Windows 7 family pack confirmed

Microsoft has confirmed that it will offer a ‘family pack’ for Windows 7 that can be used on up to three PCs.

The software maker acknowledged the move as part of a blog entry. However, it still isn't saying how much it will charge for the family pack, which allows three installations of the home premium version of Windows 7.

The move was hardly a surprise, after Microsoft included references to the family pack as part of licensing terms in a test version of Windows 7 that leaked onto the Internet.

Windows users have been calling for a family pack since before Windows Vista, and Apple has offered a family pack for Mac OS X since 2002. With Vista, Microsoft had a promotion for a time that allowed those who bought a copy of the Ultimate edition to buy up to three copies of Home Premium at a discount. Apple's family pack covers up to five machines.

Earlier this month, Microsoft ran a deal where you could order Windows 7 Home Premium for £50, but that deal has ended.

Those who bought Windows Vista Ultimate complained that so far Microsoft has yet to offer a discounted way for them to move to Windows 7 Ultimate, feedback that Microsoft has said it is taking under consideration.

Microsoft is expected to announce by the end of July that it has finalized the code for Windows 7. The blog posting on Tuesday discussed the so-called "release to manufacturing" process but did not offer any update on the timing of that stage.