At long last, Windows 7's public unveiling has arrived.

I've been covering Microsoft's new operating system for close to two years now, and it's actually hard to believe that the OS is finally on store shelves everywhere, ready for you to pony up and make the big jump into the future.

Now all eyes turn to the question of whether consumers are actually going to open their wallets and shell out what is really a pretty hefty investment for a puny DVD. And so far, the expectations look amazingly promising. Case in point: Amazon UK announced yesterday that Windows 7 had become its biggest pre-sale item of all time, grossing more revenue than any Harry Potter or Dan Brown book to date. 

In fact, according to Amazon only one product over the last three months -- Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol -- has even outsold Windows 7 on a per-unit preorder basis. But since that book costs just $16 and a copy of Windows 7 can run up to $300-plus a copy, that is still an incredible feat.

Need more Windows 7 excitement on launch day? Check out the new Microsoft Store, which has officially opened in conjunction with the Win7 launch. Not only is the company selling its own hardware and software products, it's also selling third-party computers, too, a first for Microsoft. A wide range of vendors are represented, and prices are generally in line with what you'll get from the manufacturer directly.

More errata for potential upgraders: If you're curious if your equipment and existing software are compatible with Windows 7, check out the new Windows Compatibility Center to find out what you should expect if you decide to go ahead and upgrade.

But hey, don't let me harsh your excitement with boring old work -- there's celebrating to do. Hopefully you're either hosting or attending a Windows 7 Launch Party as we speak! (Microsoft's vision of said party can be seen above.) Save some tequila for me, y'all!