Microsoft Vista Ultimate gets the (PRODUCT) RED treatment

It's not like (PRODUCT) RED versions of Windows Vista haven't been shipping on associated systems for months now, but for those who'd prefer to keep the rig they have and just get a colorful / charitable upgrade to Microsoft's latest OS, this is for you. Listed on the official (PRODUCT) RED website and up for pre-order now at Amazon, the special edition of Windows Vista Ultimate is slated to ship on December 15th. There's not too many extras here to make you splurge for a second copy (a few new wallpapers and a big warm, fuzzy feeling are definitely nice, though), but those looking to get a new OS and support the push to end AIDS in Africa can buy in now for $219.95 ($64.95 for students).

[Via iStartedSomething, thanks Long Z.]

Read - (PRODUCT) RED website
Read - Pre-order at Amazon
Read - Pre-order for students

[msm @ Dec 8th 2008 2:57AM]

because (PRODUCT) BLUE would have been just too ironic.

[David @ Dec 8th 2008 3:05AM]

...... because the user was downloading too much pr0n onto their computer

[Chris @ Dec 8th 2008 3:31AM]

(PRODUCT) BLUE would've been fine but it's full title "(PRODUCT) Thank you Microsoft for stopping the computer when you did as to prevent my faulty hardware exploding and/or catching fire" just wasn't 'punchy' enough

[phate @ Dec 8th 2008 2:58AM]

You sir, are a asshat.

[phate @ Dec 8th 2008 3:01AM]

In other news, Microsoft has added another SKU to the OCD line up of operating systems and game consoles...

[derX @ Dec 8th 2008 3:02AM]

If one already has a sufficient amount of the most current version of Vista Ultimate and has a spare $219.95 (or $64.95, for students) hanging around why not just directly donate that money to an AIDS foundation instead?

[Richard @ Dec 8th 2008 3:25AM]

Shhh... you're ruining their profit margins...

[Eptin @ Dec 8th 2008 3:27AM]

... because than the customer doesn't get their copy of Vista?


Not that that's a bad thing.

[Dean @ Dec 8th 2008 3:29AM]

I think you answered your own question....

for those who DONT have a sufficient amount of the most current vista....

[D-Tronic @ Dec 8th 2008 4:13AM]

What about all the people that had perfectly working iPods, but bought the (Product) RED edition iPod Nano?

[tekd @ Dec 8th 2008 4:35AM]

I'm pretty sure MS doesn't expect existing Vista Ultimate owners to buy this unless they're building a new PC. But it's not like current computer owners don't sometimes need new licenses anyway.
The student price isn't too bad either, although my school has a contract so Ultimate is only $15 for me for the upgrade CD, which is all I need since I have an unused XP license. But if I needed a new from-scratch license this wouldn't be too bad.

Then again, if it was up to me I'd just go install Server 2008 for free if you're a student, then donate the $65.

[tuaamin13 @ Dec 8th 2008 7:25AM]

My school also offers Vista for free ($15 for media) through MSDNAA. This is, however, Business edition, and so some people would rather Ultimate (for features like Media Center). Some schools aren't part of MSDNAA so the students can't get Vista for free.

[Tony @ Dec 8th 2008 11:38AM]

Product Red is not meant to be a charity you just throw cash at. By buying their products, you are building a brand. Product Red is often accused of spending several times more money in advertising than the global fund.

But the idea is that once Product Red establishes itself, it will become a constant, reliable supply of cash for the Global Fund, unlike regular charities. Time will tell if this strategy is successful.

[tekd @ Dec 10th 2008 4:35PM]

My school does Vista Business for $8 and Ultimate for $15 (both on CD/DVD) so you should ask your school if they have any kind of a deal for Ultimate.
But I don't get anything for free afaik. MS gives free copies of Server 2008 to students everywhere though not much difference to me.

[David @ Dec 8th 2008 3:03AM]

Take your big giant balls elsewhere punk

[Steve @ Dec 8th 2008 3:06AM]

It does not matter whether it is red or blue or black, as long as it is vista, I don't want it.

[)ROFL( @ Dec 8th 2008 3:11AM]

You pulled that out of your ass, didn't you? Or do you just like jumping on the fucking bandwagon?

[David @ Dec 8th 2008 3:29AM]

What if it was white and had a pretty little, half-eaten fruit on it?

[Saad Rabia @ Dec 8th 2008 3:07AM]

So if we don't buy these product reds, the cooperations wont donate any money?

[Richard @ Dec 8th 2008 3:27AM]

Not to mention, how much of the money actually goes to the cause? How much is spent on the flashy packaging? The advertising campaigns?

[Chris @ Dec 8th 2008 3:33AM]

Yeah because that guy who started Microsoft doesn't give any money to charity

It's all you man.

[Saad Rabia @ Dec 8th 2008 6:10AM]

You didn't get me Chris, what Bill Gates does with his own money is his own issue, I don't really care what he'll be spending on donations, my point is, in general, aren't all these campaigns they do and advertisements about these Product Red's kind of kill the purpose? I mean if they are collecting $7 million from the Product Red's then spending them on ads, it becomes pointless and brings up the idea that what they are doing with Red is nothing but making people pay for the ads!!! And, if they are really donating money it shouldn't be a problem for them to do so without even doing any red or green stuff!

It's like saying: I'm going to donate money to the Africans in need but only if you buy my products, otherwise, no money for them!

That is fucking weak!

[Uncontrol @ Dec 8th 2008 6:31AM]

how can you type all of this with your hideous claws you troglodyte

[KarlW @ Dec 8th 2008 6:39AM]

No, they're saying that on these products, they will sacrifice some of their margin to charity.

They're by no means obliged to donate, and there typically aren't any ad campaigns just for (RED) editions of products. Even if there were, the company would pay for that from their own money. It wouldn't affect the amount they'd donate.

The real question is why it's taken Microsoft so long to release a RED edition. Vista sales are primarily by OEMs (which I assume doesn't include this version). Stand-alone sales were probably at their peak when Vista was launched. I very much doubt that this will bring oodles in for the RED campaign.

[Saad Rabia @ Dec 8th 2008 7:06AM]

@ Uncontrol: because I ain't the one named "Uncontrol", you hideous chimp.

@ KarlW: Hmm, you have a good point there, but isn't it silly to sacrifice some of their margin to charity only when we buy their products? I mean what is stopping them from calling all their products (RED) then doing whatever they like with the money? And I'm not talking only about Microsoft. Maybe I'm over thinking this, right?

[Samurai Jack @ Dec 8th 2008 11:36AM]

You're kind of missing the point. The idea is to add a (PRODUCT) RED version of something you're going to buy anyway. It's to make the cost of donating to charity painless for average consumers who may not be aware of the issue of AIDS in Africa or who may not want to make the effort to contribute in another way. Just advertising the products raises awareness of the problem.

Microsoft is doing a good thing here although I wish they had picked a different product. Most people don't buy retail versions of Windows, they get a new version when they buy a new computer. In that sense Microsoft is contributing with every (PRODUCT) RED computer that Dell sells. And given the (PRODUCT) RED [it's getting annoying typing that name...] iPod I can understand why they wouldn't do a Zune. So maybe they should have chosen an XBOX.

[Aleph @ Dec 8th 2008 3:10AM]

Since green is the opposite of (red) on a color wheel, does buying green infect more Africans with AIDS?

[)ROFL( @ Dec 8th 2008 3:13AM]

Wow... seriously?

[dale1v @ Dec 8th 2008 3:14AM]

I don't know what to say about this... at least it does a bit for charity. But is wallpaper all that goes with it? O_o

On another note, the first fool to say "Apple had product red first", or mentions anything to do with apple vs MS gets a kick in the teeth.

[Michael T @ Dec 8th 2008 3:20AM]

But you, kind sir, just did. =P

[digitallysick @ Dec 8th 2008 3:16AM]

Wallpapers!!! im soooo sold!! it would of been to much to make it come with some decent fucking apps, like the ultimate version should of had, real extras and not stupid backgrounds . but bitching aside it is nice i guess for them to do

[Luis A. @ Dec 8th 2008 3:16AM]

So I think 64 dollars for vista is good. But when I went to the page it says its an upgrade? I thought Ultimate was just that. Is the Student version the "Ultimate upgrade" version? can someone clarify? I want to install Vista on my 2nd partition on OS X. That price is really good.

And I have XP, but after looking at OS X in all its shininess, XP looks horrible. I want something that looks at least comparable to OS X.

[dale1v @ Dec 8th 2008 3:18AM]

*shines steel tip boot*

[Whunpo @ Dec 8th 2008 3:20AM]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/2/2/the-manifold-faces-of-vista/

I think that should be mentioned.

[Jack Storm @ Dec 8th 2008 4:11AM]

wow that was bad
..
and not bad as in good just plain bad.

[ThomasBags @ Dec 8th 2008 6:00AM]

Vista AIDS is real

[GenBanks @ Dec 8th 2008 3:24AM]

Imagine if we lived in a world filled only with people as unabashedly excitable as big giant balls. There would be chaos, and anarchy as people screamed about petty things with wild excitement. Not to mention the fact that the internet would become wholly unmanageable.

[L.M.L.Y.P @ Dec 8th 2008 3:25AM]

is it bad that i just pirated this version?
sorry... i had no idea.

[Richard @ Dec 8th 2008 3:29AM]

It has new copy protection on it. If you don't have a valid license, you get full blown AIDS.

Pirate.

:p

[Big GIANT Balls @ Dec 8th 2008 3:31AM]

Why can't I post on this story anymore?

[Evan @ Dec 8th 2008 3:52AM]

How do I properly respond to this question...

[andres @ Dec 8th 2008 4:00AM]

because you touch yourself at night

[Big GIANT Balls @ Dec 8th 2008 3:35AM]

What is an asshat?

Whats wrong with yelling FIRST!!! It is exciting to be first, it doesn't happen very often. I think you guys might just be jealous you didn't get it.

[Evan @ Dec 8th 2008 3:48AM]

Go ahead, say first, I don't care. But by all means, actually leave a fricking comment in addition to your overwhelming joy of being the first comment on a news story posted at 2:53 AM.

[Nimmo @ Dec 8th 2008 3:49AM]

It is interesting that I just went and used the student discount yesterday to buy a copy of office and word and then today I notice this.

Although, interestingly this is the first I have heard of this (product) Red thing, is it mainly a US thing, or am I just living under a rock?

[absinthe party @ Dec 8th 2008 7:19AM]

This is the first time I've noticed that student discounts are good for something other than discounted movie tickets. I guess it's time for me to go back to school.

[Big GIANT Balls @ Dec 8th 2008 3:51AM]

I live on the west coast, it was only 11:56 pm when I posted. That isn't so bad. The real question is, what are you still doing out of bed mister?

[Geir E @ Dec 8th 2008 4:07AM]

...With new and improved Windows Defender, now also fights AIDS!

[mike @ Dec 8th 2008 4:38AM]

Vista? Huh? Windows 7 is coming out soon, and they're gonna charge you again for that one. Skip Vista, donate money directly to a charitable cause.

[sys_ops911 @ Dec 8th 2008 4:41AM]

so which version of vista IS this anyway... or is it a hybrid?