The Ultimate Letdown?

Some say: "Failure to deliver... Failure to communicate..."

Published on June 14, 2007 By cavalierex In Vista Reviews

Remember this?
Ultimate Promises

Recently, several caustic articles have criticized Microsoft's failure to deliver Vista Ultimate extras:

Truly, aside from Stardock's own efforts with DeskScapes, DreamScene seems all but abandoned as 'preview' beta software: still CPU-heavy, and not nearly close to delivering what it promised.

Does it strike anyone else as strange that it's been six months since Vista shipped, and there are still no new Extras? Surely, one would have expected Microsoft to at least ship some samples from their labs that employ WPF goodness. Even a WPF-based/sidebar-based MSN Messenger would be a welcome thing, not to mention PowerToys or the many extras that they hinted would arrive. Where are the "cutting-edge programs"? The "innovative services"? The "unique publications"? What happened to the cool stuff that was hilighted in the well-circulated Longhorn concept videos (Video #1 and Video #2)?

At the very least, Microsoft's own Ultimate blog (http://windowsultimate.com) should communicate with us... telling us what's taking so long. But the site's been inactive for months (last publication was in March!), and they haven't responded to any e-mails.

I'm curious to hear what everyone else thinks.

Comments (Page 2)

cavalierex

on Jul 03, 2007

Ha! Came across this mocking yet accurate translation of what the Ultimate Team said, courtesy of mstefan on the Channel9 forums:

"We would like to announce that we are announcing the announcement of these features that we have previously announced, and are intending to deliver this announcement of these new feature announcements once the announcement meets the highest quality of the announcements that we know that you have come to require of us. We strongly believe that we should only announce those announcements of features which have been throughly tested and you can be assured that our announcements will be announced at the earliest possible date. You can expect another announcement to this effect in two months. Thank you."

Gotta love it!

starkers

on Jul 03, 2007

Gotta love it!

Hmmmphhh!! Well I'd like to announce that I heard no such announcement. In fact, if the announcer didn't make a concerted effort to make that announcement for all to hear, then I announce that the announcer should step down and announce his retirement from public announcements.

Or maybe another commercial from MAC mocking the Ultimate Vista. They already did on Steve's recent keynote speech on WDC. They're mocking MS for having different versions of Vista at ridiculous prices while Mac's upcoming OS Leopard will only have one version will all the nice features at a price less than $200 bucks.

The thing is, what Mr Smugness neglected to mention was that the hardware to run his under $200 OS is gonna cost upwards of $2000 for anything halfway decent....can still get a PC with Windows pre-loaded for well under that. Nope, Mr Jobs has little room to be making disparaging remarks about MS pricing.

Still, based on the 'Ultimate Extras' promise, I went the extra mile to get Ultimate and feel somewhat miffed that what was promised has been put on the back burner, if not entirely abandoned....'tis pretty shoddy treatment for all those who purchased copies of Vista Ultimate

dj_cityboy

on Jul 08, 2007

well you can view my thoughts on this little story over here

http://www.joejoe.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=8598

i completely think its a sham and was very surprized to see the Ultimate team up and at em again...

peas
cityboy

Gideon MacLeish

on Jul 08, 2007

while Mac's upcoming OS Leopard will only have one version will all the nice features at a price less than $200 bucks.

But you have to buy MAC Hardware! Mac's as bad as Windows, they just like to pretend they're not!

Gideon MacLeish

on Jul 08, 2007

Sorry, I missed the fact you had already made this point. Thanks for helping point out the obvious to the Mac fanboi!

starkers

on Jul 08, 2007

Sorry, I missed the fact you had already made this point.

That's orright, Gid, me ol' China....'n 'ow 'ave ye bin doin'? Fine n' dandy I 'opes

Yeah, I was looking into getting me a Mac later this year, but the price here in Oz is too prohibitive for me right now and I'm going to have to put it on the back burner for another year or so. A mini Mac was going to cost around AU $1900, and a full-on iMac to suit my needs was upwards of AU $2600.....and after coughing up $600 for two Vista Ultimate OEM's (one each for the missus & I), I wasn't prepared to spend any more on puter stuff.

As you can see, I have nothing against Apple/Mac, but I've no time whatsoever for that smug little prick Jobs. I had no idea why people in forums spoke of him that way, then I saw him on TV here and instantly recognised those traits earning him that reputation. Needless to say, I was unimpressed....can now see where the smug attitude behind those Mac ads comes from.

Oh well, not to worry, I'm enjoying my current system and Vista, so the time 'll fly and I'll hardly notice not having a Mac....oh, and you're welcome, it was my pleasure to help you point out the obvious to the Mac fanbois.

drexel4real

on Jul 13, 2007

maybe you people havent got it yet, but microsoft is in the business of employing people and paying their wages. If microsoft goes down it will take whole countries with it - believe me - ok so the score is really this - windows 95 was not so much different to 98 and neither was me.

In windows 2000 they made great advances and in xp they got a lot right and
now they are just tacking on a few ribbons and putting a bit of tinsel around xp and flogging it as the greatest thing since the wheel - well wake3 up and smell the countryside will ya - its not that great infact - ahhhhh I smell BS a lot of it
because they need to keep a lot of people in work but have run out of ideas - big style !!!!!

Edtorious

on Sep 06, 2007

Update on the Windows Ultimate Extras from WWW Link (07/02/2007)

When we launched Windows Vista in January 2007, we identified Windows Ultimate Extras as a unique series of add-ons that would be available to Windows Vista Ultimate customers. To date, we have released four sets of Extras – Windows Hold’Em, 16 Language Packs for the Windows multi-language user interface, Secure Online Key Backup, and Windows BitLocker Drive Preparation Tool. We want to let our Windows Vista Ultimate customers know that we are actively working to deliver the remaining Extras that we identified in January. Our goal is to provide the highest-quality, most secure and reliable offerings, and as a result we are continuing our work on these offerings. We apologize for taking so long to provide a status update to customers.

We intend to ship Windows DreamScene and the remaining 20 Language Packs by the end of the summer. We will not ship the last two Extras showcased in January (Windows DreamScene and the remaining 20 Language Packs) until they meet the high quality bar required by our enthusiastic customers—and we believe that we can achieve that bar by the end of this summer.

We also intend to deliver additional Extras in the future. In addition to Windows DreamScene and the remaining Language Packs, we plan to ship a collection of additional Windows Ultimate Extras over the next couple years that we are confident will delight our passionate Windows Vista Ultimate customers. We cannot identify dates or provide details at this time—but once we ship Windows DreamScene and the remaining Language Packs, we will provide more information about the next Extras.

Barry Goffe
Director, Windows Vista Ultimate
Microsoft Corporation

In other words, they'll fine-tune DreamScene, but don't expect anything new for awhile.

Well, at least they're talking to us now. Many people had written to them in the past, but gotten no response.

Anyone else notice that the portrait photos of the Ultimate Extra team-members have now been removed? I guess the team is officially disbanded.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW!!!???

I'm still waiting for my ultimate extras!!!

It's like a ghost town on their website! Anybody home?

Edtorious

on Sep 06, 2007

I just went to their website and sent them a message. Let's see if another announcement will be posted again instead of getting an actual ultimate extras we are suppose to get!

warreni

on Sep 10, 2007

So, I'm not really into beating dead horses, but . . . Is DreamScene the only reason to buy the Ultimate edition of Vista if you're a home user and not an IT professional? I mean, it looks cool and all, but that seems like a really hefty price tag for a fancy animated desktop. I just looked it up on Newegg, and they're selling the Ultimate Upgrade for $239, and the Home Premium Upgrade for $145 (about $45 more than what I paid for an XP Pro upgrade three years ago). Any thoughts on this?

ZubaZ

on Sep 10, 2007

I wouldn't get Ultimate for the extras . .but it does have some nice features. The question is . . do you need them.
A chart to help

NightTrainthedark

on Sep 10, 2007

Any thoughts on this?

In 2 years when they finally get Vista working like XP, they will have a Super Duper edition that will be around $1600 so get your ultimate at low low prices now.

Astyanax

on Sep 10, 2007

So, I'm not really into beating dead horses, but . . . Is DreamScene the only reason to buy the Ultimate edition of Vista if you're a home user and not an IT professional? I mean, it looks cool and all, but that seems like a really hefty price tag for a fancy animated desktop. I just looked it up on Newegg, and they're selling the Ultimate Upgrade for $239, and the Home Premium Upgrade for $145 (about $45 more than what I paid for an XP Pro upgrade three years ago). Any thoughts on this?

I bought it for everything the Business edition had plus Media Center. Dreamscene was just a nice addon that was thrown in. There are alot of things Home Premium doesn't have that Business had. But Business lacks Media Center.
For everyone who is anti Vista at the moment, I will laugh when the time goes for XP's support gets the axe. And don't think it wont start to happen sometime next year, i'll bet money on that.

TwoWolves

on Sep 10, 2007

Dear me, I'm surprised you fell for it. Microsoft have pulled this manoeuvre before with Windows 95/98.

Always look to what the business buys in. I'll be sticking with Xp Pro until Longhorn or the next OS arrives, this Vista is clearly a half-way house and cash cow.

My wallet feels enough pain with the Dev Studio and Office upgrades as it is and I need those for my work - you know making money for me and not Billy boy.

P.S. Office 2007 + One Note is very good IMHO.

You need to be more conservative in your assessment of Microsoft sales pitch boys.

WebGizmos

on Sep 10, 2007

I think its time we all just walk away from the pc's for a spell and let them all sweat it out...just sitting there with a warehouse full of door stops. They've got everyone so hooked on sitting in front of these things that everyone forgets there was life before pc's...and we all managed just fine without them. Hell...we might all actually get together some time and have a face to face barbecue!

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