Microsoft is currently selling windows 7 home premium upgrade or Windows 7 Professional for only $29 electronic download. All you need is a valid email id that has .edu or a school or college id. go to www.win741.com. The offer is valid through jan 2010. They also have Office 2007 ultimate for $49

They are cashing to validate illegal copy of office professional with low price.

Some people are getting pop up every day when they  open MS word.

Syanjali good catch.

Also once Win 7 goes retail there will be folks who are gonna crack it anyway. The majority of people who used these cracked versions of any Windows software are students. That's why they want to sell it in such a way that it looks affordable to student. If they manage to make 50% of people who are going to download the cracked version of win7 via torrent in future to buy this software they will make good money. Good business policy I should say.

Also there is a way you can get win 7 for free if you are a student. But it depends on your school. Check this out.

http://www.msdnaa.net/search/schoolsearch.aspx

Just search for your school and click support. The name of a  person who is in charge of this school alliance should be listed there. Contact him for userid and pw and see what happens. I've seen couple of cases where it has worked but don't count on it.