Express Upgrade to Windows Vista

[Reeves]

After purchasing my new HP computer which I've mentioned a fair bit on Metropol, I noticed the same day I set it up, that I was eligable for "Express Upgrade to Windows Vista" which is some kind of shortcut to getting an upgrade to Vista. Having emailed HP for more information, I tried to click a link on the HP website to attempt to order. The link was broken, so I emailed again.

Much to my amazement, I recieved a reply with HP claiming they knew when I purchased the computer, which was August 10th 2005. False, as my statement confirms it was purchased November 11th 2006. Because HP thought I purchased during this date, they say I was not eligable for this Express Update, as the purchase must be made during a period around October 2006 - March 2007.

Having found this statement today, I tried the broken link again, and it now works. I proceeded to a point where I would stop, as I am only looking for information. I came to a list asking for me to select my computer model. It also said that if my model wasn't in the list, I would not be eligable for the Express Update. The PC model wasn't on the list.

HP are seriously taking the piss. They say that if the purchase was made between October 26th 2006 and March 15th 2007, users would be eligable. I purchased during a valid date, though as my specific model is now discontinued, I think they've referred to the approx. date the PC was made, hence HP claim I purchased during August 2005.

Why the hell is HP shitting this offer up, and can anybody find out if i AM actually eligable for this bloody update?

[Pete]

I don't approve of that express upgrade business. Mainly because I missed it by about two weeks.

More annoying is the confusing "Windows Vista Capable" and "Windows Vista Premium Ready" business.

My laptop has capable, however I then discovered this means that it does NOT support Aero and Intel are not going to do aero compatible drivers for the card as apparently it's not capable enough. Quite.

[cdd]

I don't approve of that express upgrade business. Mainly because I missed it by about two weeks.

More annoying is the confusing "Windows Vista Capable" and "Windows Vista Premium Ready" business.

My laptop has capable, however I then discovered this means that it does NOT support Aero and Intel are not going to do aero compatible drivers for the card as apparently it's not capable enough. Quite.

Yes, I'm extremely annoyed about this too - my computer is in exactly the same situation.

I just don't understand why Windows Vista has such outrageous memory requirements. 90% of people won't be able to upgrade and get a good experience. I mean, what does it do, that Windows XP doesn't, that requires so much extra memory that only TODAY'S top of the line computers can handle it? isn't that mad for an OS, which is supposed to be a platform for programs rather than a resource-intensive program of its own?

[Neil Jones]

Much to my amazement, I recieved a reply with HP claiming they knew when I purchased the computer, which was August 10th 2005. False, as my statement confirms it was purchased November 11th 2006. Because HP thought I purchased during this date, they say I was not eligable for this Express Update, as the purchase must be made during a period around October 2006 - March 2007.

IIRC the offer only applies to certain models purchased between the dates in question, which would be the current range. The date of purchase is irrelevant if the model number/range isn't included in the deal.

This isn't to say of course that the computer won't be able to run Vista; it probably will be able to happily. It just means you won't be getting it from HP.

HP are seriously taking the piss. They say that if the purchase was made between October 26th 2006 and March 15th 2007, users would be eligable. I purchased during a valid date, though as my specific model is now discontinued, I think they've referred to the approx. date the PC was made, hence HP claim I purchased during August 2005.

According to HP's site:

"The following systems are eligible for an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista, if they are purchased between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007, and if they bear the Windows Vista Capable* logo, or indicate Windows Vista Capable on the receipt/packing slip that accompanies the product."
http://h20219.www2.hp.com/services/cach ... 5-121.html

As you've claimed you don't actually have any of these models, you're not entitled to an Express Upgrade to Vista from HP, but there's nothing to stop you buying your own copy.

[Chris]

Why all the rush anyway? Vista sounds like a DRM ridden piece of bloat.

[Dr Lobster*]

sadly, i think most people want to upgrade to it because of the pretty new interface.

it's not as though you can't do most of the same things with xp. i don't think there are are features in vista which you can't obtain with other (mostly free) 3rd party tools, and in any case, since xp is going to be support for a good few years yet, hardware manufactures are still going to be releasing drivers for it.

the hacking community on neowin seem to spend an incredible amount of effort in making windows xp look like vista, i can't really see the point. i mean what difference does it make if your start button says 'start' or is a stylised windows logo?

i quite look the new start menu on vista, particularly if you have loads of things, but i've organised my programs into categories so i no longer have the problem of a massive start menu, but still, hardly worth an upgrade and the inbuilt desktop search is shite.

[cdd]

Ah yes, but don't forget Microsoft is very keen to release THEIR new products only functioning on latest OSs (e.g. Windows Media Player - when v12 comes out I bet it'll only be for Vista!)

[Gluben]

Windows Vista looks to me like a pretty good upgrade I think, but not until 2008, when they will have had Service Pack 1 and ironed out most of the little inconsistencies, bugs and so forth.

[Dr Lobster*]

Ah yes, but don't forget Microsoft is very keen to release THEIR new products only functioning on latest OSs (e.g. Windows Media Player - when v12 comes out I bet it'll only be for Vista!)

its interesting that, i seem to remember reading that there was some software which is "vista only", yet somebody extracted the files from the setup msi package and they worked, flawlessly on xp - the vista check was simply done for the installation, but software worked fine.

i forget which software package that was now though.

but lets face it, media player already does what most people want it to do. since about version 6 its played my mp3s and videos. when you standback and look at it, its quite surprising how slowly development is at ms.

internet explorer and office is a good case in point. i know the interface is better with the new office version, but still its not been implemented in the whole suite and most people i work with only use the features on the default toolbar anyway. its not because they don't know how to, they just don't need to.

[noelfirl]

To Joe Public-esque users, what are the added benefits of upgrading to Vista? Apart from the bells and whistles, there has been nothing advertised that would convince me that I *must* have it or need it.

I'd rather wait a few more years until I actually need to buy a new computer and Vista has been pre-installed on it, hopefully with several service packs to iron out any bugs appearing between now and then.

the hacking community on neowin seem to spend an incredible amount of effort in making windows xp look like vista, i can't really see the point. i mean what difference does it make if your start button says 'start' or is a stylised windows logo?

I got to admit I really love the mock-apple 'black as your heart' Vista-like theme I came across one day but I'd never feel the need to start installing other programs to make the Start button round, the windows transparent or a side bar appear on XP.

[marksi]

I get a free upgrade with the new laptop I bought. I've ordered the upgrade but have no intention of installing it for the forseeable future.