]

[N900 Posted Oct 16th 2009 2:53PM]

Everyone needs something to complain about... =\

[tavisjohn Posted Oct 16th 2009 3:03PM]

I get it. I must be one of the few people who can see that not all FREE things are really free, or worth it. :p

[Dr Roetker Posted Oct 16th 2009 2:22AM]

"Because ofcourse nobody has more right to the first use [of windows 7] than the inhabitants of Sevenhouses"

You're damn right!

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 1:02PM]

indeed

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 2:49AM]

So if man is five, then the devil is six...

[MXY23 Posted Oct 16th 2009 11:48PM]

Isn't "777" an Aleister fnord Crowley book? You know, along the lines of "The book of lies" and the like? :)

Microsoft - What have you been dabbling in :)

Hail Eris!

[TheConfuzed1 Posted Oct 16th 2009 2:58AM]

Why are Mac users excluded?

I prefer Mac, but I am also a realist, and I understand that sometimes Windows is necessary. An Intel Mac allows you to have both, and makes for an awesome solution.

Sooner or later Microsoft needs to learn that they are a software company, and it shouldn't matter to them what hardware it is used on.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 5:05AM]

Good news, we do offer Mac users in Zevenhuizen the preasure of using Windows 7 on their machines. (This line was taken out of the registration proces a couple of day's ago). Tomorrow we will be going into Zevenhuizen en we love to install Windows 7also on the Mac machines of any Zevenhuizenaar!

[Bakaneko Posted Oct 16th 2009 3:04AM]

When Windows 9 comes out, they're planning on handing out nine rings containing the OS to various kings and rulers around the earth. However, deep in the volcanic vaults of Mt. St. Helens, one ring will be made with DRM keys to bind all the others to it...

So it'll be a bitch to re-activate if you ever have to re-install it on an upgraded machine.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 4:07AM]

BEST. Evar.

[daanriver Posted Oct 16th 2009 6:01AM]

MAN! I live so close to Zevenhuizen..
why not Rotterdam - Zevenkamp (also a seven)

[Alaind Posted Oct 16th 2009 7:06AM]

Holy macaroni !

Our offices are at 7777, 7th street !

Come on Microsoft ! Everyone that is related or has a "7" somewhere should be eligible !

Hey ! I also have a 7up can ! Wanna trade ?

[Andir Posted Oct 16th 2009 9:57AM]

Only if you commit all of the "7 deadly sins" beforehand...

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 7:16AM]

En ik die maar dacht dat er geen andere nederlanders op engadget zaten ;)

[stridermt2k Posted Oct 16th 2009 8:22AM]

Kittens, Cats, Sacks, Wives.

How many copies of Windows 7 are going to St. Ives?

[phoneloser Posted Oct 16th 2009 8:30AM]

7 deadly sins
7 ways to win...
7 holy paths to hell, and your trip begins.

7 downward slopes
7 bloodied hopes..
7 are your burning fires...

seven your desires.....

[Decoy Posted Oct 16th 2009 3:24PM]

Damn you! I was going to post that.

[Kabe Posted Oct 16th 2009 8:32AM]

First read 7 hours...

...instead of 7 houses. Could that be installation time then? *g*


Seriously:

Strange to exclude Mac and Linus users.
Do they fear competition that much?

Kabe

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 9:21AM]

No exclusion of Mac users, we are happy to install Windows 7 on their machines. (Was an error in the initial registration form)

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 9:06AM]

I have all seven sins. Can I get one copy?

[henryhbk Posted Oct 16th 2009 9:29AM]

" instead opting to either make you ship it to them or actually bring a technician to your house to do the dirty work"

So, to make sure when they ask "So how did your upgrade go?" the answer will always be "perfect" to avoid the bad press of the installs of Vista at rollout. Uh, no kidding.

They'll be able to claim "We upgraded 777 people in a town as an experiment, and nobody had installation problems. Even non-techies!". Well, you mean a bunch of highly trained technicians, doing this with a good backup before upgrade, did an upgrade, installed the latest drivers for all your stuff, and restored your data and it worked...

[stridermt2k Posted Oct 16th 2009 9:39AM]

Multiples of seven?

Why, that's just multiplying by seven!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kayb743y6jY

[Nicnac Posted Oct 16th 2009 10:52AM]

Wait.... Microsofties in here are actually defending the OS being installed without giving the user MEDIA... WOW, just wow.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 1:02PM]

yeah

[Decoy Posted Oct 16th 2009 3:25PM]

The Wow started a few years ago.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 6:03PM]

....

It's....free....


A lot of OEMs don't include the installation disk either, just a recovery disk (which you can make yourself).

[vickypollard Posted Oct 16th 2009 10:52AM]

"Krijg ik ook de officiële Windows 7 installatie DVD?

Ja, je ontvangt een originele Engelstalige Windows 7 Ultimate installatie DVD met een licentiecode. Deze is geschikt voor een installatie op 1 pc."

Translates to:

"Will I receive an official Windows 7 installation DVD?

Yes, you will receive an original English Windows 7 Ultimate installation DVD, including a product key. This is suitable for installtion on 1 PC."


There's also a question saying "I'm satisfied with my current version of Windows. Will I receive money if I don't participate?"
lol

[berbar Posted Oct 16th 2009 11:38AM]

And I'll keep asking. Where is the $150 Windows 7 Family Pack? Is not in Microsoft's Windows 7 official website, and is not in major online retailers. Was it all a lie?

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 5:59PM]

No, it was a limited quantity offer, if I'm not mistaken.

[Wwhat Posted Oct 16th 2009 9:09PM]

'commercial non-actuated truth', not a lie.
MS doesn't lie, they would never claim silly stuff like that vista was all new and wasn't based on XP and had billions of developer hours for instance, never ever, and why not? Because surely the intelligent people of planet earth would never be fooled by lies.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 16th 2009 11:19PM]

@Tsing Tao
What was that? I cant read your comment...