Windows 7 $29.99!

I was a little surprised to hear this as well, but apparently the deal is legit.

If you are a current US college student with a valid student email, then you are eligible to purchase Windows 7 (home premium?) for $29.99. Link to http://www.win741.com/ HERE .

For those of you who don't know Windows 7 will be released on October 22, 2009 and this program gives you a digital download of the operating system on or about that date.

It is a digital version just to be clear so no physical copy, however, for an extra $5.95, you have the option to buy a digital backup should you need to re-install the operating system.

Over all not too shabby if everything works as advertised, fingers crossed!

Update: 10-25-09 Problems abound with student Windows 7 install according to Engadet's piece on the issue. They've got a couple of helpful links to those of you who have had problems installing the new OS.
Microstoft help forum thread

It seems that the problem is the lack of an ISO file and a lack of clarity as to whether or not the $30 Student Offer is an "upgrade" only or if it can be installed from scratch.

Engadget has also updated their thread with the news that some users who are/have experienced problems can get a refund, so perhaps SOME good news.

I'm quite disappointed at this blatant example of ball dropping. The OS is decent, the idea was sound and this entire endeavor is now soured for many with a seemingly simple failure...

Update: 10-27-09, The FIX!
MS/ Digital River provide ISO file for 32bit XP/Vista to 64bit Windows 7 $29.99 student upgrade.

Well this is belated good news as the biggest pain in the rear was trying to turn the files provided by Digital River into an ISO file with which to install the 64bit Windows 7 on a 32bit machine. I myself could not get past the command prompts which kept erroring out on me for some reason. But it looks like all my fiddling will have been for naught as the Microsoft boys decided to do what everyone was asking for and provide the stinking ISO file.

This one has been unnecessarily stinky.

Further, I can only imagine about the the conversations between Microsoft and Digital River which must have been uber dramatic and undoubtedly full of verbal poo slinging.