I have to say that I am not impressed with this presentation by Microsoft Saudi Arabia. Special thanks to @MarwanAlmuraisy for posting the video.
Microsoft is supposed to start a Windows 7 ad campaign this Wednesday, we will see how effective it is going to be.
Microsoft Windows 7 is now available in Saudi Arabia. The prices are (from Jarir Bookstore).
- Windows 7 Home Premium Full 469SR ($125).
- Windows 7 Professional Full 889SR ($237).
- Windows 7 Ultimate Full 949SR ($253). (thanks Zeyad).
These are full editions and not upgrades or OEM (system builder) versions. The full version of Windows 7 all allow you to choose between 32 and 64-bit, so you will get both in the same package.
Windows 7 OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) also known as System Builder is now available and can be found at computer hardware stores (Olaya computer market in Riyadh). OEM versions are available in 32 and 64-bit editions. So unlike the regular edition you need to choose when you buy it. The prices are:
- Windows 7 Home Premium OEM (32 or 64 bit): 460SR ($123).
- Windows 7 Professional OEM (32 or 64 bit): 565SR ($151).
- Windows 7 Ultimate OEM (32 or 64 bit): 765SR ($204).
Windows 7 Upgrade version is not available in Saudi Arabia at the moment.
Arabic version is not available until now, Jarir said maybe in 2 weeks. Also if it is like Windows Vista then you are forced to use one interface language (Arabic or English) with no ability to switch the interface language unless you have Windows 7 Ultimate. If this is true then it is an idiotic practice by Microsoft, they should support 2 languages in Saudi Arabia on all Windows editions.
Thanks @dubayan for the info.
Update: finally found the press release by Microsoft.
In a small event in Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, Microsoft Saudi Arabia has launched the company’s latest operating system: Windows 7. Microsoft Saudi Arabia’s “launch party” was a small press release attended by Samir Noaman, MS Saudi’s new CEO, Waiel Snosi, manager of MS Saudi sales and Sharif Morsi manager of Windows 7 marketing.
The launch event is very quiet compared to previous Windows operating system launches.
Microsoft Saudi Arabia is expected to launch a big Windows 7 advertisement campaign on October 28th in Saudi Arabia.
Via True Gaming.
Upgrading to Windows 7 is easy! Just follow this chart (via All things D):
Basically if it’s green then you can easily upgrade without altering your files (similar to a Mac OS X standard upgrade) and if it’s blue then you cannot easily upgrade over your files (think of it as Mac OS X archive and install option). If you want to have 2 interfaces (Arabic and English) then your only legal option is to buy the $330 Windows 7 Ultimate.
By the way if you did buy a Windows Vista based machine after a specific date you are eligible for a free/cheap upgrade to Windows7 and it’s valid in Saudi Arabia as well.
Microsoft released Maren for Windows. Maren is a keyboard add-on utility that converts Arabic text written in English to Arabic. For example I can write 5aled and get “خالد” (Khaled). Watch a short video demonstrating Microsoft Maren here.
This is not the first service. Google Labs have the “Google ta3reeb” service. Which is basically a dynamic text area that converts the text.
But before Google, Yamli was the first service as far as I know. They have an online editor was well.
Microsoft’s next operating system, Windows 7, has finally entered RTM (Release to Manufacturers) stage. But don’t expect the Arabic version until October.
Also remember that if you did purchase a qualified Vista machine then you might be eligible for a free (or cheap) upgrade option to Windows 7, and this will be valid in Saudi Arabia as well.
If you hope to have a dual language setup with Arabic and English then your only legal option is buy Windows 7 Ultimate Edition ($330). This has been the same since Windows Vista and Microsoft has no intent of allowing a dual language license for Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Arab World.
Update: Microsoft has updated the Windows 7 Upgrade Options page with information on participating vendors. You can change the region but Middle East – Arabic page is not available until now. Now the Middle East website is up. No real information though but if you bought a Windows Vista machine after June 25th then you are eligible for the “free” upgrade, keep the receipt.
You know how much I love Microsoft Zifta … I mean Vista. Windows 7 is a service pack for Windows Vista, it is the operating system that Longhorn/Vista was supposed to be.
As long as you purchase a Windows Vista based computer starting today June 26th 2009 you will receive a free upgrade to Windows 7. The actual details of this upgrade offer is “anyone who buys a PC from a participating OEM or retailer with Windows Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate on it will all receive an upgrade to the corresponding version of Windows 7 at little or no cost to customers.”
Via the Windows 7 blog, that offer is available until January 31st, 2010 and is global! Hopefully Microsoft Saudi Arabia will offer free upgrades to Windows 7.
Windows 7 is very cheap (ha ha). Upgrade editions are: Home Premium $119.99, Professional $199.99, Ultimate $219.99. The full versions of Windows 7 cost: Premium $199.99, Professional $299.99, Ultimate $319.99. That’s cheap compared to a regular Mac OSX price of $129.99 for all different editions.
One last point, Vista machines sold in Saudi Arabia (an Arabic speaking country) only offer 1 interface language (English) with no option of installing a free Arabic language file (LIP). The only options to get Arabic interface on a Windows Vista machine are: Buy another license of Windows Vista with Arabic interface, buy the Vista Ultimate for MUI support (Arabic MUI for Vista SP2 is not even out yet) or just pirate it. I have found another semi-legal method and if you are interested then feel free to ask me.
CodeBetter is a group of programmers who want to “raise software quality in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through sharing best practices related to different Application Lifecycle phases. Community target will be initially Microsoft technologies focus, upon the member’s feedback it can be stretched to other different technologies.”
They are having a CodeBetter June Public Event on Thursday, June 25th 2009 1:00PM at Al-Yamama University, Riyadh. Visit the event page for directions because as we know Google maps for Saudi Arabia is useless. The event will also introduce Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) for Agile Software.