To ensure Windows 7 was given more of a fighting chance than Vista, Microsoft dramatically reduced the cost of the Home Premium and Professional versions of their newest OS by a third on promotional copies sold on a "first come, first served basis while stocks last".
But the pre-order price shot up today at a majority of retailers, sitting at £80 after the promo £50 copies disappeared in a day or so.
The special prices ensured that Windows 7 quickly climbed to the top of Amazon's charts after it's release yesterday, with the online retailer claiming that Windows 7's sales outshined Vista's entire 17 week pre-order period in this one day.