We've already seen the Windows 7 box art following leaks in recent months, but Microsoft is now officially showing off the design and providing a look inside the weird-shaped packaging.
A unique colour is associated with each of the three "main" editions, and Microsoft claims it designed the packaging by listening to what its customers wanted - namely a simple clean design that's easy to open and reduces waste.
It's certainly simple as it consists of just four main parts - the plastic case, a paper sleeve, a getting started guide and the DVD disc. It opens like a standard DVD case and is sealed across the top.
Microsoft reckons the packaging is 37 per cent lighter than the Windows Vista design, and the plastic case is recyclable, too.
It's clean, it's simple, and yes it reduces waste. However, given that a Windows release tends to come around only once every few years, we were kinda hoping for at least a few bells and whistles. Microsoft, it seems, is going to continue to let its software do the talking.
In related news, Microsoft has also announced that it will cease to offer downloads of the Windows 7 Release Candidate on August 15th. If you're still using the Beta, make the switch to Release Candidate before that pesky two-hour reboot kicks in on July 1st.
