Are there any technical reasons why someone couldn't get a non-E version of Windows 7 from the US, and use it in Europe? Would it work properly, with no activation problems?

I can't give any official answer to that. But common sense tells me that my laptop won't change system and activation needs when travelling from one country or continent to another. If you got a product key for your non-E version, it should not matter where you put it in. You won't be able to use included support options, legal warranties and the like in countries where you didn't purchase the product, though.Mobile AMD64 3000+, VIA Apollo K8T800 chipset, 1 G RAM, ATIRadeonMobility 9700, 20x DVDRW, C:XPSP3 (55G),D:WIN7 (25G),F:DATA (250G)

not worried about that, as long as it works! I'll get a relative to ship one to me and the EU can kiss my butt :-)

Err why not just download the IE8 installer before you install Win7?

No need to worry about the EU version, they worked it out.BRUSSELS Microsoft Corp. will offer computer users a choice of Web browsers to ward off new European Union antitrust fines, EU regulators said Friday.http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hG2CfCNAqdPhFu-F-Ubnx7ZCBNhgD99KV5680

This is an interesting development, as there has been talk for months of having a special IE8-less EU version of Windows 7. If it is indeed included in the OS us Europeans won't need to worry about getting an import version.