Please MS No more of those HUGE plastic boxes for W7

I like those boxes! Looking forward to getting my black ultimate one

i think the purpose for them to distribute the big box was to earn extra buck from you guys since they charge for design too. That's their way to earn more more more.

I think the purpose is to discourage shoplifting. Those people who insist Windows7 should be free would love a pocketable package.

I love these huge boxes, they indicate how powerful Windows is!

The discussion of package design usually revolves around hardware products, such as the recent move by CPU cooler manufacturer Spire to more recyclable cardboard boxes, or TrickleStar's announcement that it's products would come in slimmer boxes. Now CNET's Ina Fried points us to the recent announcement by Microsoft about pricing for Windows 7. The inexpensive upgrade options are certainly the main message Redmond wants to convey, but the company also mentions more ecofriendly package design for its forthcoming operating system Windows 7. According to Microsoft, "The plastic case protecting the Windows 7 disk is lighter and is recyclable. The packaging itself has a 37% weight reduction and the econometrics score has improved by 50% over it's predecessor.

Microsoft also claims to have made the package easier to open; based on my experiences with those Vista packages, it would be hard to make it any more complex, frankly. MS notes that "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!"

Good start, guys. I'm all for the rumored delivery on USB key, too, but really, this is just software. Can't we download at a discounted rate and skip the box entirely?