Caption Contest: Win Vista and Office!
UPDATE: The contest is now over! View the winners here. Want a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate or Office 2007, but don't want to fork over the cash? You're in luck: we're giving away one copy of each! All you need to do is come up with a witty caption for the following two pictures from the Vista Launch event in New York City.
Leave your caption ideas in a comment below, but only leave a single comment. We will select the best caption for each picture. The user with the best Bill Gates caption will win a retail copy of Windows Vista Ultimate, while the best Steve Ballmer caption will win Office 2007 Student and Teacher Edition. More giveaways will follow, so keep checking back in the coming weeks.
Water-cooled Graphics Card Represents Vista's High-end
The hope of computer vendors and OEMs everywhere is that Windows Vista's graphical capabilities, which include the performance of its DirectX 10 drivers, will drive PC sales to the point where market growth resumes the comfortable 12% growth pattern from which it's fallen in recent months. Part of Vista's appeal is that it's the first Windows edition in well over a decade to show off the capabilities of what the processing power of its host computer can actually do - not even XP, for all its value, quite managed that feat even at launch.
In hopes there's a trend to capitalize on, graphics card manufacturer BFG is adding onto its add-on: specifically, tacking a water cooler onto its top-of-the-line nVidia 8800 GTX-based graphics card, then leveraging the water cooler's presence as an excuse to crank up the volume even further. If a BFG 8800 GTX OC-equipped system ranks a "5" on the new Vista WSPR scale, then maybe it's the company's hope that your computer currently ranks about a "2."
Windows Vista Launches to Consumers
Monday night marked the public launch of Windows Vista, and both Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer were on hand in New York City to officiate the festivities. A number of stores held "midnight madness" events, but did consumers bite?
Not yet. Unlike the launches of Sony's PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii, those interested in being the first to install Vista were few and far between. A handful of stores around the country reported late-night lines, but most customers said they showed up for the other discounts being offered alongside Vista. Low temperatures on the East coast likely didn't help either.
Microsoft Offers First Vista Ultimate Extras
Shortly before the operating systems' launch Monday night, Microsoft posted the first of what it expects to be many added extras for consumers that have purchased its top-of-the-line version of Windows Vista, dubbed "Ultimate." Among the first add-ons released are the game "Texas Hold'em Poker," and enhancements for both the BitLocker and EFS functionality.
"This is just the beginning," Windows Vista product manager Nick White posted to the official Vista blog Tuesday. Vista Ultimate is available as the full version for $399.95 USD or in upgrade form for $259.95 USD. However, OEM copies of the software are available for $199.99 USD from electronics retail sites like NewEgg.com.
Microsoft Closes Vista Upgrade Loophole
Many computer users prefer to install their operating system "clean" by simply using their old Windows disc to verify they own a copy of the software. However, that appears to no longer be possible using an Upgrade version of Windows Vista.
The Redmond company has apparently taken out the option to do so from upgrade versions of its new operating system, meaning a user would need to purchase a full copy of the OS in order to perform a clean installation. Upgrade discs would only work if a copy of either Windows 2000 or XP is already on the system.
MS: It's Okay to Buy Vista OEM Software
Microsoft has given the go ahead for users to buy the low-cost OEM copies of Windows Vista now appearing on sites like Newegg.com; however, they would be expected to adhere to the licensing terms just like any other computer manufacturer.
This could mean that support for those computers with this version of Windows installed would be the responsibility of the end-users themselves. Microsoft also noted that like with standard copies of Vista, a user running the OEM version would still be forced to reactivate if he or she substantially alters the computer's hardware configuration.
AMD's First Catalyst Drivers for Vista Will Support HD DVD, Blu-ray
They're still being called the "ATI Catalyst" drivers - the reference drivers containing the latest programming and techniques for graphics cards bearing the ATI logo. But today, one day ahead of Microsoft's consumer edition Windows Vista rollout, the first Catalyst drivers for Vista are being released. They're officially numbered 7.1 (version 8.31 for XP is already in the field). But for the first time, they're being released by AMD, and this afternoon, AMD is accepting a great deal of the credit.
"One of the biggest reasons that AMD aligned with ATI for the future of computing where graphics and the orientation becomes a more meaningful part of everybody's experience," AMD Vice President for Global Marketing Pat Moorhead told BetaNews, "not limited to the enthusiast or the high end or the mainstream, where you typically find discrete cards."
Microsoft Revs Up for Vista Launch
With Windows Vista set to become available nationwide at 12am this evening and already on store shelves across Asia, Microsoft is preparing a slew of events to kick off its next-generation operating system, including a celebration in New York City today with both Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.
After an industry luncheon hosted by Steve Ballmer concludes, Microsoft will open the doors at 1515 Broadway in Times Square to a crowd of invitees who have come to hear Bill Gates herald the arrival of Windows Vista more than 5 years after Windows XP launched down the street.
Vista Starter Edition Also Due Jan. 30
When Vista launches on Tuesday, Microsoft will simultaneously release a version of the operating system aimed at developing markets. The operating system would be designed for lower-end processors and include tutorials for those who may be using their first computer.
Microsoft did something similar in June 2004 when it released Windows XP Starter Edition. That version was initially made available in Southeast Asia, Russia and India, although was eventually sold in 130 countries in 24 languages.
Free T-Mobile Hotspot for Vista Users
As part of its promotional efforts surrounding the launch of Windows Vista, Microsoft said Wednesday that for 90 days after the debut of the next-generation operating system, customers would be able to use T-Mobile Hotspot Wi-Fi for free on laptops running Vista. Those with advance copies of the operating system would be able to take advantage of the program beginning January 26, Microsoft said.
The service would be available at any of T-Mobile's 8,234 locations across the United States, including Starbucks, Borders bookstores, FedEx Kinko's location, select Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, airports, and the airline clubs of American, Delta, United and US Airways. The only requirement to access the service is a computer with Windows Vista installed.
AOL Preps for Windows Vista Launch
As the January 30 launch date of Windows Vista nears, more and more companies are announcing support for the next generation operating system. The latest is AOL, which said Tuesday its suite of applications is "Vista Ready."
A beta of an AOL Mail & AIM Gadget for the Windows Vista sidebar is now available, and would allow the user to check his or her e-mail and instant messages. The mini-application would allow users to read e-mail messages, receive new mail and incoming IM alerts, as well as including other AOL-related features.
Microsoft Announces Vista Purchase Options
Microsoft elaborated on its purchase options for the release of Windows Vista, to be released publicly in less than two weeks. Among the options are online upgrades to higher tiers, a family discount, or online purchase and direct download via Windows Marketplace.
"With the consumer launch of Windows Vista so close, we're excited to announce three new ways to make the purchase and upgrade experience easier than ever," said Brad Brooks, general manager of Windows Client Marketing at Microsoft.
Security Firms Commit to Vista
It now appears as if security companies and Microsoft have settled their differences and will work together on the consumer launch of Windows Vista. Several leading manufacturers have committed to launch Vista-compatible versions of their software by January 30.
At least two of the companies who had earlier chastised Microsoft over Vista security, McAfee and Symantec, were among those listed as committing to Vista compatibility. Others included CA, Kaspersky, Panda Software, and Trend Micro, among others.
Is Vista Really Bug-Plagued as the NY Times Claims?
Last week's discovery of a non-critical bug affecting the old 32-bit Windows API, which BetaNews reported on at the time, was picked up by The New York Times this morning, although its severity was substantially elevated in the process. Under the headline "Flaws Are Detected in Microsoft's Vista," the message box problem was touted as triggering "an early crisis of confidence in the quality of its Windows Vista operating system."
Yet tests of the flaw conducted by BetaNews suggest that, while the bug can crash Windows XP, its roots in the Win32 API dating back to Windows 3.1, coupled with the fact that the source code for the proof-of-concept appears to be straight ANSI C, directly contradict the Times' implication that the bug somehow afflicts Internet Explorer 7.0.
MS Adds Vista Compatibility to Zune
Microsoft issued its second firmware update for its Zune music device on Tuesday, offering stability and performance improvements. In addition, the company updated the device to make it compatible with Microsoft's next-generation operating system, Windows Vista. The update is now available from the Zune Web site.
The company had originally scheduled to make such functionality available in conjunction with the consumer release of the OS in January, however the company received some criticism for not offering compatibility out of the box. "It is plumbing stuff, but it is stuff customers will notice and appreciate," Zune marketing director Jason Reindorp said recently of the update.
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