Microsoft details Aussie Vista pricing

in brief The packaged business version of Microsoft's next-generation operating system Windows Vista is likely to cost AU$565 per seat, according to pricing lists released by the software giant this morning.

Windows Vista is due to be made available to the business community next month, with consumers getting their hands on the operating system in January.

Microsoft's "estimated" retail pricing is as follows for the different versions (each with different functionality) of the operating system in Australian dollars:

• Home Basic: $385
• Home Premium: $455
• Business: $565
• Ultimate: $751

While Microsoft's statement claimed the pricing was comparable to equivalent versions of Windows XP, two large local retailers are currently selling the full version of Windows XP SP2 Home for between $299 and $324, with the upgrade version for $159 to $168. The full professional version of XP is going for between $445 and $478, with the upgrade version for between $295 and $319.

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1. RE: Microsoft details Aussie Vista pricing Eric Lam -- 09/10/06

   Well, I am not sure about other Australians, but this is going to be a *BIG* financial decision. Should I buy a retail version (box) of Windows Vista or should I buy a box of bananas?
   
   Any suggestions?

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   1. Bananas or Vista? Simon Edward Firth -- 17/10/06

      Take the bananas

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2. 4 Versions. $385??? Anonymous -- 12/10/06

   $385 for the base model. 4 versions. Why dont they make One version and have everything in it? MacOSX is ony $199 - thats like half price for something that is not only advanced but also it has features that Windows users won't have until 5 years time!

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   1. OS X Anonymous -- 12/10/06

      Yeah but you have to spend $199 every 12-18 months if you want the latest and greatest version of OS X. Windows is much cheaper over the life span of the Operating System.

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   2. What? Anonymous -- 13/10/06

      That doesn't make sense, you don't have to upgrade when a new OS is out, and the reason you don't have to upgrade windows as frequently is simply because it takes so long to release a new one, when Apple would have got something all done up!

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   3. features like Craigos -- 19/10/06

      If you are going to put a statement like that in, explain the features 'windows users won't have for 5 years time'.

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3. Not that relevant for a lot of people Martin Hamilton -- 14/10/06

   The great majority of Vista buyers will get it pre-installed with a new computer. However, if this pricing is any guide, the added cost of Vista over XP in this situation would be marginal.

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4. Several versions good IMHO Martin Hamilton -- 14/10/06

   Having a few different versions at different prices with different features helps because you only pay for what you need. I thought there would be more than this; previous reports put the number at 7. It has been said that people would be confused - though not if adequate info is provided (ATTN: retailers!). It would also be good if system vendors offer all of them so people have that choice...

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5. Cost of upgrade to Vista Anonymous -- 15/10/06

   OK so the average company will buy Vista at $500 bucks and then need an upgraded machine to actually run the thing. And in all the machines it runs on that are trying to conserve power, dont forget that the 3D interface will keep those 3D cards running hot, and those fans spinning noisily, wasting more precious resource, for what?
   
   Oh yeah - to run word excel and powerpoint more prettily..
   
   I suspect Vista is going to be the biggest flop in Microsofts history. Nobody NEEDS it, and they will have to force most people to upgrade by sabotaging support for older versions

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6. Vista vs Leopard Michael Brine -- 16/10/06

   Realistically having 7 versions of windows is just a way for MS to make more money off the consumer.
   
   If we are to compare the pricing of OSX to Vista Ultimate (as this is the only version with hte same features). You'll find that Leopard works out to be far cheaper. $199 compared to $751, over say a 2 year life span (thats how long Apple intends leopard to last), this works out to be approximately $100 per year for apple and $375 for Windows users. If we take into account that Every 18 months new technologies come out and their for an upgraded OS is need to truely take advantage of them. Vista still works out more expensive over a 2 year period even if MS was releasing advancement to take advantage of the new technology for free (which they wont)
   
   Apple on the other hand would release another next gen OS containing features people expect now along with features that have only arised in the last 18 months to take advantage of them, plus some new features. Again this would only be about $200 and would span anotehr 2 years.
   
   Given MS released a new OS every 4 years or so. Vista Ultimate costed initially $751 and the Mac solution has now costed $400. Over a 4 year time span. This works out to be $187 for Windows users and still $100 for OSX users.
   
   Again Apple works out cheaper. There is also the fact that OSX comes bundles with all the feature that Vista Ultimate. Also take into account that there are only 2 version of OSX, OSX and OSX Server. This is designed to meet the needs for anything you want to do and at the same time you are future proofing yourself
   
   With the 4 different version of Vista you may find that later on you really needed Vista Ultimate rather than Vista Home Basic. Again this requires you to upgrade your Operating system again and pay more money to get the feature set that now meets your changing needs.
   
   Microsoft has taken the idea that Users are static and therefor their needs will not change and as such braking down their product to this level of feature set is needed. unfortunately MS this is not the Case... peoples needs change and theirfor your OS needs to be flexible enough to accomodate those needs

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   1. Great, so when can I get leopard for my self-made PC...? Anonymous -- 17/10/06

      Oh that's right. I can't. I can only buy a Mac to get it. But at least that isn't just a way of making money... right?
      
      What the %$# are all these Mac users hanging around Vista news articles anyway? Get a life you loser.

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   2. Outlook Anonymous -- 06/11/06

      When you figure out how to get Outlook running reliably under mac os X, then come calling.
      
      Mac OS X is great, don't get me wrong, but the hardware is over-priced. Buying an over-priced PC simply to dualboot XP (or parralels) for work because Entourage doesn't support the full features, or you cant run Visio and MS Project under Mac OS X is overkill.
      
      Companies will be forced to upgrade in the end to Vista - if Apple is serious, tell Jobs to get his rear end into gear and jump into enterprise on a serious scale.

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7. I've never paid for a service pack Anonymous -- 17/10/06

   Have you? Oh, that's right, they're not 'service packs' for Mac... they're huge "upgrades" for hundreds of bucks that feature important things like... html email... which i've done on windows since what, 1998?
   
   Why must EVERY windows article have idiot fanboys advertising something else? Hey i think I'll go to a toyota forum and advertise holden... that'll work...
   
   Again, where are all these Mac users coming from, posting on Windows articles? Are you bored with the Macs, guys? I've never posted on a Mac article, 'cause it has nothing to do with me

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8. whole point Anonymous -- 06/11/06

   And the reason is... to make money.
   The story will always be... you should have bought the right version!!
   Whether its the fruit variety OS or the bloatware OS its all about $$$
   
   It would be easier and faster if the applications ran in their own bootable OS so no one could **** that their OS works better.
   
   New hardware, new software, new hardware - who cares ?
   People will prefer their boutique Fruit software because they prefer the limitation and availablity of 3rd party software; because the have a specific pupose for their computer.
   When I think of Fruit ( Apple) I think of media players not computers or OS. When I see Mac application software i see big price tags and specific purposes.
   
   If you want a general purpose OS that works with 90% of the worlds software then its Billy's world we live in.
   
   People will buy and upgrade to one of the many Vista versions because is what is available in 98% of the computer stores.
   We live in a Volkswagon World ( people's car) and there is only 1 OS in this race, bloatware it might be but it's still the only contender.

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