Comments

1. Nick White

   
   Posted on: January 18, 2007 at 7:10PM  

   Hey Sephiroth:  there's no further discount offered for Beta testers; sorry, but that's not part of the program.  With resepct to support of Beta2 and other pre-RTM versions, we announced not long ago that we'll support these releases in English.  At the time we drafted the proviso you mention, we were unsure of having then ecessary resources to do this, hence the wording you've pointed out.

   http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2006/12/13/announcing-customer-preview-program-cpp-best-effort-support.aspx
2. davebee

   

   
   Posted on: January 18, 2007 at 7:38PM  

   Thanks Nick for clarifying this initiative.

   And rather than limit it to North America, I trust you will soon be able to announce it for other key countries - like us here in Australia.
3. michaelau

   
   Posted on: January 18, 2007 at 9:27PM  

   Can anyone please clarify if the upgrade editions of Vista can be used to clean install? In other words, can you install these editions of Vista on a formatted hard drive?
4. goldcoaster

   
   Posted on: January 18, 2007 at 9:55PM  

   Where is the support for other countries?

   Why is the Family deal only for US/ Canada and other countries need to pay full price?

   And if it does get released for Australia, make it equal to US$49 (aboutAUD$60) and not (I am betting) AUD$99. Vista pricing over here is already over the top with some version AUD$200 more than if bought in the US and posted over!!
5. Xepol

   
   Posted on: January 18, 2007 at 10:21PM  

   Gabriel -> your math is solid but based on a flawed premise.  Who wants 1 copy of ultimate and 2 copies of home premium.

   That would be 250+50+50+150+150, that's 650$, suddenly it isn't as attractive again.  And that is based on the concept that the upgrade version of vista ultimate is eligable.  I don't read this announement like that.  I read it as only offered with a FULL version of Vista ultimate, which quickly brings the price upto 900$.  Maybe MS should clairify here.

   And while they are at it, perhaps they could clairify why anyone would want a copy of ultimate and 2 copies of home instead of 3 copies of ultimate.

   If it was 50$ each for 2 copies of ultimate, then it would start to seriously average down the costs and make financial sense (the issue of buying vista itself making sense being a totally different topic)
6. Nick White

   
   Posted on: January 18, 2007 at 11:44PM  

   Hey Posted by michaelau:  the term "upgrade" means exactly that -- you need to have another Windows OS as a base from which to install these versions of the Windows Vista OS; IOW, a clean install will not work.
7. markm66

   
   Posted on: January 18, 2007 at 11:51PM  

   Pity Australia is left out of the deal oh we used to being neglected by Microsoft.
8. cwagz

   
   Posted on: January 19, 2007 at 12:23AM  

   Nick,

   Paul Thurrott's write-up states that the discount would apply for 2 additional Ultimate licenses @ $49 each.  "Customers who purchase Windows Vista Ultimate, the most expensive Vista version, at retail will be able to upgrade two more PCs in their home to Vista Ultimate for $49.99 each."  This contradicts what you have written... Could you please confirm?  Also, Windows Home Server looks really cool and I plan on buying the software once it it available.  Will machines on my network with Home Premium be less accesible by the WHS than a machine with XP Pro?  I am concerened about the lack of remote desktop in the Home Premium addition...
9. Nick White

   
   Posted on: January 19, 2007 at 12:42AM  

   Hey cwagz:  Paul is incorrect; the discount is for 2 copies of Premium if Ultimate is purchased first; Ultimate is not part of the upgrade benefits, although one could subsequently upgrade to Ultimate from Premium if so desired.

   I've been working with the parties responsible for this program since November, so I'm fully confident in this answer ;)
10. cwagz

    
    Posted on: January 19, 2007 at 1:10AM  

    Nick,

    Thanks for the reply... I figured you would be right on this, but I had to ask anyway.

    What do you think about Windows Home Server and Vista Home Premium?  I thought I read somewhere that in order to be able to use all of the WHS features the client machines would need to be XP Pro, Vista Business, or Vista Ultimate...  If Vista Home Premium will be able to use all of the WHS features then I will be picking up Vista Ultimate and the two discounted licenses on the 30th for sure!