Microsoft Vista Plus! Pack in the works?

If the idea of a $40 Plus! Pack gets your Vista-loin in a sweat then listen up. It appears that Microsoft might be launching a Microsoft Plus! Pack on February 15th. This according to that box art above discovered on the Canadian Future Shop site. However, the text found describing the Plus Pack appears to be describing Vista Ultimate which makes the whole thing a tad, shall we say, suspect. Hey, who needs Vista Ultimate Extras anyway when you can have "4 Games in one!"?

[Via WinBeta]

[Michael @ Mar 2nd 2008 5:21PM]

Hello all,

According to the Microsoft Website, they are currently discontinuing on the Plus! Pack at the moment, however, it looks as if Microsoft was going to add more functionality to Windows Home Basic because, millions of it's customer's have been asking for it, and were even asking for it in XP Home and regular Pro. For Example: Media Center; Apparently, there has always been away to add Media Center 2005 to non-Media Center versions of XP and 2003. It was just that, until a few years ago, only Microsoft Technical people knew this, and once it was leaked (Check out this information on The Green Button Community: http://thegreenbutton.com/forums/post/18937.aspx), it actually infuriated the public including and especially those that paid almost $400.00 to get the Media Center Edition OS from Microsoft (it only came in a full version and no-upgrade edition). It comes as no surprise to me that Microsoft would include that in a Plus! Pack (for only $40) before the secret of Media Center 2007 was leaked. And, that's just a small example. There was alot of other things that Microsoft did that pissed off the public with Windows XP and are still doing actually, so, this Plus! Pack (maybe even Service Pack 1) may actually be a way of Microsoft actually pre-emptively appeasing it's public audience before all their secrets are leaked.

Thank you,
Starflare5.

[albi @ Jan 16th 2008 5:49AM]

The last retail box I brought from microsoft was a windows xp plus package. and it was a totla waste, So i am not going to buy this one for sure.
well another reason for this is because im using mac now.

[Chebwa @ Jan 16th 2008 9:26AM]

...so your comment is, "I am using a Mac so I won't be buying a Windows Vista pack."

Insightful.

[stephenbratz2 @ Jan 16th 2008 12:52PM]

You are right, we should never have to pay for extra, optional addon software that was not included with the base OS. And Apple never does something like this. If this includes a map application that is free on the web, something like notepad but with a yellow background, a stock app, a weather app, and they make me pay for it, then I am definately switching to something better.

[roach @ Jan 16th 2008 5:48PM]

stephenbratz2...you haven't been keeping with engadget news have you? Apple is also charging iTouch user features that should also be free download.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/15/poll-are-you-spending-20-on-new-ipod-touch-apps/

[Mark @ Jan 16th 2008 8:29PM]

@roach
I do believe that was the entire point of his post. Run to the store quick, they might have some sense of humour left in stock!

[Hung @ Jan 16th 2008 8:32PM]

Roach, you must not understand verbal irony at all.

This claim can be supported by either one of two points: (1) you failed to see the irony in stephenbratz2's post, or (2) you completely failed to inject any irony into your statement in order to play along.

As a matter of fact, doing the latter would just make you a douche without a sense of humor, so I'm sticking with the first option.

[muddyh2o @ Jan 16th 2008 5:53AM]

no doubt, the microsoft 'plus packs' are for idiots. they're not worth a penny. often they are given away as prizes from your friendly local microsoft rep, a prize which is met with about as much excitement as receiving a sweater on christmas.

why aren't microsoft working on those Vista Ultimate Extras? didn't we hear that the extras would be coming out soon? or should i be happy with a crappy poker game...

[Superprime @ Jan 16th 2008 7:19AM]

WHAT? Microsoft reps have always given me Retail copies of Windows, Mice, Keyboards and T-shirts.

If there's one thing I love about Microsoft is their gift giving policy

[Nikkoli @ Jan 16th 2008 8:36AM]

I agree. As a developer when I go to the local free conferences that MS hosts, their free giveaways are great, and their raffle at the end is even better!

[System48 @ Jan 16th 2008 10:04AM]

Ultimate Extra's? I guess they said, screw those people make them pay more.

[TomTom2007 @ Jan 16th 2008 10:56AM]

ah the pirate bay? I suppose?

[Shan @ Jan 16th 2008 12:11PM]

Oh come on.. that sweater your mum gave you, looked lovely!

[Chance Johnson @ Jan 16th 2008 6:19AM]

Hmmmm, i'll have to check the info on that Sku when i get to work tomorrow....

[soulbabel @ Jan 16th 2008 6:28AM]

ahhh... this article makes me all nostalgic about Microsoft Plus! for
Windows 95. Too bad the rest of the plus packs seem pretty worthless.

[jbhitter24 @ Jan 16th 2008 6:36AM]

i want my freaking extras dangit!

[Majormauser @ Jan 16th 2008 6:37AM]

They better without fail offer this as a FREE upgrade to Vista Ultimate users.

[DAZA @ Jan 16th 2008 6:51AM]

I would say this is exactly what they plan to do. They know very well there haven't been a lot of "Ultimate Extras" so I would say these will be offered free to Ultimate owners and an optional extra for others.

[nxtiak @ Jan 16th 2008 7:08AM]

Sigh.. yeah, all this crap is suppose to be FREE FOR VISTA ULTIMATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mark Perkins @ Jan 16th 2008 7:31AM]

No.

[Attillia @ Jan 16th 2008 7:47AM]

'which makes the whole thing a tad, shall we say, suspect'

Honestly Engadget! You need to get someone to read over these posts!

[Hax Or @ Jan 16th 2008 9:49AM]

Please make your own blog instead of criticiquing others. It's unnecessary static.

You're doing it wrong.

[JLTate @ Jan 16th 2008 10:19AM]

Actually... I'd be happier if more people didn't decide to jump on the bandwagon and make their own blog. There's far too many pointless ones out there as it is.

[aleks @ Jan 16th 2008 7:57AM]

Finally! Now I've got a reason to buy Vista.

[Christian Martin @ Jan 16th 2008 8:02AM]

Okay, I'll feed the conspiracy trolls...

Notice how the letters in the blocks spell "OSX" backwards.

[johnzilla @ Jan 16th 2008 11:11AM]

Nice catch!

[Jason Cox @ Jan 16th 2008 10:04AM]

It's official... Ultimate Extras is now dead.

[DarkSi @ Jan 16th 2008 8:21AM]

The games shown are Chuzzle, Zuma, and other PopCap games. It's not surprising to see MS charging for them. As a matter of fact, it's half-off of retail.

[Ken Klassy @ Jan 16th 2008 8:23AM]

oh please, no

[locke6854 @ Jan 16th 2008 8:25AM]

i *would* like to see this "enhanced for vista" zuma!

[euclid @ Jan 16th 2008 8:26AM]

"Vista-loin"

cracked me up.

[Constable Odo @ Jan 16th 2008 8:37AM]

Major dissatisfaction, so I bitch, groan, mumble and weep. Wants name changed to Minus! Pack.

[Jim @ Jan 16th 2008 8:41AM]

More bloat-ware.... Now 15% slower with the Plus Package!

[BobTurbo @ Jan 16th 2008 8:41AM]

This is bigger than the Macbook Air!

[Galley @ Jan 16th 2008 8:55AM]

Hey, is that the McDonald's Fry Guy?

[Brodie @ Jan 16th 2008 9:03AM]

I'll be damned if it's not...

You gotta wonder why Microsoft chose them over Grimace, the Hamburgler or Mayor McCheese for that matter...

[Qsat @ Jan 16th 2008 9:14AM]

Too late for this pack, like many others, i just 'upgrade' to XP and it's great!! Never going back to vista...

[NNTPgrip @ Jan 16th 2008 9:31AM]

They really should drop Vista, End of Life support at the end of 2009, extend XP, apologize, take the newly freed up resources and finish Windows 7.

You know, sort of like what they did with WinME.

[Mark @ Jan 16th 2008 10:37AM]

That would be awesome. Well, for those who never upgraded.

One thing that is different this time around, is Vista was marketed towards corporations, while ME was targeted towards home users. With home users upgrading isn't so bad since it is just one or two maybe even 3 computers, but with corporations deploying hundreds and thousands of computers with new Vista upgrades...it makes the whole situation much worst.

Then again, which corporations would actually waste time and money upgrading to Vista anyways (I mean besides software developers who need to have a Vista skin in their screenshots)?

[JLTate @ Jan 16th 2008 10:31AM]

Allow me to ask you this: have you actually used Vista beyond at a Best Buy on a locked down $500 laptop?

It's not as bad as you people make it out to be... Yes, it has quirks but it's not like XP doesn't. All in all, it's a very well put together operating system by none other than the same people who made XP usable via Service Pack 2. It's certainly better thought out than XP was when it was first released, and Service Pack 1 RC actually has fixed the bugs that annoyed me (particularly the ridiculous file I/O speeds with Explorer).

And besides, Vista doesn't look like crap (which is more than what can be said about XP and its' fugly primary colors look).

[NNTPgrip @ Jan 16th 2008 11:43AM]

Yeah, I used Vista RTM(release to manufacturing - same as Jan. Retail) from Early December 06 when it was released to corporate customers. It was the "Ultimate" one. Used a brand new Intel board and Core 2. Around February installed XP on another drive, put kept using Vista as primary. In June, ditched Vista. Network performance was awful (to a Windows Server 2003 box even), everything just felt bloated. I even put 3Gig of ram into this box, and used their readyboost junk. Searched for and upgraded to the latest drivers/mb bios every two weeks. Did not put any extraneous third party junk on it. System is MUCH better in XP.

So, best possible scenario, and its still junk. SP1 won't fix anything. Upgrading a business is pointless. Any project that has started and finished under Ballmer is terrible.

[Michael S @ Jan 16th 2008 10:44AM]

Does this include bug fixes and speed enhancements?

[sesos @ Jan 16th 2008 11:32AM]

I'm with Michael S on this one. Also, Christian: that OSX catch is hilarious! Good work.

I will say that Vista's RC1 Refresh is quite a step in the right direction. I picked up more than 200 points in 3D Mark06 and things are certainly "snappier" in response times.

As far as Ultimate Extras: what were we really expecting?

[jschmier @ Jan 16th 2008 11:35AM]

Could this be the response to the brilliant Windows Ultimate Extras inactivity email by Long Zheng?

http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080109/ultimate-extras-inactive-reminder/

[Eric @ Jan 16th 2008 11:59AM]

Yup, like soulbabel said, the plus pack for 95 was a worthy purchase - provided real value-added to the OS... I don't know why MS is the only one that hasn't clued into the fact that people loved that pack for its utilities, not cheap games... every plus pack since has been "dancing baloney"

And, yes, I agree with all the others who have said it - any pluses they offer better be provided to those who paid for the ultimate extras

[Magallanes @ Jan 16th 2008 11:56AM]

But this vista plus looks diferent, it's show only games, so may be we will miss those lousy screensaver and theme with this version.

[Joshua @ Jan 16th 2008 12:08PM]

Hello dear friends.
Please, I say, is a casuallity that the boylover (child predators) symbol is in this logo?
Pedophiles, pederast and child porn in web use this symbol: compare please!
http://i16.tinypic.com/6kr1mwh.jpg
members search by INTERPOL and FBI...
If you need more information then go:

http://groups.msn.com/GuatemalaRecompensa10milDolaresAntipaidos/

Thanks. joshua Org. Antipedophile against the child porn = boylovers revolting!

http://boylovernet.mforos.com/

[TheNomad @ Jan 16th 2008 12:29PM]

Comparing the symbols to the paedophile symbols is like comparing the swastika to the Hindu symbols that are the 'same' barring that they are inverted (like the rune symbols on the cover of the Plus! pack).

[NNTPgrip @ Jan 16th 2008 12:45PM]

That is funny as hell. Vista is the gay pedophile uncle of XP...

[Joshua @ Jan 17th 2008 11:13AM]

Very much people violent against the babyes in Spain use the symbol sccout, they are boylovers. Much people in YouTube use the symbol Youngtubers or others clans to have boys in their clan, BLVR is boylover, sign in web site for kids, REVOLYOB (boylover)was a name used by child molester in USA (killer). Now in the web, satan circles are using this symbol... But you are "open mind people ".
Congrats for it.

Joshua