Real World IT

George Ou

XP MCE 2005 plus Vista premium at $110 now

By George Ou | October 28, 2006, 12:39am PDT

Summary: For all those people saying Vista will cost $300 or more, here is a reality check. You can now buy Windows Media Center Edition 2005 for $110 and get a free upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium edition.

For all those people saying Vista will cost $300 or more, here is a dose of reality. You can now buy Windows Media Center Edition 2005 for $110 and get a free upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium edition.

Note that this is NOT a recommendation to buy or to not buy. It is simply a reality check on what Windows Vista will cost. Chances are, many new MCE (Media Center Edition) PCs this Christmas will come with free upgrade coupons to Windows Vista Home Premium edition. If you are in the market for a retail copy of Windows, this is one possibility you might consider.

Oh and just to lighten things up for the weekend, make sure you read this Mike Cox post on the cost of Vista. It is sure to put a smile on your face since it's one of his better ones. But before you leave, please answer the following poll.

Poll

Is Media Center 2005 plus Vista Premium for $110 a good price?

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Sorry, That's Crap.

msspurlock 30th Oct 2006

I shouldn't have to BUY something else to get a product that costs too much. I've had it with Microshaft and I'm out.

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And for the flip-side of the argument....

bportlock 28th Oct 2006

... go here

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=128

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Add in vendor charges....

bportlock 28th Oct 2006

"Dell plans to charge $45 (plus shipping and handling) to upgrade from Windows XP Home to Vista Basic"

and then there's this...

"First, there's an issue of what is a qualifying PC. You'd think that step would be simple enough - any PC sold with Windows XP between the qualifying period (October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007) would be eligible for upgrade.

Wrong."

All on Adrian's blog right here at ZD Net

http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=127

Now George - please do your usual task and explain why all this is great for users

sad

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And the OEMs don't like it either...

bportlock 28th Oct 2006

"ording to Jim Wong, senior corporate vice president of [Acer], the issue is simply that the basic home edition of Vista, Home Basic, which is available for preorder on Amazon.co.uk for 154.99 pounds ($293), is so basic that users will be forced to move to Vista Home Premium, at 189.99 pounds ($359). "

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6130136.html

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Stop and listen to yourself

georgeou 28th Oct 2006

You've posted a 3rd message in a short period of time. We've all heard the stories on how Vista is going an arm and a leg. The problem with that is it's all speculation. I've just provided factual evidence and actual pricing, not speculation, but an actual offer from a major online retailer.

I really don't care what Mr. Wong says. I've never even heard his name and I personally don't know anyone who owns an Acer. I have heard of Michael Dell, and I know plenty of Dell users. Michael Dell is bullish on Vista. So who are we suppose to believe?

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I'm sorry George....

bportlock 28th Oct 2006

"I really don't care what Mr. Wong says. I've never even heard his name and I personally don't know anyone who owns an Acer. I have heard of Michael Dell,"

... I didn't realise that only people you've heard of actually exist. I presume you've heard of Acer - you know, the world's 4th largest PC manufacturer, sponsor of the Ferrari racing teams and with a turnover of $9.7bn?

I shall remember in future that if it's not Dell, Intel or Microsoft then you won't have heard of it.

Dell has to be bullish. Windows is his life-blood and without he's bankrupt within the month. His whole PC empire depends on selling someone else's product. Dell dare not say anything else. Have you ever heard of Gerald Ratner - he exists as well - he made a speech in the 1990s in which he described his product lines as rubbish and within a month his entire business empire was ruins. Michael Dell won't say anything bad about Vista - he dare not.

"I've just provided factual evidence and actual pricing, not speculation, but an actual offer from a major online retailer."

So did Adrian. Dell are going to charge $45 to send you your Vista update disc - or do you think he made that up? Mr Wong taked money although in terms of percentage margins.
As for posting 3 messages in a short time it reflects that

a) The software in here is cr*p. If I could have edited my original posting then there would only be one entry.

b) Finding problems with the coupon scheme was not too hard. Everywhere I look people seem to see problems with it.

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Go away bportlock

Prognosticator 28th Oct 2006

Don't need, don't want your views any more. Go back to AOL.

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Just remember

D T Schmitz 28th Oct 2006

You don't speak for everyone and I welcome bportlock's comments.

Besides, without people like bportlock, there would be only one-sided 'flag waving' view points.

OK? Try to be nice rhetoricpolice. There. There.

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I actually do try to be even handed...

bportlock 28th Oct 2006

... but the problem in George's blog is that he is so NBM that I find my self being forced the other way in an attempt to balance things a bit.

The truth of the matter is that there is no really good software available at commercial prices. Linux, Vista, Mac, whatever - they all have flaws and I try to use the software that has the least flaws for the area I work in. At present that means Linux.

I know that Linux can be attacked just like Windows but at present it appears to be more secure because of

a) Differences in the design approach, some of which are now being incorporated into Vista

b) It is the target of less attacks meaning that I also get less attacks. That may change in time, but it is true for now.

c) It's software generally has a smaller memory footprint and tends to run faster so I get more performance out of the equipment

d) It's nice that it costs less - I invest that into the equipment.

Now if I was a gamer then I would probably be on Windows, but I'm not. I certainly won't tell anyone to ditch Windows for Linux or Mac. However I won't sit back and watch people who should know better and who are in a position of "knowledgeable authority" use statistics and figures in a misleading way.

As for rhetoricpolice, he/she is entitled to a viewpoint and telling me to p*ss off is OK - after all, I don't have to do it. Besides, protests like that sound like what is experienced by the insecure when confronted by an uncomfortable truth. It's more his/her problem than mine.

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Agreed bportlock

D T Schmitz 28th Oct 2006


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I've never been on AOL...

bportlock 28th Oct 2006

So up yours......


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Re: I've never been on AOL...

none none 28th Oct 2006

What's AOL?

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happy

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sigh (nt)

none none 28th Oct 2006

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Sorry George

D T Schmitz 28th Oct 2006

But, somehow, this has regressed into an ASCII-art contest.

Vote tabulation is being done in real-time (abacus).
wink

The ASCII-art Winner has not, as of yet, been undetermined--more information to come, much, muCH later!! happy

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Reality Check

D T Schmitz 28th Oct 2006

Thanks for putting that way.
I needed that like I need a rubber hose up my nose.
It's too early to care about any of this.

I'll wait until XMAS and see what's under my tree.
Will get back to you then.

P.S. Mike Cox is a laugh riot.
Together now:

"...All we are saying....is give peace a chance..."

Seriously. Peace and Harmony to all my fellow gearheads.

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One thing...

Patrick Jones 30th Oct 2006

$20 for S&H! What kind of a racket is that? I mean, Newegg will ship the OEM package to you for $5 dollars.

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It's the & part

Dr. John 30th Oct 2006

As in, "& Handling". Shipping isn't where the costs come in, it's in the handling. Taking the order, sending the order to fulfillment, filling the order, printing the label, attaching the label, etc... That's where the costs come in.

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Real reality check

gregry 30th Oct 2006

And just how long do we think this offer will stand?
Just before XP came out we got and offer for XP pro and a free Fuji 3.1 mp camera for about $100 (we took it of course, the camera was worth more that $100 at the time). Offer ran for about a week, then no free camera, then the price started going up. If you think it's a good deal better grab it fast - it won't be around long. Of course ask yourself, "do I really want a home version of Vista?". Or a current version of Media Center for that matter.