Microsoft Analyst says Vista Ultimate users should get Win 7 FREE

[Snuffy]

A research firm specializing in Microsoft is urging the firm to offer free Windows 7 upgrades to owners of Vista’s Ultimate Edition. Michael Cherry of Directions on Microsoft says it would compensate for customer disappointment over a Vista feature.

The feature concerned is Vista Ultimate Extras, billed as “cutting edge” programs which would only be available to customers buying the top-end edition of the operating system, which also included the full features of both the home and business versions.

However, many users feel the programs – which were supposed to be added at regular intervals through the Automatic Updates service – remain underwhelming. The only additions since the system’s launch have been extra animations to use as desktop backgrounds, plus alternative sets of system sounds. (In other words, about as close to literally bells and whistles as it gets.)

Not only has Microsoft not released any new ‘Extras’ since last September, but it’s already confirmed it has dropped the concept altogether from Windows 7. The official explanation is that the production cycle for Windows no longer allows for new content to be added on outside of the main release points.

Cherry, whose firm describes itself as “the only independent organization in the world devoted exclusively to tracking Microsoft” says people who bought Vista Ultimate should get a free upgrade to the Ultimate edition of Windows 7. He argues that this would be an effective goodwill gesture which wouldn’t cost Microsoft that much money.

There is already a scheme in place for retailers to offer their own upgrades, including Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Ultimate, though that’s aimed more at encouraging new customers to buy Vista this summer rather than wait until Windows 7’s release. That scheme involves the retailer bearing the cost of the upgrade and there’s no sign yet of Microsoft itself offering any free upgrades.
 

 

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This is by no means a guarantee but the chances of Windows 7 slipping at this stage would have to be minuscule. With RC to RTM possible in two months, and RTM to Retail possibly in another two months, Windows 7 could be on shop shelves as early as September. With the holiday season starting in November, we now have a two month release window almost set in stone

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