I’m impressed with Windows 7. After running the beta for months I’ve discovered it’s everything Windows should be. Sure there are a few niggles – but that would be true of any plausible alternative.

I was so impressed I decided to buy the operating system upgrade. Imagine my surprise when I discovered Dick Smith lists the Windows 7 Ultimate and Professional upgrades at $499 each.

The price is ridiculous. The same Dick Smith has notebook computers with Windows 7 installed starting at $899 – that’s notebook not netbook.

OK. I understand the $899 might not ship with Windows 7 Professional – but that’s not the point. For just $400 more than the cost of a software upgrade I can have a spanking new, faster computer. The cheapest netbook on sale in New Zealand is $425 – just $25 more than the upgrade to Windows 7 Professional.

If I got to Digital Shop I can buy a desktop for just $487.64 with Windows 7 Professional installed.

That’s right. In effect I can pay just $87.64 for a new computer. It’s not that bad either.

So here are my choices:

1. Buy a new PC with Windows 7 Professional. Throw my existing, perfectly serviceable machine into a landfill. Have a better computer experience but stop sleeping at night because I’m destroying the planet.

2. Revert to Vista or XP. This costs nothing – but will give me a slightly more annoying computer experience than at present.

3. Look once again at Linux.

What would you do?

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