Hey, for once the UK doesn't get left out of the discount hook-ups. Microsoft is making the full version of Windows 7 Home Premium available at half-price, about 65 pounds. The cheap pre-order deals the US had were limited to upgrade versions so the UK is getting a fine deal.

A full version of Windows Home Premium -- not an upgrade edition -- will weigh in at �65 (57 percent off), while in the U.S. the upgrade version alone costs $120 (�72). In the U.S. the full version costs considerably more -- $200 (�122).

As the UK is part of the European Union, this pricing may be extended to other parts of the EU, but it is unknown if Microsoft will do so. The version will be the full copy of Windows 7 and include Internet Explorer 8, included thanks to a last minute deal with the EU to include a browser ballot screen.

The full version of Windows 7 is the only one that can legally be installed without a valid copy of Windows XP or Windows Vista, which you own. For the vast majority of consumers this is a non-issue, especially considering that nearly all new computers are shipping with free upgrades to Windows 7. Also, the U.S. did get a special pre-order on Windows Home Premium Upgrades that dropped the price to $50 (�30.5), the cheapest price of all -- though that price was for the upgrades only.