Windows Vista Nears Consumer Launch

By NewsFactor Network | January 29, 2007

The countdown began months ago. And now, the launch of Windows Vista — Microsoft’s highly anticipated upgrade to Windows XP — is just hours away. Microsoft is even running a countdown clock on its Vista-related blogs. At midnight tonight, the wait will be over.

On Tuesday, Vista will be available on store shelves across the country. It’ll be sold as a stand-alone box of upgrade discs, and bundled as the OS powering countless new PCs. Users will have their pick of versions. Upgrading from Windows XP or Windows 2000 will cost $99 for the Home Basic version, $159 for the Home Premium, and $259 for the Ultimate version.

Executives from Microsoft, including CEO Steve Ballmer, are scheduled to appear at a Best Buy store in Manhattan on Tuesday morning to kick off the software launch. Best Buy is one retail outlet that will be heavily promoting Vista, with each of its 812 stores featuring interactive demos to give customers a better understanding of how the system works.

Shiny and New

Industry analysts who have had months to play around with the new system have praised Vista’s slick, streamlined interface and improved security. Other standout features in the OS include new desktop search tools and, for laptop users, new options designed to extend battery life.

According to analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group, Windows Vista is “simply more elegant.” Excitement over Vista has been brewing for quite some time. Why? “It just feels newer,” Enderle said. “My initial response is everything you used before just seemed old. Windows XP definitely seems old.”

But, as with any new operating systems, there are a few glitches to deal with. Enderle said early adopters of the software should expect problems. The business versions of Vista were released two months ago, and reports indicate that there…

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