Trevin Chow

Starting Friday, June 26, 2009 you will be able to pre-order Windows 7 on Microsoft Store!  By being first to pre-order, you’ll get it for at least half off and be one of the first to get it. Quantities will be limited.*

How?

Windows 7 is coming on October 22, 2009 and it’s easy to get it fast and save a bundle on upgrades to Windows 7 Home Premium and Windows 7 Professional.

Pre-order either product at Microsoft Store starting tomorrow, and you’ll snag it for at least 50% off with Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $49.99 and Windows 7 Professional Upgrade for $99.99!

You’ll have 3 options for getting the product on October 22, 2009:

1. Download – the quickest and easiest way.
2. Download + Backup Disc – for those that want convenience of downloading, but also a physical disc to use later.
3. Ship the package product – we’ll ship you the fully packaged product on or about October 22, 2009.

All Windows 7 editions include both 32-bit and 64-bit regardless of whether you choose to download or the packaged product.  So techies, don’t worry, we have you covered

Want more info?

Go to the Windows team blog and find out all the details.

* The offer begins on June 26, 2009 and will continue while supplies last, or until July 11, 2009, whichever comes first.

TechCrunch recently launched Elevator Pitches, which is a sub-site featuring 60 second video clips of entrepeneurs pitching their startup idea.   Additionally, viewers can vote on ideas and even leave comments.  Utter genius! 

I’ve gone through about a half dozen videos so far and here are my initial thoughts:

1. If you can’t describe your business model and value in 60 seconds, then you’ve got real problems.
2. Most pitches are fantastically bad.  These guys need to both work on their public speaking skills and really go back to the drawing board and re-think some of their ideas.

A good business idea is more than just writing code.  You have to not only provide real value, but that value has to be understandable by customers.  The acid test is really the 60 second pitch – if it can’t be explained in 60 seconds, how are your customers ever going to understand it’s value?

So far, the absolute worst pitch video of the 6 I watched has got to be for Meebo:

Meebo is described as “live interaction for the web” and “it’s growing super fast and a fun company”.  I’m a big Meebo fan, but seriously, is that description even understandable?  It’s IM through your web browser buddy, geez.