In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few months, Microsoft are gearing up to launch the next version of their desktop OS, Windows 7.

For a limited time you can get it from select resellers at the discounted pre-order price of £49.99 for Home Premium and £99.99 for the professional edition.

If you’re wondering what the difference is, Paul Thurrock over at WinSuperSite has done a pretty thorough comparison of the different editions. For most of us the extra networking capabilities of Professional won’t make a difference but the inclusion of a licensed copy of XP (for use in the funky new compatibility mode) might just make the extra £50 worthwhile.

If XP mode isn’t important to you then £49.99 sounds like a bargain so head over to your favourite e-tailer and snap up your copy. A list of participating vendors is available from the Microsoft UK pre order page.