Microsoft ends Vista discount programs
Consumers haven’t exactly been clamoring to get their hands on Vista, unless it just happened to come with a computer purchase. Those upgrading their own systems to Vista are few and far between. Microsoft has had, at best, a lukewarm response to the Vista family discount program which will now be coming to an end.
Since Vista became available, US and Canadian customers have had the option of buying either an upgrade or full version of Vista Ultimate and getting two additional copies of Vista Home Premium for $50 each. That comes to $500 for three copies of Vista.
Compare that to Apple’s program for those who buy a retail version of OSX Tiger for $200 with the ability to install it on up to five systems. Something is rotten in Redmond.
When Microsoft Product manager Nick White posted this on the Windows Vista Blog, the response was mostly negative, according to ZDnet.
A user going by the name of Hartelc was particularly unhappy saying, “This really sucks, I thought it was bad enough that we have to pay $50 for an additional license to get a downgraded version of (Vista).”
White’s response was, “Sorry you’re disappointed with the program and its pricing structure. This was a trial for us to see how people responded to the offer, and we’ve gotten lots of constructive (criticism) as to how we could make it better if we were to do it again in (the) future.”
So, it’s just a trial? When Apple introduced their program of using a single retail version of OSX on up to five Macs back in 2002, it didn’t suddenly end the program after six months, here we are five years later and it’s still perfectly legal and within the EULA of OSX Tiger (and upcoming Leopard) to do so.
One Vista upgrade program will still continue. You can get a 10% discount on up to five additional copies of Vista. With a company like Microsoft looking out for us, we really don’t need enemies.
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June 29th, 2007
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