Start your gift list with saving money
Family Pack: Windows 7 Family Pack is available this holiday season for purchase at participating retailers and online at the Microsoft Store. Purchasing the Windows 7 Family Pack gives you three upgrade licenses of Windows 7 Home Premium for the low price of $149.99. Supplies are limited, so don’t delay.
Free Webcam (Available Dec. 5-25):
This holiday season, when customers buy a Samsung QX410 fully loaded with Windows 7 they will get a free Lifecam Studio. This HD webcam is the perfect accessory for those who want to make great videos and connect with loved ones far away with vivid sights, sounds, and colors of real life with HD video. This offer is available only through Best Buy.
A PC for Everyone on Your List—Once you’ve found the perfect PC, keep reading for some great ways to use the free Windows Live Essential tools for even more giving ideas.
For the Dad in Your Life: He’ll definitely want to get his hands on the beautifully designed Samsung Storm notebook. With a 640 GB hard drive, 4GB of memory and a sleek aluminum case, this PC has everything he needs. Starting at $899. Also, if dad’s into super-speedy streaming media, we recommend the HD-optimized Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d.
Price starting at $899.99.
On-The-Go Gal: The Toshiba R705 is the lightest full feature laptop out there! Weighing in at just a hair more than three pounds, this PC is a great option for someone who is always on the go, but doesn’t want to sacrifice power for portability. Price starting at $889.99. Check out the Acer Aspire Timeline 3810t for another ultraportable, energy-conscious notebook. Price starting at $722.99.
For the Space-Conscious College Student: The Dell XPS 14 offers high performance and multimedia with great entertainment features in the convenience of a laptop. The prefect gift for a new college student looking to conserve space in their dorm room without sacrificing entertainment quality, this PC does movies, music and TV. And don’t worry mom, it’s great for homework too. Price starting at $899.99.
Fashion Forward Families: The multi-touch Sony VAIO J all-in-one PC will turn heads. Price starting at $1049.99. Also, for the fashionable family who needs a portable PC with entertainment options, take a look at the HP Pavilion dv6t. Packed with an HD screen and Beats Audio, these PCs are a virtual theater on the go. It’s a family’s entertainment dream. Price starting at $649.99.
For the Person Who Has Everything: Netbooks are amongst the hottest items to have this holiday season. For the person who has everything, wow them with a Gateway LT2104u. This tiny but powerful PC is affordable and fun. Price starting at $329.99.
For the Tech Savvy Momma (That’s you!): If she’s got sleek, Mad Men style be sure to check out the ASUS U43 Bamboo. By incorporating natural, sustainable bamboo into the case, ASUS has taken creative, arresting design to a new level. On a practical level, the U Bamboo also features a long- life battery, and it’s powerful enough for work and play. Starting at $999.99.
Headphones Always On: A premium, high-end PC like the HP ENVY 14 Beats Edition is your best bet for the music-lover on your list this year. All other music junkies will be out classed and out done by the Beats Audio™ inside giving them outstanding digital music playback. Price starting at $999.99.
For the Gamer in Your Life: The Alienware M15x is one of the best PCs for a serious gamer. Even though it is a portable 15”, it is one of the world’s most powerful gaming laptops. Pricing starting at $1,199.00.
Affordable Gifts with a Personal Touch
For those who are looking for a customizable and inexpensive gift with a personal touch, check out the variety of tools Windows 7 gives you to make your holiday gift something special.
Stay Connected: Windows Live Messenger is one of the world’s most popular ways to stay in touch. With over 303 million active users every month, you’ll likely find this is the perfect tool to reach out to your loved ones. With HD video chat and Facebook integration, Windows Live Messenger now give you even more ways to know what’s happening across the globe and down the street.
Update the Family Portrait: Give your parents an updated family portrait where everyone looks their best. Using Photo Fuse, part of the free Windows Live Photo Gallery, snap three pictures of your family, combine your favorite looks from each and create the final photo where everyone’s smiling, eyes open and looking great. Capturing the perfect family photo just got easier!
Make a Movie in Minutes: Grab your flip camera and create a special video just for mom and dad. Windows Live Movie Maker is a free, easy and fast way to turn photos and videos into great-looking movies that you can share on YouTube or burn to a DVD. In just few clicks your movie will be complete with titles, captions and a soundtrack. Your parents will be so proud to know they have the next Sofia Coppola in the family!
Personalize Mom’s or Dad’s PC: If your parents spend a lot of time looking at the computer screen, then why not personalize it with a collage of family photos. With Windows 7, you can change the desktop background, window border color, sounds, and screen saver to suit your parent’s style—by creating their very own theme and the best part? It’s totally free!
Say Cheese: Take a picture of yourself holding a big piece of paper saying “I LOVE YOU” in front of your favorite hangout spot. In just a few clicks, you can upload your picture to Windows Live Photo Gallery where you can add the final touch using tools like Retouch to correct any imperfections, tag it, and then send it to your boyfriend’s Facebook page or print online and put it in a frame. If you want to get really creative, take a series of photos and create a slideshow using Windows Live Movie Maker.