Microsoft Windows 7 on USB Drives

When I received an email this morning about Microsoft using USB drives to release Windows 7, I thought I’d wait a while before posting it on the blog, but by now, I already 4 people break the news, so it’s going up.

As long as Microsoft can justify the cost of flash drives (which they can easily do by increasing the price of their software  by a few dollars), selling Windows 7 on USB drives is a great idea. Here is how they ought to do it (properly).

• Create a custom shaped USB drive (possibly in the shape of the new Windows 7 logo) and put some novelty aspect into it. The free PR alone should cover the extra cost.
• Make the USB drive an authentication tool (in addition to being the software delivery device). Have Windows 7 installation files reference a serial number on the USB drive. This will prevent piracy.
• Do the USB drives as a limited edition release. Don’t sell all versions on USB drives, just the premium one (with all the add-ons FREE, to justify higher price).

Here is the link to CNET [http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10273188-56.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20] who, I think, posted about this first.