According to ZDNet's Ed Bott, the retail version of Windows Vista will include four of the OS's
six-plus flavors on a single DVD. The versions included on the DVD will be Vista
Business, Home Basic, Home Premium, and Ultimate, and which version gets installed depends on how much the purchaser
spends and what product key they use to install Vista. This is a good move on Microsoft's part because it prevents
retailers from having to stock four versions of the same product and promises an easy upgrade scenario called Windows
Anytime Upgrade. If a user has Vista Home Basic installed and wants to upgrade to Premium, for example, they can just
buy a product key for an upgrade fee and install the beefier version of Vista from the disc they already have. Perhaps
not so good for Microsoft is the fact that it's going to take hackers a couple weeks, tops, to figure out how to get
those upgrades for free. However, Microsoft is used to piracy and has no doubt made ample room for it in its business
model, so I doubt we'll see Redmond struggling at the hands of such hackers any time soon.
Tags: basic, commercial, flavors, home, osupdates, premium, ultimate, upgrade, vista, windows
Facebook Plunges Again
Tumblr 101: Tips And Tricks To Get Started
Comments
9
Subscribe to commentseComMar 1st 2006 10:36AM
Instead of making "flavors" make OpenGL and DirectX 9 to work as they should, without emulation.
KentMar 1st 2006 11:29AM
so any chance you can downgrade too? Get some cash back when you decide you don't actually need all that extra gumpf in the ultimate edition you originally bought?
Didn't think so...
DiddleMar 1st 2006 12:46PM
LOL - that would be so un-Microsoft!
RickMar 1st 2006 1:06PM
How's that going to work exactly? If they only stock one product, which key comes with it? Do you get a home basic key and then have to upgrade after you install? I'm not sure stores would enjoy only having the profits from the lower priced version, and letting microsoft have all the rest of the money. And I'm not too keen one shelling out more cash for a product I just bought.
RickMar 1st 2006 1:06PM
How's that going to work exactly? If they only stock one product, which key comes with it? Do you get a home basic key and then have to upgrade after you install? I'm not sure stores would enjoy only having the profits from the lower priced version, and letting microsoft have all the rest of the money. And I'm not too keen one shelling out more cash for a product I just bought.
JnettyMar 1st 2006 2:44PM
#5
Good point.
What are we going to do, pay $1 for the box and get home and call Microsoft or pay online for the product we want and then we get the key?
Doesn't make sense? You still would have several version on the shelf with different keys even if the box look the same.
I guess Microsoft could save money by using the same style boxes and just adding a sticker saying, Home Basic, Ultimate etc.
ryanMar 3rd 2006 2:28AM
what if instead of buying the dvd you get it for free when you buy a cd key? and what if instead of using a traditional typed key a usb memory key type thing could be used at some point during the install the key could be used to unlock the software if nothing else this could cut down on piracy?
djamellAug 22nd 2008 4:53PM
all windows vista in one disc is super
jose leonelAug 20th 2006 9:39PM
es el mejor windows que hay por lo momentos