Windows 7 Half the Price in the U.K.

For once, the U.K., which frequently gets the shaft in technology cost comparisons vs. the U.S., is going to do better than the U.S. Quite a bit better, at least for now, with C|Net discovering that they're getting a 50% price advantage on Windows 7.

Checking Amazon.com in the U.K., full versions of Windows 7 Home Premium will cost the equivalent of £65 ($107), while Americans will have to pay $200. That's a full version; even an upgrade version will cost more in the U.S., at $120 (£72).

Looking at Windows 7 Professional, the same discount percentage isn't offered, but there is a lower price in the U.K. A full version will cost $299 (£181) in the U.S., while it runs £129 in the U.K.

Why's this happening? It's unclear, C|Net's theory is that Microsoft is honoring its pricing for Windows 7E, which was cheaper because an upgrade wasn't possible. Of course, 7E has since been scrapped.