Windows 7 is the net result of a lot of user feedback, including a staggering number of Beta testers and, of course, some extremely hardworking Microsoft engineers.  In Australia we will see the culmination of all that effort at the Australian launch event on October 22 2009.  By virtue of Sydney’s geography, it means we’ll be second in the world to launch Windows 7, just after New Zealand.

Microsoft Australia’s General Manager Tracey Fellows will be joined by James DeBragga (Global GM of Windows Product marketing) in taking journalists and social media enthusiasts through the product features of Windows 7 at the event.  The event will involve input from PC manufacturers and retailers who are excited about the launch.

We’re going to live stream the event via Ustream so it will open it out to everyone across Australia and for those keen enough to watch from around the world. You can follow the launch event here http://www.ustream.tv/channel/windows7au-launch 

If you’re out and about but want to keep track on your Windows Phone, you can follow the Windows 7 Twitter account http://twitter.com/Windows7AU with tweets on the speeches, photos from the event, and a hashtag (so you can keep track of all the conversations).

We’ve also started a Youtube channel at youtube.com/windows7au and a Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/Windows7AU  Become a fan and we will bring you regular updates on how Windows 7 can make your life easier. We want to hear from you – what features do you like? What are the challenges involved in upgrading your operating system? Start a discussion on our Facebook Page or write on the wall.

Don’t forget if you’re hosting a Windows 7 House Party, you can also upload your photos to your Facebook profile and tag them with @Windows7AU

If you missed out on a Windows House Party invitation but would still like to hold your own event, you can have a Windows 7 meet up. Have a look at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/meetup/default.aspx

It’s a step-by-step way of setting up your own event – and using your favourite social site to get it happening. There’s even a meet up event widget you can embed on your Facebook profile or blog which your friends can click on to get the details. When you create an invitation, be sure to tell your contacts to use the hashtag #Win7meetup when they Tweet or update their statuses in Facebook. And we’d love to see the photos or videos of your meet up! Share them with us in Facebook, on our Windows7AU page, or do a blog post and send us the link through our comments here or via Twitter.

If you’re already on Flickr, you can take photos of your event and upload them to Flickr. Tag them with Win7 or Win7meetup. If you’re on YouTube, tag your Windows 7 Party or Windows 7 Meet up videos with Windows7 or Win7meetUp. Whatever social platforms you use, we want to hear about your experiences.

Windows 7 is a result of all the people who’ve sent in their feedback. More than 500,000 have sent feedback reports, and it’s those reports that have helped build this new operating system.

We want to keep hearing about your experiences with Windows 7. Keep telling us how you use it.

Lisa Hickson - Marketing Lead, Consumer & Online, Microsoft Australia.