Microsoft Windows 7 extremely popular before launch day

Windows 7 tops our pre-order list in UK, said Amazon

Windows has brought Amazon the most online  pre-orders in UK by Wednesday, a day before its official launch on Oct. 22.

Online retailer Amazon has received more pre-orders for Windows 7 than it did for 2008's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final installment in JK Rowling's seven-book series, and for Nintendo's popular games console, the Wii, , Telegraph said on Wednesday.

"The launch of Windows 7 has exceeded everyone's expectations, storming ahead of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the biggest grossing pre-order product of all time at Amazon.co.uk," Telegraph reported, citing Brian McBride, Amazon's managing director as saying. "Over the past three months, only Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol has sold more copies than Windows 7, which is an incredible achievement for a software product," he added.

According to McBride, demand for Windows 7 is still going strong in UK. Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade, Family Pack, is currently Amazon's best seller in the software category, based on pre-orders.

Amazon is promoting Windows 7 heavily, and is offering free Express Shipping. Early adopters, however, will have to pay $5.98 to receive the OS by Thursday, unless they are Amazon Prime members.

We can't wait for it - Beijing

Days before the launch of Windows 7, computer cities in Beijing have set up banners of the up-coming OS. Staff have been busy preparing the publicity material and stocking.

"We can't wait for it," said one salesperson in Hailong computer city in Beijing. " We hope that Windows 7 will bring jumpstart of sales."

"We believe Windows 7 will spur the growths of PC industry," said an insider from Lenovo.

Shen Zhenlai, global CEO of Asustek,  told Netease on Thursday that the release of Windows 7 is "an important milestone for PC industry", and he's "optimistic" of its release. Shen was in his visit to Beijing to promote Asustek's latest products, all of which have installed Windows 7. Shen said he is also using Windows 7, which takes less time to start up and more personal in experience.

Microsoft fans wait 80 hours for Windows 7 - Taipei

Windows 7, which brings touch-screen support and home network management to PCs, attracted Microsoft fans to wait for 80 hours in line before   the retail stores in Taipei, local media reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, the first seven  buyers will get Windows 7 Ultimate Package for free, while the first fifty buyers will get products worthy 5000 yuan. The rest of the top 500 buyers will have the opportunity to draw a lottery  of Acer Aspire Timeline 13.3.