Microsoft Vista irritations and idiocracy

{ warning, this is primarily a rant.  Feel free to rant along with me, or feel free to try to throw a wet blanket on me and try to put out the flames.  I don't care either way, and I certainly have thick enough skin to deal with whatever may come out of things here.  Just use the comments area as you see fit to pile on, or flame me instead }

Irritation number one: charging 9.95 (plus tax) for the 64-bit version DVD media for installation is a freakin' joke.   Huh?  What am I referring to?  Well, in case you were not aware, if you want a 64 bit version of most of the Vista upgrade versions you'll have to order that media from Microsoft, provide them the product key from the upgrade package you pick up at your local retailer, and provide them a credit card number that covers the $9.95 + tax fee.  There is no 64 bit disc in the case unless you bought Windows Vista Ultimate.  Lesser versions = paying the fee so that Bill Gates and company can pocket an additional $9.95 + tax for every 64 bit version of the OS that goes into existence (or hopes to).

Irritation number two: their OEM license restrictions that no one really seems to fully understand.  Can you use Windows Vista --insert flavor name here-- *OEM* software to set up your system and then be assured you'll be able to continue to run the OS if you upgrade the system "too much"?   Well, uh, NO!, uh, I mean YES!, uh, I mean MAYBE, uh, I mean NO!  Uh, you get what I mean here.  Microsoft has reportedly clarified some on the retail licensing, backed off some, noted that they understand the hacker/tinkerer/upgrader community and don't want to offend same and yet there is a ton of F.U.D. (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) out there that this is going to be possible with the OEM versions of the OS.

Why does this OEM version issue affect me?  Well it seems that the easiest/cheapest way to get 64 bit versions of the OS "out of the box" (except for getting "Ultimate") would be to use the OEM versions which are cheaper than the upgrade versions.  Get the OEM version, slap it on your system and away you go with 64 bit from the git-go.  But... will it keep working if you upgrade your system?  Depends on how good your lawyer is versus how good Microsoft's is (who do you really think is gonna win that battle??)

Irritation number three: having to have the "to be upgraded from" OS on the system before you can upgrade.  In the past the setup software was lenient enough/smart enough to let you upgrade just by showing it original media during the install process.  NO MORE.  Microsoft is calling b.s. on that methodology and has decided that all users must have an OS installed before they can upgrade using the upgrade versions of Vista.  Say what?  If the box crashes and must be reinstalled from scratch you'll have to put on "enough" of the older OS to get past the version checking that the upgrade media setup program has before you can get back up and running completely.  Complete freakin' joke.

Irritation number four: (this is just an expectation, not something I've got direct experience yet because of the wait for the disc mentioned in Irritation number one) the wait for 64-bit drivers for some equipment, and the wait for upgrades to applications you may want to run.  Moving to 64-bit is going to be slow, tedious, and an exercise in extreme patience for most people.  I understand that.  I'm jumping to 64-bit because I want the full features of my hardware, but I know I'm going to be waiting for upgrades to applications, drivers, etc.  I guess the wait for the disc from irritation number one may not be that bad, but then again I have no real idea since I don't have the disc yet.  Either way, hopefully the next few weeks will see drivers start flowing out from companies like ATI/AMD, Hauppauge and others.

Irritation number five: the necessity of upgrading applications by buying the upgrades from the software developers.  For example: if you use Nero, you'll need to ugprade it.  I believe that is the case regardless of whether you use 32-bit or 64-bit Vista.  Simply upgrading to Vista means needing new versions of some software.  Congratulations, dig into your pocket and enjoy doing so.  Not really Microsoft's fault, and I don't really fault the software developers either.  They deserve to get paid for their work, including upgrades.  But, it's an added cost that most people won't think about when they waltz into the local retailer, grab a copy of that super hot new, super hyped new, operating system.

Irritation number six: the necessity to upgrade system components to really get the performance you expect.  For example you'll probably need more memory on your system.  Less than 1 gigabyte of RAM is gonna be a bit on the weak side.  That extra stick of RAM is gonna run you $80 - $120 (depending on the current market, where you buy, etc.) that is yet another hidden cost of moving to Vista.  That video card you had been using, it may be under powered too.  Time for another upgrade.  Again, in that $80 and up range (more likely in the $100 - $300 range).

Most of these things aren't that bad, but the idiocy comes in over the EULA (End User Licensing Agreement) and just how Microsoft will really deal with things like the OEM license restriction (see again Irritation number two above).  A good friend asked me why I bought the upgrade edition rather than the OEM edition.  My answer -- the licensing/product activation issues that I've seen discussed that seem to still say that using the OEM edition means sticking with the original hardware (memory upgrades probably ok, but CPU upgrade/motherboard upgrade probably not, or at least possibly not).  Just far too much confusion.  Make it plain as day, plainly simple, and easy to understand.

Oh, one more possible irritation, the "family pricing" offer that Microsoft is reportedly offering up.  Get Windows Vista Ultimate and you are reportedly entitled to get additional copies of Windows Vista Home Basic (and Premium??) at prices ranging from $50 - $100.  That's a nice savings on the additional copies, but that first copy of Ultimate is none too cheap.  Total it all up and you'll be spending an average (just an average, not a guaranteed amount) of around $200 per copy of the OS if you are running on say 3 PCs.  (Figure $400 for the first copy, then $100 for each additional PC for a total of $600, or average of $200.  If you go with the lower end version of Vista or get the lower pricing, it's still approx. $150 - $175 per copy average.  Again, not that cheap).

Why am I subjecting myself to these irritations and lunacy?  Multiple reasons.  See comments area for some....