Critics who blasted Microsoft three months ago for failing to deliver Windows Vista add-ons have again called the company on the carpet, this time for missing its self-imposed deadline to provide promised extras. In late June, bloggers and users were already panning Vista Ultimate Extras as a bust. Extras, available only to customers running the top-end Vista edition, was one of the features cited by Microsoft to distinguish the USD 399 operating system from its USD 239 cousin, Home Premium. Microsoft's online marketing, for instance, touted Extras as 'cutting-edge programs, innovative services, and unique publications' that would be regularly offered to Ultimate users.
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Member since:2006-12-28
Member since:2007-03-26
Because usually you got a preinstalled Windows when you bought the computer."
I think most people on here either build their own PCs or know someone who knows how to build a computer.
Ultimately it's the smarter option: it's cheaper and you get a tailored system for your specific requirements.
Member since:2005-07-06
I'm sorry, but often that claim is just false. When you buy single parts, the distributor has a quite high profit margin for every single piece of hardware.
If you buy a complete system, the profit margin is applied to the PC as a whole.
This, of course, strongly depends on where you buy the system. Bigger distributors have a very small profit margin and hope to sell a lot system to compensate the smaller margin.
I gave up building my own PCs years ago. The price for retail PCs is lower or at least the same, the warranty is longer, and the service is often better.
Member since:2006-09-29
Uh, hate to tell you, but enthusiasts generally do not buy Dell or HP. They go to newegg or frys, buy parts that they want and install whatever OS.
I myself, bought an OEM Vista Home Premium two weeks ago for an MPC machine, and also installed Debian 64 on a different machine for doing real computer work (ie: development).
Both machines are my own creation.
The Vista box is the appliance PC -- it's hooked to the big screen TV for movies and games, with digital wireless audio for stereo. It's the brain dead box - a glorified DVR appliance that looks pretty on the TV, and people say - "wow you have your computer hooked up to the TV?" when they visit, and I correct them. "No, my computer is upstairs. This is the Vista media zombie".
btw - an OEM copy of Vista Home Premium on newegg is only a little over 100 bucks. Too bad it's hardware locked - as you can never upgrade a computer with the OEM copy of Vista. (you have to get retail version for that)
Member since:2006-07-24
Actually, I have tested this theory and all you have to do is tell the people on the phone that the motherboard was defective. They instantly proceed to activate vista.
Edited 2007-09-25 19:14
Member since:
2006-01-19
Are you sure you pirated their SW?
Because usually you got a preinstalled Windows when you bought the computer.