Smarter Geek

In the past couple of days a few new PC products have been appearing on the shelf just in time for Christmas. If you are wondering what to buy that computer geek in your life then below are a few gift ideas:

Bamboo Input Device

This is a really good way to touch enabled you desktop computer with out having to replace your monitor. I recently bought a Dell 21.5” Multi-touch monitor and while the screen it self is very nice having a touch interface on a traditional sit down desktop computer is just not very practical as you quicker get tired arms and you are forever pressing in the wrong sport because you can see where you are touching because your finger in are in the way. Well i reckon this is a much better (and cheaper way) to touchify your computer… The Bamboo Touch does supports Windows 7 but also support Vista and XP so this should please pretty much any Windows PC user. However to really take advantage of the touch input Windows 7 is recommended.

You can buy it now from Harvey Normal for $99.95

See Bamboo Touch for more information

Microsoft LifeCam Cinema

If you are like me and you now use Skype to call you family and friends when you are away for work then you will know how frustrating it is to only be able to see them via a really grainy image. Well Microsoft have now released the LifeCam Cinema (a.k.a. Microsoft HD Web Cam) that will transmit 720p 30fps video (depending on bandwidth). This has only just

Get it now from Harvey Norman for $169.95

See LifeCam Cinema for more information

Windows 7 Family Pack

Now if you have a geek that you want to buy something for it is very likely that they have more than one PC in their home so all this is defiantly the deal for them. This limited time offer give you three licences of Windows 7 Home Premium for $247 total. Which works out to be $83 per copy or a massive 51% off the RRP of a single copy. Also this is a limited time offer so definitely buy it soon as they have just stopped selling it in the USA so i expect this offer will only last until January at the latest.

Get it now from OfficeWorks for $247.00

See Windows 7 Family Pack Limited Pilot now Available in Australia for more information.

Disclosure cmp.ly/0/llruwy

The hunt continues…

Just visited the local the Milton OfficeWorks and I asked an assistant if they had any copies of the Windows 7 Family pack for sale. He  informed me that they had some copies out the and the back and he would grab me a copy. Well after a few minutes he came back and spoke to the duty manager after which he told me all they had was the display boxes. But then he said that it would be for sale on December 9th. I was able to see a display box for the product which looked fairly similar to the standard Windows 7 box except it was double the width. Obviously the double width box is only a marketing thing as the Windows 7 family pack DVD is identical to the normal version with the only difference being the registration key.

So on Monday Microsoft said previously posted ( Windows 7 Family Pack Limited Pilot now Available in Australia) that the Windows 7 Family Pack will be “available in time for Christmas” but they didn’t specifically mention a date it would be on sale. Well if i had to make a bet then I say that there Microsoft has embargoed the sale for Windows 7 Family Pack until Wednesday December 9th maybe to co-inside with and advertising launch.

I will keep you informed when I spot a copy in the wild…

Back when Windows 7 launched on October 22nd there was an Australian Consumer/Press launch event in Sydney to show case how awesome the product was and from all accounts the event went really well. But… They then opened up the floor to questions and got hammered that there is no Windows 7 family pack licensing in Australia. The response to all this was along the line of “we will look into it” but I don’t think anyone was expecting much when they left the event.

Well it is only 5 weeks later and Microsoft have announced that you will be able to buy the Windows 7 Family pack for a “limited” time in Australia. This is good news (even thought it will be for a limited time) as you are going to be able to pick up 3 copies of Windows 7 Home Premium for $249au total. At $83au for each copy of Windows 7 Home Premium it works out to be a saving over over $85au per copy (or more that 50% off)…. Nice…

Note: I visited OfficeWorks today and they did not have any copies of Windows 7 Family pack on the shelves. This could be because they are offering Wireless Comfort Desktops Keyboards for anyone who had already paid full price for 3 copies of Windows 7 before tomorrow. So I will check again tomorrow to see if they have any stock…

Windows 7 Australia Blog : Windows 7 Family Pack Limited Pilot now Available in Australia