Shown here is the official packaging / cover art / box of Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 7. According to The Windows Blog, they’ve made the package easy to open.

Make It Easy To Open

We’ve reduced the number of elements in the package down to three: the plastic case, the paper sleeve, and a simple Getting Started Guide. The plastic case opens easily like a standard DVD case and it will have a single easy-to-remove seal at the top – and that’s it!

Pricing information on the other hand, is quite confusing. If you want to get Microsoft Windows 7 on release day, October 22, 2009, be prepared to fork out the amounts shown below, depending if you need the full retail version or just the upgrade.

Pre-order prices are valid from June 26 to July 11, 2009 in North America. The Ultimate edition of Windows 7 is not offered as a pre-order upgrade. Home Premium can be pre-ordered for $49.99 while Professional can be pre-ordered for $99.99.

Finally, as a way of saying thank you to our loyal Windows customers, we are excited to introduce a special time limited offer! We will offer people in select markets the opportunity to pre-order Windows 7 at a more than 50% discount. In the US, this will mean you can pre-order Windows 7 Home Premium for USD $49.99 or Windows 7 Professional for USD $99.99. You can take advantage of this special offer online via select retail partners such as Best Buy or Amazon, or the online Microsoft Store (in participating markets).

This program begins tomorrow in the U.S., Canada and Japan. The offer ends July 11th in the U.S. and Canada and on July 5th for Japan or while supplies last. Customers in the UK, France and Germany, can pre-order their copy of Windows 7 starting July 15th and will run until August 14th (or supplies last) to ensure folks don’t miss out on this. Act fast if you want to be the first in line to get Windows 7 at this screaming deal! Note: The special low pre-order price will vary per country.

Apparently, accordingly to Engadget, HP and Sony will be offering free upgrades to Windows 7 for devices that are sold starting tomorrow June 26, 2009.

Update (July 15, 2009): UK discounted pre-order is now live!

[via The Windows Blog (1, 2)]