Amazon lists prices & Jan 30 availability for Windows Vista

[Bob Crabtree]

Perhaps it's a cock-up but more likely it's a ruse by Microsoft and Amazon USA to help convince the world that retail versions of Windows Vista will actually be arriving at some time in the foreseeable future (honest, truly, for sure, really!).

Whatever the reason, Amazon is now carrying a full list of prices for 16 (yes, sixteen!) different flavours of Vista and taking pre-orders, with availability slated for January 30, 2007.

Prices for the DVD-based installers - all listed below - include free shipping and range from US $100 for Vista Home Basic Upgrade to $399 for Vista Ultimate.

Full pricing details in this HEXUS.lifestyle.news headline.

[Parm]

3. Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade DVD-Rom (Windows XP)
Buy new: $259.00 Available for Pre-order

That'd be the one for me and it seems pretty reasonable I think.

[Consumption]

3. Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade DVD-Rom (Windows XP)
Buy new: $259.00 Available for Pre-order

That'd be the one for me and it seems pretty reasonable I think.

What's the difference between the Ultimate Upgrade at $259 and Ultimate DVD-Rom at $399?

[Parm]

I don't know for certain but my understanding was that the Ultimate DVD was for new customers and the Ultimate Upgrade DVD being for those who are upgrading from legitimate versions of Windows XP.

[Bob Crabtree]

I don't know for certain but my understanding was that the Ultimate DVD was for new customers and the Ultimate Upgrade DVD being for those who are upgrading from legitimate versions of Windows XP.

That would be my expectation, too.

Have to say, though, that if I was a retailer, I'd be pretty hacked off at being expected to stock 16 versions of XP.

[Bull Dog]

MS should have kept it down to 3 versions---maybe 4 TOPS.

[Lee H]

How many windows variants?

The training on this is going to be a long one by the look of it, pin-pointing all the differences and changes between the plethora of versions available.

I'm looking forward to that shortly

[Bob Crabtree]

Four versions really, by my reckoning, each with an upgrade variant:

Vista Ultimate (and upgrade version)

Vista Home Premium (and upgrade)

Home Basic (and upgrade version)

Vista Business (and upgrade version)

[starbuck]

I'm gonna wait for the oem version, planning a hardware upgrade about that time anyway.

[Synergy6]

One problem with the upgrade/OEM versions is you may have to install "from" XP, which can mess up the partitions (Vista main may not end up as C:\". Another is reformats, if you have to wipe the machine for any reason, MS may require special treatment (think ringing some damn callcentre) to let you reinstall, reactivate, etc etc (whatever other security rubbish they bung in next time).
Synergy6

[Parm]

One problem with the upgrade/OEM versions is you may have to install "from" XP, which can mess up the partitions (Vista main may not end up as C:\". Another is reformats, if you have to wipe the machine for any reason, MS may require special treatment (think ringing some damn callcentre) to let you reinstall, reactivate, etc etc (whatever other security rubbish they bung in next time).
Synergy6

Is it usually that strict?

I've used an upgrade once in the past and if I recall, I think it just asked for the serial key of the previous product? Not entirely sure though.

[Bob Crabtree]

Even if you are starting from a blank system disc drive, the normal situation is that you only need to put in - at some point during the procedure - an original CD of the OS from which you are upgrading and also key-in the serial number for it.

I'd like to think MS is unlikely to change that arrangement cos, in truth, an install from scratch will remain the best route for a stable system.

[luke284]

ive got a Student licence upgrade of XP pro, would a vista Ultimate upgrade work from my version of XP? or would i need a propper version?

or is it too early to tell?

[DeMilo]

Is it usually that strict?

I've used an upgrade once in the past and if I recall, I think it just asked for the serial key of the previous product? Not entirely sure though.

Yeah. You can lie to MS down the phone until the cows come home and they believe all of it. EG- If you cannot register or activate your new version of XP, (legally or not) phone them up and tell them it "isn't working" and they will supply you with new LEGAL codes every time.

[dannyweb]

Can you purchase Vista Home Premium from the states and install it on a machine in the UK? When you convert the cost of the US version to the UK version there is something like a £90 difference between the two. UK always get swindle with everything we pay higher for nearly everything single thing on the planet

I did a quick price conversion using the listed £219.00 price of amazon.co.uk for Vista home premium and the result was:

UK £219.99 = US $435.32

Now its gonna be pretty obvious that in the US they aint gonna be charge $435.32 to home premium heck i'll be suprised if they get charged that for Ultimate. Makes me