http://www.trustedreviews.com/software/news/2009/05/01/Acer-Spills-Windows-7-Release-Date/p1

23rd October 2009

Talking to ZDNet Acer European President Massimo D'Angelo began the foot in mouth fun when discussing the company's new range of All In One PCs. In responding to the question of whether they would be ship with Microsoft's new OS he explained: "No, when it's in store it won't have Windows 7 pre-loaded. We won't be actually selling it a day before the 23rd October".

Perish the thought this could be considered ambiguous because Acer UK MD Bobby Watkins then told Pocket-lint: "23rd October is the date the Windows 7 will be available. There is a 30 day upgrade time so that customers don't wait to buy a new computer, so if you buy during that 30 day period, you'll get a free upgrade to Windows 7."

Microsoft have refused to comment

Hmm it could mean that Windows 7 is available 1 month after the 23rd? Or it could mean that you could buy a PC in September and get the free upgrade? Its hard to say either way really.

It's not clear. I'll just say that pre-release Fall may not be the best time to buy a new OEM PC if you're planning on using Windows 7 and don't want to have to pay again for it.

Until I heard the details on the free upgrade, I would assume nothing.

Funny thing is, Win 7 release may coincide with the release of OSX 10.6.

If some of the rumors of the next cycle MacBook Pros turn out to be true like mobile Core i7 (possible) or OLED displays (seems highly unlikely even with the LG contract to supply OLED panels to Apple recently signed), it will be a tough call for me to decide whether to go with another Apple laptop or something else running Windows 7.