via Lifehacker by Kevin Purdy on 1/7/09
The Tech ARP web site nabbed a draft "Technical Guarantee Program" from Microsoft that implies anyone buying a PC from major vendors after July can receive a Windows 7 upgrade for free.
Microsoft wouldn't confirm, but didn't truly deny, the implied upgrade program when Microsoft watcher Mary Jo Foley asked. And an official release date, isn't set for Windows 7, though Foley hears third quarter 2009, and Microsoft will only officially say early 2010. So new PC buyers might want to hold off if they're geeked for a fixed-up Vista—depending on one's faith in Microsoft ship dates, of course.