Vista to be sold as a direct download
updated 05:05 pm EST, Thu January 18, 2007
MS selling Vista direct
Apple rarely lets you download software you have to buy, but Microsoft today revealed the option to buy Windows Vista online from the company's recently launched Windows Marketplace, Electronista reports. In what may be a first for mainstream OS software, the Redmond-based developer will give access to both 32- and 64-bit upgrade copies of Vista's Home, Business, and Ultimate editions as direct downloads when the OS is officially available on January 30th. The download of a DVD-sized installation is possible through a digital locker, Microsoft says; the service remembers the license for any downloaded software and lets users download software again, even if a catastrophic failure forces a reinstall of the earlier version of Windows.
Simultaneously, the company has revealed its first family licensing plan for Windows. The simply-titled Vista Family Discount will give purchasers of Vista Ultimate in full or upgrade editions the option to buy as many as two copies of Vista Home Premium at $50 each. The upgrade path marks a stark change in the company's approach to home licensing, where the company has previously insisted on individual licenses. Apple has offered five-system licenses of Mac OS X since the introduction of Jaguar in 2002, but has to date only provided physical media for its updates.
Zzzzzzzzzzzz.............
01/18, 05:45pm reply
that's what the business world is doing with Vista.
bigpoppa206
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2003
good idea
01/19, 12:17am reply
"...lets users download software again, even if a catastrophic failure forces a reinstall of the earlier version of Windows."
That should read, "...lets users download software again, no matter how many times a week Vista gets corrupted or is rendered useless by viruses."
How long will it take to download Vista?
elroth
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2006
What happens...
01/19, 06:49am reply
...if you have a corrupted install (for whatever reason) and you want to download vista to do a re-install but your PC will not run to do the download?
Will C
Dedicated MacNNer
Joined: Jan 2001
They'll probably charge
01/19, 09:37am reply
They'll probably charge the users double the money for a second download. It's the typical greedy Microsoft way.
jhorvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Apr 2005
Hmmm
01/19, 09:46am reply
I like the idea. Apple, however, stopped providing online upgrades for certain software, for instance iDVD, because the downloads were several gigabits.
Apple certainly has the capacity to offer something similar, and may even be working on it for Leopard. Also, Microsoft has to do whatever it can to give you that DRM laden software.
Terrin
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
Brilliant!
01/19, 05:30pm reply
The download URL will actually link to a page that says, "Sorry, your system does not meet the minimum requirements for Vista, please buy next years model and try again".
This will actually save Microsoft a lot of trouble!
Deal
Mac Enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2001
People already plan to
01/20, 11:51pm reply
I'm sure people are already planning to download Vista. They're just not paying for it.
Gordio
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2006