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 3)

Astyanax

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.

Yes, because Windows 95/98 cost Microsoft 10 Billion to develope? Yes thats right, 10 billion to develope Vista. Even if it's half that much don't you think thats a little much to spend on place holder? Microsoft claims they'll have a new OS out in 2 1/2 years. But anyone who knows how they work knows it will be atleast 1-2 years extra before theirs a new one.

By the way, Longhorn is Vista so to speak..

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!

Ironic how you say that.... on a pc....

Jafo

on Sep 10, 2007

have a face to face barbecue!

That's gonna hurt....

warreni

on Sep 11, 2007

After seeing the chart that Zubaz linked to, it doesn't look to me like there are many extra functions that are worth $100 in Ultimate. I can't fathom having a need for drive encryption (at all) or a remote desktop connection at home, and most people have dedicated backup and fax software (if you fax from your computer). If your scanner didn't come with a software CD, you must have bought it from some guy on a street corner with a folding table o' hardware.

I guess if and when I upgrade, I'll go with Home Premium.

starkers

on Sep 11, 2007

I guess if and when I upgrade, I'll go with Home Premium.

In that case, then, you'll miss out on the inbuilt ability of Ultimate to play DVD's and will have to pay for a third-party app instead..

Neil Banfield

on Sep 11, 2007

I have a feeling all versions of Vista with Media Centre have the ability to play DVDs.

jeaniejames

on Sep 11, 2007

Because of all the input here, I've decided that I'm not going to upgrade to VU at all. I've been playing with the idea to upgrade, but wasn't fully clear on it-- until now.

I mean, according to MSoft, the only difference from the Home version is a few things...and of course the extras, which according to this, there really aren't that many anyway...

Thanks to every one for sharing- and sorry to the ones that had to find out VU was not up to grade, as MS claimed, before someone could tell you before hand, not to get it...

WebGizmos

on Sep 11, 2007

Ironic how you say that.... on a pc...

Isn't it just!

That's gonna hurt.

Only if you put your face to close to the barbecue.

starkers

on Sep 12, 2007

I have a feeling all versions of Vista with Media Centre have the ability to play DVDs.

I read somewhere that only Vista Ultimate has a built in DVD decoder/player...that other versions require a third party DVD player....will have to hunt that down again.

bobbyhundreds

on Sep 12, 2007

I have Vista Home Premium which features Media Centre and yes

it does play DVDs.So does Windows Media player.

starkers

on Sep 12, 2007

I have Vista Home Premium which features Media Centre and yes it does play DVDs.So does Windows Media player.

Well there ya go....goes to show yer can't believe everyfink yer reads....oops, I just read wot you said and believed it...now I'm really confused.

I have a feeling the information I recall about DVD play only being available in Vista Ultimate came in an email from somebody like Cyberlink or Ulead....yeah, more like trying to flog off a few copies of their DVD suites before the punters caught on.

bobbyhundreds

on Sep 12, 2007

I bought WinDVD8 at the same time I got this PC as I also thought it was needed.It was nice to take it back to the shop and get some beer vouchers in return though.

starkers

on Sep 13, 2007

I bought WinDVD8 at the same time I got this PC as I also thought it was needed.It was nice to take it back to the shop and get some beer vouchers in return though.

I didn't buy anything to run DVD's in Vista Ultimate (knew I didn't need it), but I get emails from various companies who'd like to sell me some proggies to play them....thank goodness for my junk folder and spam filters.

As for the beer vouchers, well I don't guzzle any more, so I'll take mine in music coupons or cold hard cash.

cavalierex

on Sep 23, 2007

Long Zheng pointed out that Microsoft is even trying to cover up (or possibly hide their shame) by removing as much info as possible about Ultimate Extras from the Control Panel Applet in Vista Service Pack 1:

Original description in Vista:

But in SP1:

So basically, the detailed descriptions are replaced with a whole lot of nuthin'. And as Long Zheng aptly pointed out, "a whole lot of nothing is exactly what you're getting."

cavalierex

on Sep 25, 2007

Recently posted on the Windows Ultimate Blog...

09/25/2007

In early July, I wrote about The Ultimate Team’s intention to ship the remaining promised Ultimate Extras (DreamScene and the remaining Language Packs) by the end of the summer. Unfortunately summer never really came to Seattle this year—so we missed our cue. That being said, we are pleased to announce that Windows DreamScene is now available.

As most of you already know, Windows DreamScene transforms your desktop from a static wallpaper image into a full-motion video. In conjunction with Stardock, we’re pleased to also offer a number of cool, new animated DreamScene desktops, including “Aurora”. Additionally, you can use your own videos as DreamScene desktops or visit Stardock’s Dream.WinCustomize.com website to download Stardock’s DeskScapes (an add-on to DreamScene) as well as a collection of fabulous content created by Stardock and members of the Ultimate community.

While we are excited about shipping DreamScene, the remaining 19 language packs are, unfortunately, not yet ready for release. Recently we realized that Ultimate customers who tried to install the language packs that shipped earlier this year were experiencing an unacceptably high number of failures during installation. We continue to make delivering the highest quality, most secure Extras our top priority, and we will not ship any Extra until it is absolutely ready. We know this is disappointing, and again we apologize, but we are working hard to ensure that all of the remaining language packs will be ready for release by the end of October.

On a different topic, as the broad beta for Windows Vista SP1 nears, people have noticed that the screen which welcomes customers to Windows Ultimate Extras has changed. Our intent in making this change was simply to broaden the definition in anticipation of a broader range of Ultimate Extras being available in the future—that do not necessarily map to the original, narrow definition.

While I can understand how community sites and bloggers may have read the new definition and assumed that Microsoft is not shipping any more Extras, in reality the opposite is true. In addition to the remaining Language Packs, we plan to ship a collection of additional Windows Ultimate Extras that we are confident will delight our passionate Windows Vista Ultimate customers. We will shed more light on these plans once the Language Packs are finally dislodged from our delivery pipeline!

Thanks for your patience and your continued support.

I look forward to sharing more positive news in the near future.

Barry Goffe
Director, Windows Vista Ultimate
Microsoft Corporation

cavalierex

on Jan 20, 2008

New letter from Long Zheng to Microsoft:

To: contact@windowsultimate.com
CC: steven.sinofsky@microsoft.com, bill.gates@microsoft.com, stevejobs@apple.com
Subject: [Automated reminder] Windows Ultimate Extras inactivity
——————————————————————————————————————————————
Hi there Windows Ultimate Extras,

This is an automated message to remind you it has been 81 days since your last activity on October 23, 2007 when you announced 19 languages packs for Windows Vista. Très Bien!

We’d like to remind you we’ve been eagerly awaiting more “cutting-edge programs“, “innovative services” and “unique publications” from you.

As a reminder, here is your current contribution so far in the last 12 months since Windows Vista Ultimate has been on the market.
- Windows DreamScene
- Hold’ Em Poker Game
- BitLocker and EFS Tools
- 35 Language Packs

In case you’re running a little short on ideas, here’s a few simple ones to help you get back on track.
- Premium high-resolution wallpapers pack
- Premium DreamScene videos
- Arcade or puzzle games (ex. Peggle)
- Windows Media Player 11 skins or visualizations
- Windows DVD Maker menu themes
- Windows Photo Gallery slideshow themes
- Extended free trials of Windows Live OneCare
- Premium Internet Explorer 7 add-ons

If you have forgotten how to get in touch with us, your customers, we’d like to remind you of your blog at www.windowsultimate.com which you can write on to keep us in-the-loop of any ideas or progress you’re making. Don’t be afraid to post smaller but more frequent updates.

Thanks, passionate Windows Vista Ultimate users.

Read his full thread here.

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