Microsoft has confirmed officially that it is offering Windows 7 for as little as $29.99. The Redmond company emphasized that the offer is available only to eligible students, and it involves the upgrade flavor of Windows 7 Home Premium. In this context, the software giant is offering a considerable discount, as the product costs just $29.99 down from a total of $199.99, which is the full price of the retail box that general consumers will be able to buy come October 22nd, 2009.

“For a limited time, we are offering the LOWEST PRICE ($29.99 in the US) for Windows 7 exclusively to college and university students. This offer is perfect for students who are not planning to buy a new PC but want to experience all the benefits that Windows 7 will provide. To learn more about the offer and to check eligibility, students should visit www.Win741.com,” revealed Brandon LeBlanc, Windows communications manager on the Windows Client Communications Team.

And although Microsoft says that the special offering is live for a limited time only, the company is in fact allowing quite some elbow room to interested students. For students in the United States the $29.99 Windows 7 Home Premium is available for pre-order immediately, and it will continue to be so until January 3rd, 2010. But there are additional markets in which Microsoft will offer Windows 7 at a considerable discount to students.

“Students in the US can pre-order their copy of Windows 7 in the US starting today and students in the UK can pre-order their copy beginning on September 30th (pre-ordered copies will be available for download beginning October 22nd). Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Korea and Mexico can participate in this offer on October 22nd (Windows 7 GA). Windows 7 is easy to use and great to take on the go to class as well as staying in touch with friends and family via Windows Live,” LeBlanc added.

It is important to note that what students in the US will be able to purchase is the upgrade version of Windows 7 Home Premium. In this context, they need to already be running a genuine copy of Windows Vista or Windows XP.

“Windows 7 gives university students the tools they need [to] manage their work (including an easy to use design, the ability to easily connect to devices, and take on the go to class and the library), stay in touch with friends (with Windows Live Essentials) and have fun (including Windows gaming, Windows Live Movie Maker and Windows Media Center to interact with TV and movies),” LeBlanc stated.

Windows 7 RTM Enterprise 90-Day Evaluation is available for download here.