David Flynn26 April 2007, 2:28 AM
Microsoft is offering just about anyone 'special' upgrade pricing for Vista now. Hasanyoneactually paid the full ticket price for Vista?
 Crazy prices: everything Vista must go! |
Windows Vista is starting to look like those Persian rug stores which are always having a 'closing down' sale. 'Full' prices are set laughably high only to make you think you're getting an amazing discount, because
no-one pays the marked price. All stock has been slashed, save $$$, why pay more?
The latest from Sultan Bill's House of Software is that anyone running any pre-release version of Vista code -- from the creaky Beta 2 to the slicker Release Candidate builds and assorted Customer Preview Program (CPP) editions -- is eligible for upgrade pricing on the full version of Vista.
It's the silver lining on the cloud for anyone still using pre-release code, which was made widely available during the long run-up to last year's launch of the uber-OS but stamped with a use-by date of May 31st, 2007.
Microsoft says that users of those builds will "begin to receive warning notifications about the upcoming expiration on May 18th". After the clock strikes midnight on May 31 tardy test-drivers will have access to their PC for only two hours at a time, during which they can retrieve their data. "After two hours of use, the PC will automatically reboot without providing the opportunity to save data."
Those two-hour timed sessions will end on August 28th, after which your beta test PC will be the functional equivalent of a beta VCR, except that it won't be able to record or play TV shows (which sorta gives the beta VCR a killing edge).
The missive from Microsoft ends on a slightly pleading note: "Please, do yourself a favour and upgrade to any edition of the RTM version of Windows Vista before May 31".
As we noted last year, those upgrade prices are generally $150-$180 cheaper than the full package. Most people running any Vista preview will be likely to head for the Home Premium, Business or Ultimate skews -- which sell on their own for $455, $565 and $751 but are offered as upgrade deals for $299, $379 and $495 respectively. [Australian prices.]
So we're moved to ask if Microsoft set these sky-high prices -- especially the ouch-inducing $751 tag for Vista Ultimate -- knowing that while almost no-one bar a few retail shopping suckers would pay that much, the apparent discount on the upgrade version would look just too good to refuse.
Want to save $256? Spend just $495 on Vista Ultimate instead of $751. Our special price for you, sir and madam, today at Sultan Bill's House of Software!