Windows Vista cometh
Windows XP may not be dead, but it is now officially on life support as the new-generation Vista takes over the throne. Though the Vista Business Edition has been available for enterprise customers since November last year, today is the day when consumers can put their paws on the various flavors of the operating system.
Over the following months, Microsoft will be holding a series of parties throughout the region to showcase the "Wow" in their latest flagship product. Here are some of the notable events.
Singapore
Vista Fiesta @ Funan DigitaLife Mall--From February 1 to 4, consumers can test drive the Vista on various hardware platforms. In addition, the first buyer of the new operating system will receive a Bill Gates autographed copy of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition.
PhotoVista competition--Entries streaming in from December 4, 2006, to January 21 will be judged to determine which 30 photos depict a truly Singapore Vista. Winner will have an opportunity to have their works immortalized as wallpaper downloads come April.
IT Show--From March 8 to 11, the entire third level of Suntec Convention Centre will be dedicated to showcase how Vista fits in your work and home.
Australia
Look Up and Smile campaign--To commemorate Australia Day on January 26, images taken from aerial photography will be showcased on the Look Up and Smile Website using Vista's Flip 3D interface.
India
Taj Mahal--More than 70 children from Chetna performed a spectacular choreography to unveil the Windows Vista logo against the backdrop of the Taj Mahal.
Philippines
Stars for Empowerment program--The initiative required celebrities and media partners to identify individuals to whom they can donate a Windows Vista PC. As part of the final leg of the program, 100 bikers from the Triathlon Association of the Philippines participated in a 30km bike caravan at Ayala Avenue in Makati where the Microsoft Philippines headquarters is located. The event culminated at the SM Mall of Asia where a grand fireworks display and a mini-concert featuring the country’s top-notch bands celebrated the launch of the new operating system.
Unlike Windows XP, when only two versions were available, Vista offers four different packages to accommodate different needs.
| Windows Vista |
Retail |
Upgrade* |
| Home Basic |
S$340.95 (US$251.03) |
S$179.05 (US$131.83) |
| Home Premium |
S$407.62 (US$300.11) |
S$274.29 (US$201.95) |
| Business |
S$502.86 (US$370.23) |
S$340.95 (US$251.03) |
| Ultimate |
S$664.76 (US$489.43) |
S$445.71 (US$328.16) |
Price in parenthesis are based on currency conversion rates and do not reflect the actual retail value of the software sold in US markets.
*The upgrade version requires the system to have Windows XP installed.
Unlike the big bang of the Vista launch, Office 2007 seems like a forgotten cousin at a birthday party. For those who deems productivity suites to be as important as the platform it sits on, the following is the price of the new business application.
| Microsoft Office 2007 |
Retail |
| Home and Student |
S$236.19 (US$173.90) |
| Standard |
S$607.62 (US$447.36) |
| Small Business |
S$683.81 (US$503.46) |
| Professional |
S$760 (US$559.55) |
| Ultimate |
S$1,036.19 (US$762.90) |
Price in parenthesis are based on currency conversion rates and do not reflect the actual retail value of the software sold in US markets.
However, switching to the new software is not a matter of plonking a wad of cash over the counter and hoping for the best. Not every system will be able to experience the full eye candy of Vista, or even run it at all. Or you might be hesitant as to whether upgrading may be worth your while. To simplify your research, we have pulled together key coverage on this page to give you a taste of what to expect.
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