Free or discounted Vista upgrade, a good stocking stuffer
Everyone who buys a PC after October 28th (as the rumor goes) will get either free or discounted Vista next year. Press releases indicate that anyone who buys a new computer with Windows XP Pro, XP Tablet PC, or XP 64-bit edition will be able to upgrade for free, and only those with Windows XP Home will have to pay a reduced rate (merely $49 fro Basic, $79 for Premium) to upgrade to Vista. This is good news both for consumers, for holiday computer sales, and for Microsoft also. Heck, I am even much more likely to buy a PC ready for Vista, knowing that I won't have to bite another bullet next year and pay full Vista price. Microsoft so far is not disclosing details except that they are "working with partners."
