Ever go shopping for OS X? There's the standard version, the server, and the family pack. And that's more or less about it. Vista? Not so much. As loyal TUAW reader Tyler pointed out, you can get the Ultimate version, the Premium version, the Home Premium version, the Business version, the Home Basic version, Additional Licence packs, the 64-bit Business Ultimate version for System Builders, the 32-bit Business Ultimate version for System Builders, the 64-bit Home Ultimate version for System Builders, and...
I'm sorry. I just can't go on. It's too overwhelming. And it goes on for page after expensive page after page after page on Amazon. So what does this tell you about Vista? And about Microsoft? The words unfocused and inefficient immediately spring to mind. They're spending way too much time creating distinctions that don't actually have a functional difference in the way that people actually use their computers, and which in the end will harm their brand identity.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-23-2007 @ 11:59AM
Tyler said...
Are you kidding me:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP2B for System Builders with Vista Tech Guarantee Coupon (NO OPERATING SYSTEM)
What in the world is this product? It looks like an operating system with some kind of upgrade coupon but Amazon clearly tells us that it's not. For $150 you get...I'm not quite sure?
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1-23-2007 @ 12:42PM
Richard said...
"which in the end will harm their brand identity."
HARM their brand identity? Erica, a weird brew of complexity, feature bloat and beta-quality-software shipped as "first release!" IS their brand identity. If Vista only does one thing, it confirms that Microsoft has no interest in worrying about how PEOPLE use computers.
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1-23-2007 @ 12:46PM
andrew s said...
just a heads up... your screenshot is of both vista and office, perhaps adding to the myriad permutations you list.
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1-23-2007 @ 1:21PM
morgan said...
you might want to get a new screenshot
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1-23-2007 @ 1:22PM
Mark said...
And for Enterprise people at least a couple of more flavours. Enterprise edition is above Professional but without the Ultimate media centre bits. This also comes in two sorts for EU countries - one with and one without Media Player.
Also the licensing model and technology is far from straight forward....
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1-23-2007 @ 1:25PM
george said...
what a piss poor post. the previous commentors have ripped this to shreds. another +1 to your post count for yet another paycheck. at least erica won't have to go to bed hungry tonight
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1-23-2007 @ 1:26PM
Jonny said...
Don't forget the "Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate UPGRADE Limited Numbered Signature Edition"
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1-23-2007 @ 1:39PM
SteveH said...
We've known it would be like this since last year. This really is old news and, frankly, this continual M$ bashing and articles that really aren't news are turning me off TUAW, even though I've been a loyal reader for some time now.
I'm slowly turning to Infinite Loop and Digg as my main source of Apple News. If TUAW continues in this vein I'll be abandoning ship altogether.
Interestingly enough Infinite Loop is looking to employ two new writers ( http://arstechnica.com/journals/apple.ars ) and have this to say. "We're not looking to hire someone who wants to contribute 40 posts of screensaver drool and PC bashing." Which I guess just about sums up the difference.
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1-23-2007 @ 1:42PM
Trojan said...
What a stupid post.
If you go to Software, and search for Vista, while you get pages of results, there are only 8 actual copies of Vista there.
4 full installs, and 4 upgrade installs(Vista Ultimate Upgrade and Full, Home Basic Upgrade and Full, Home Premium Upgrade and Full, Business Upgrade and Full) and those are all on the first page of results.
The rest of the pages are full of System Builder versions, additional license packs, OFFICE 2007, and page and pages of other software that runs on Vista.
Amazon is a poor search to choose, since it's trying to return as many results as possible to get you to buy shit, rather than being concise. There's no easy way to get it to just return versions of the Vista OS.
Try a search for OS X in the same place, and check out how many versions of OS X it returns, talk about confusing.
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1-23-2007 @ 1:51PM
jack said...
god i hate tuaw
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1-23-2007 @ 1:51PM
Larry said...
lol what a tuawt
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1-23-2007 @ 2:06PM
Steve said...
I think you guys are being overly harsh to Erica. I went Vista hunting the other night and was thrown off by the staggering amount of Vistas out there. I know that my parents wouldn't know the difference from one to the other and, as this is an Apple centric blog, there are probably many readers who are not finely tuned to the intricacies of Microsoft's product line.
The screenshot does't fit the post terribly well, but the point being made is quite valid.
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1-23-2007 @ 2:18PM
Prodigy said...
I too am very tired for this Windows bashing. Why is it that Mac users feel like they have to bash Windows to make themselves feel superior? You don't see any I'm Mac I'm PC commercials done by Microsoft. I'm a Mac user and frankly all these self superiority things are making me consider NOT getting a Mac as my next machine...
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1-23-2007 @ 2:22PM
LameTUAW said...
This is the lamest post I've ever seen on a popular blog.
TUAW makes us Mac users look like a bunch of insecure pedants. Zune this, Vista that.
Let Microsoft do their thing, it's *ok*, it doesn't hurt you Erica.
Never reading TUAW again.
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1-23-2007 @ 2:23PM
Trojan said...
Steve, there are 4 versions of Vista available at retail. Home Basic, Home Premium, Ultimate, and Business. Two SKU's for each version, a full priced version, and an upgrade.
That's it. System Builders (OEMs) have multi-packs available to them, and need to purchase 32Bit and 64Bit versions seperately because of the way in which OEM versions of the OS work, but System Builders are definitely not Home Users.
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1-23-2007 @ 2:25PM
David said...
The point is of course valid. I don't think anyone is really on the bandwagon about Microsoft doing 27 versions of Vista, but its still fewer than they made of XP (Home, Pro, Tablet, MCE and its 4 or 5 revisions). That's not even counting the N versions for Europe or the Starter Edition for developing nations.
Really though, Microsoft's bigger problem with consumer confusion is brand identity with an array of products (such as Windows Live). How's one really supposed to know the difference between the OS-bundled "Windows Messenger" and the Windows Live service "Windows Live Messenger"?
It really isn't THAT hard for a consumer who's even considering an upgrade to tell the difference between Vista Business and Vista Home Premium.
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1-23-2007 @ 2:43PM
Jon Niola said...
Wow you guys are rough. First you guys rough up Scott and now Erica.
If you don't like a post ignore it, or even better, post a thoughtful, well-written response articulating why you feel otherwise.
Just my $.02
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1-23-2007 @ 2:54PM
Punky Howitzer said...
"I'm sorry. I just can't go on. It's too overwhelming."
/checks name of poster
Go figure.
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1-23-2007 @ 3:21PM
Hoover said...
I liked the post. Why are you people being so rude? Not every post has to be a PhD dissertation.
You complain about Windows and PC bashing - What about PEOPLE BASHING? You're too good to talk trash about Windows, but you'll insult some person you don't even know?
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1-23-2007 @ 3:37PM
Vincent said...
Look at the prices (with VAT) in Europe and France in particular.It's amazing!
Amazon.fr:
Window Vista Ultimate: 595 € (774 $)!
Window Vista Ultimate update: 395 € (514 $)!
Windows Vista Business: 445 € (579 $)!
Windows Vista Business update: 300 € (390 $)!
Windows Vista Home basic : 305 € (397 $)!
Windows Vista Home basic update : 160 € (208 $)!
Office 2007 Professional update : 454 € (592 $)!
AppleStore (with VAT):
Mac OS X Tiger: 129 € (168 $)
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