CompUSA to sell Vista Business this month

If you're one of those folks who prefers to purchase things, you know, the ol' fashioned legitimate way (as opposed to using the seedy underbelly of the internets), it looks like you'll be able to get your hands on a copy of Windows Vista earlier than the scheduled January 30 release date. Microsoft has just inked an exclusive deal with CompUSA to sell you a licensing agreement for Windows Vista Business, letting your run it on up to five computers for $300 full or $200 as an upgrade from XP. That means you'll be able to get Windows pipin' hot just as the big corporate clients will -- starting November 30th.

[Todd @ Nov 13th 2006 9:39PM]

$300 per computer, or $300 total for 5 computers?

[Zadillo @ Nov 13th 2006 9:49PM]

I don't remember, what all does Vista Business have? Does it have all the fancy media features and GUI effects and all that? Specifically how does it compare to Vista Premium and Vista Ultimate (if those are two separate things)?

Also, is it just me or does the current free Vista upgrade program also end up looking kind of limited? Seems like you can either get a machine with XP Home and a free or low cost upgrade to Vista Basic (which if I understand it is missing some of the cooler features and GUi effects), or get a machine with XP Pro and an upgrade to Vista Business.

I haven't seen what systems with MCE let you upgrade to.

But are there any options there for Vista Premium or Vista Ultimate upgrades? I'm assuming at least that some companies will offer these versions preinstalled.

[Corey Flood @ Nov 13th 2006 10:38PM]

Media Center gets upgraded to Vista Home Premium

[ScOObyDoo @ Nov 13th 2006 10:03PM]

Sounds like you need to buy a minimum of 5 licenses. Pretty lame. And saying that they picked CompUSA for their "superior training" is just insane. Most Compusa staff don't know an iPod from an iPaq, they are clueless and poorly trained. Lastly; do any major business users really shop at a CompUSA?

[joerj11 @ Nov 14th 2006 1:44AM]

Yeah. Our IT guy goes there all the time. But to be fair its usually for urgent matters.

[West Hubbard @ Nov 13th 2006 10:08PM]

I'm using vista right now...and I love it.

But one BIG warning, most drivers are still in BETA phase, and while the computer will probably work, it might take a fair bit user knowledge to get it running right (i.e. getting all components to work corectly)

[jon @ Nov 13th 2006 10:38PM]

Yeh the driver problem is insane, I have been using the betas for a while and I still can't install my printer and talk to my other XP computers. :'(

[Montusama @ Nov 13th 2006 10:35PM]

If its 5 computes for 300USD even I'd buy it! I see $$$

[eM @ Nov 13th 2006 10:44PM]

"$300 per computer, or $300 total for 5 computers?"

$300 per computer.

"I haven't seen what systems with MCE let you upgrade to."

"I don't remember, what all does Vista Business have? Does it have all the fancy media features and GUI effects and all that? Specifically how does it compare to Vista Premium and Vista Ultimate (if those are two separate things)?"

All versions of Vista, except Home Basic (and Starter, but that's not available in the US), have the full GUI effects. Business lacks the Media Center and Parental Controls functionality of Home Premium and Ultimate. It also lacks Virtual PC and the UNIX subsystem of Enterprise and Ultimate.

Vista Home Premium.

[Malfoy Roark @ Nov 13th 2006 11:28PM]

Maybe we are reading things differently but I read:

"letting your run it on UP TO five computers for $300 "(their bad grammar, not mine)

meaning this ONE $300 copy will install on 5 computers.

[Chris McDowell @ Nov 14th 2006 1:21AM]

I dont think UNIX and virtual PC have anything to do with any of the versions of Vista

[Derek @ Nov 13th 2006 11:22PM]

as a employee i can tell you that we have been selling vista for
alittle over a week. I also can tell you that as of right now
microsoft is not shipping the cds to the customers till at least the
30th of nov.. and that might be delayed...

[Zach @ Nov 13th 2006 11:45PM]

Yea, its a business license basically that allows you to install the CD on UP TO 5 different computers

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/editions/default.mspx

There is a great site that basically outlines the different versions. If you can live without Media Center, then this would be a decent deal to jump on. I personally love having Media Center Edition right now, so I'll stick with what I know.

[Zach @ Nov 13th 2006 11:52PM]

Brand - Retail/Upgrade

Vista Ultimate - $400/$260 - all features
Vista Business - $300/$200 - all home prem + backup & business networking - MCE
Vista Home Premium - $240/$160 - Home Basic + Aero + Tablet + MCE + WMS
Vista Home Basic - $200/$100 - No MCE, No WMS, Inc. Security and IE7

Home Basic is pretty much useless and shitware, but Home Prem. is unfortunate that it doesn't include remote desktop and backup - though both features can EASILY be sufficed 3rd party

My question is, how the Upgrade will work. I have an illegal copy of Windows, will it upgrade or does it check the keys for a legit? That would be unfortunate.

[lugubriousameba @ Nov 14th 2006 12:23AM]

If it was like all the other windows update CD's; it will just ask you to insert your disk and it then checks the disk, but they may have changed this.

[Jay @ Nov 14th 2006 8:32AM]

Just the fact that you all are even the least bit excited by M$... they may run there OS on 80 % of systems in the US, but has anyone ever gotten completely fed up with the blue screen of death, the 10 minute start-ups, the tired search for drivers and this and that.. I have been an avid Mac OSX user for 4 years now, and a proud switcher... give it a try, promise u wont be dissapointed, start the trend and let redmond brainwash an use other people.

[Bill @ Nov 14th 2006 8:56AM]

Okay so wait a minute here. I can buy one Windows Vista Business Edition DVD for $300/$200 (full/upgrade) at CompUSA and install it on up to 5 PCs for concurrent use? I find that hard to believe but if it is, I'm in. But I suspect this isn't true.

From the article:

"[Cindy Bates, general manager of small business sales for CompUSA] said licensing several PCs would be at least 10 percent cheaper than if a small business owner simply bought boxes containing discs with Vista and the office software."

$199 * 5 = $995 (if you buy 5 individual copies)
$199 * 1 = $199 (if you buy 1 individual copy that's good on 5 PCs)
---------------
$796 savings

That's a WHOLE lot more than 10%, which leads me to think it's $300/$200 per PC license. But I hope I'm wrong.

[boris @ Nov 14th 2006 10:28AM]

The article says "more than 5".

[TDubs @ Nov 14th 2006 10:58AM]

As a manager at a Comp.... uter store... involving the USA... Ill poke my head in

The contract was negotiated BUT we ARE NOT selling at this point. Microsoft is shipping us units starting in about 2 weeks. The other employee who posted is on crack. We are not selling them at this point, as we dont even have them programmed in as sellable inventory items.

About installs
5 installs on one disk, no MCE features. Will NOT check old copy's S/N according to MS reps in store, however it does check to see if any known activation hacks have been installed, and stop installing. But its MS, and they aren't to bright in that aspect. One rep did mention needing XP pro to upgrade but i dont believe it.

So.. November 30th is the street date, plan on about 25 of each per store, 50 in super stores, 50 in H.E Stores in CA, will be in the software isle with a new plastic nasty MS end cap.. If its anything like the XP one currently.

[chris @ Nov 14th 2006 2:38AM]

Can it be upgraded to premium later? If so, anyone know the cost yet?

[NPJ @ Nov 14th 2006 4:09PM]

Are you sure about this? I cannot find ANYWHERE that a purchase of $199 upgrade will install on up to five machines in the same business/entitity.

Does anyone have proof of this one way or another?! Thanks!

[Patrick @ Nov 14th 2006 4:11PM]

Does anyone know if there is a way to pre-order or do we have to stand in line like PS3 nuts to get one on the 30th?!

[phantom fox @ Nov 17th 2006 12:42PM]

beta tested it. and to tell ya the truth vista is nothing but XP with a new theme thats all + added software and requirements. vista and i'll only say this once is a pices of SHIT no offence but linux OS has less bugs than mac and microsux OS.

[CMuffa @ Nov 30th 2006 12:42PM]

I just called CompUSA in Southeastern PA and they have no idea what I was talking about. "But you can pre-order it sir"....is all the guy would say to me.

[SpoonDogSVT @ Dec 1st 2006 1:46AM]

CrapUSSR just quoted me $150-ish upgrade/$360-ish full version PER LICENSE for Vista, and businesses must buy AT LEAST 5 (in some combination of Vista + Office 2k7).

[Ray V @ Dec 7th 2006 9:49PM]

Has anyone actually gotten Vista/Office through Compusa? I ordered it on Nov 30th and have yet to see ANY license, download link, status report, etc. I hate floating my cash for somebody else's profit and am thinking about cancelling my order unless someone here has something encouraging to say

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