Microsoft shipping Vista add-ons.
For the first time in five months, Microsoft has released three new add-ons for Windows Vista Ultimate edition. Free downloadable add-ons were one of the big selling points of the most expensive edition of Windows Vista.
The new add-ons include “Tinkers”, a puzzle game ; A Windows sound scheme based off of Tinkers ; and new content for Dreamscape – a video-based screensaver.
So far the reactions from users have been flat — users of Microsoft’s Vista support forum have expressed disappointment. Quoting a user that goes by the name of ‘John Barnett’ – “They are a little disappointing.” While another user going by the name ‘BChat’ said – “I downloaded them, installed them, viewed them, and will be un-installing them.”
It appears that Microsoft has suffered criticism for over a year surrounding the Ultimate Extras. Back in June of 2007 bloggers such as Long Zheng, who writes iStartedSomething, and Josh Phillips, author of WindowsConnected, both pounded Microsoft for releasing only a small number of the add-ons since Vistas debut earlier that year.
Last September Microsoft shipped one extra in response to the increasing complaints. Microsoft also noted that it had no intentions of dropping the Extras feature.
Users of the elite edition of Windows continue to sound off with complaints today. Quoting a user going by the name ‘Roeland’ in a comment to a Microsoft Company Blog ;
“Microsoft said Vista Ultimate Extras would contain cutting edge, innovative programs, can’t you do something better than sound schemes and a stupid game ? I feel so betrayed, spending hundreds of Euros on what I thought o be a great OS with a lot of (coming) features.”
The extra cost one pays for Vista Ultimate covers more than just the ‘Extras’ feature – however it is disappointing to see that a serious lack of either attention or motivation is the drive behind the ‘Extras’. Maybe Microsoft has something else brewing ? For now, the new updates can be download by Vista Ultimate users from the Windows Update screen.
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Microsoft should be offering Windows 7 as a free upgrade to all those who purchase Vista Ultimate, both retail and OEM. The lack of support in comparison to the hype in opday's market is nothing short of scandalous.
In the current vibrant and innovative software world, Microsoft should be looking to encourage users to buy their OS. At the moment, Vista Ultimate stands as the perfect example why users should look elsewhere for any solution other than booting up a PC.
At this rate, next time you won't get my money Microsoft.
I have still to figure out why people would buy Ultimate over Home Premium. Use the extra money that you would spend on Ultimate and get yourself some more ram or something.
I have no doubt that the Apathy over extras for Ultimate is down to the fact that MS is now devoting much of it's time to Windows 7.
I frankly would prefer it if MS would split windows 7 into a core product and optional functional specific feature bundles such as Entertainment, Internet Services, Advanced Administration, Portability etc etc to allow people to buy the specific functionality wanted rather than having several versions. Pricing and Licensing can be set up much more reasonably.
However I fully expect that MS will apply a similar range of versions including OEM, Retail etc and to compensate for the not unsuprising failures of Vista, not to mention to continue subsidising all the other loss making enterprises MS is involved in (Virtually everything except for OS and Office Software!), The costs for the operating system will remain unreasonably high.
I just wish that considering that many households will have 2 or more computers that MS would sell software and licenses where you can buy media and then licenses for core and optional bundles can be bought in multiples similar to Enterpise Licenses to allow for a form of bulk discount, without the stupid stipulations such as the requirement to have a license for every computer in the house regardless of the OS installed!