The other day we got word that Microsoft placed the pricing for Vista and Office 2007 on their Canadian site.Well, Longhorn Blogs pointed out that Amazon.com also has pricing available for Vista and for Office 2007. This time they are in U.S. dollars and the cost obviously makes much more sense in terms of rounding, but still not in terms of reasonability.
Also it is important to note that Amazon says that the release date for both pieces of software is scheduled for January 30, 2007. I thought Microsoft was trying to push for an early January release but I guess I was mistaken.
Microsoft started giving away 100,000 downloads today for Vista 5536 which is the pre-RC1 build. I am using it and after getting all of my software installed it seems to be really stable. The only thing that I am having a hard time finding is a good antivirus that is fully compatible. If you know a good one that works with this build please let me know. Right now I am stuck using Free AVG because it appears that Microsoft broke the Avast compatibility: “OK folks, I just got some feedback from MS, it seems that the avast driver was “hard blocked” BY MISTAKE, hopefully, the issue will be remedied in the next Vista build.” That is just wrong that we have to wait until the next build that will possibly never exist since the next step is to send Vista to manufacturing. A Windows Update should definitely be issued to the public to fix the problem.
Microsoft was expected to release RC1 on September 7 but it looks like that date may be changing. Yep, same ol’ Microsoft huh? But wait…it might be two days early? InfoWorld is reporting that Microsoft may actually release Vista RC1 to the public as soon as September 5! This is amazing and I don’t know how Microsoft pulled out such a stable release so quickly (maybe they copied and pasted some Linux code 
). I’m sure quite a few coders over there pulled some late/all nighters in order to make this release as good as it is.
Thanks for the tip “C”
Just out of interest, what would you say the number one thing is in Vista that wasn’t in XP?
Similarly, is there anything that just shouldn’t have been put in to start with?
I would have to say that it is great having the search built-in to the start menu. I have disabled the Aero effects on both computers that I run it on because after the first few hours of using it you’ll find that it doesn’t server any purpose other than “hey, look at this.” I prefer to have the slimmed down system and the Vista Basic theme isn’t that bad.
I still think that the UAC (user account control) is a little too much and will frustrate those people who are not very familiar with computers. Linux has a similar feature but they have it mastered perfectly. I mean really, is it necessary to prompt for administrative rights to move shortcuts around in the Start Menu?
I will be purchasing the Ultimate version of Vista even though it is $400. I too think that they charge way too much for their(Microsoft) software. There would be much less piracy of it if they would reasonably price it.
You mention “having” to use AVG free antivirus. To me, it sounds like you do not like it. Can you expound on this as I use and have never had any issues at all with AVG Antivirus.
Also, this Avast you talk about, why do you feel it is better?
Well, it isn’t so much that I don’t like AVG as an AntiVirus, I just don’t like their policy. We have already had quite an [tech.cybernetnews.com] on it in the past but to sum it up they only let you use one license per household. I know it is free and they can choose whatever policy they like, but Avast is offering a very similar service at the same cost (FREE) without such a limitation.
Avast does not have such a limitation and since I am currently running two computers with Vista I am kind of pinned in a corner. I heard that Trend Micro is offering an AntiVirus solution for Vista testers but I have also heard that they force you to install their firewall software as well. I actually like the Windows built-in firewall but Trend Micro will disable it.
I’m guessing that upgrade price is if you have a computer already running windows XP?
Try PC-Cillin’s beta for Vista – works likea champ for me.
Do you know if it really does replace the Windows Firewall?
Hopefully in a couple years, those prices will come down some. Otherwise I’ll just wait until I have to get a new computer (sorta like I did with Win XP).