Buy Vista from hardware vendors get 50% discount

In preparation for next week's launch, Microsoft introduced a virtual Windows Vista system running on a web browser. In addition, users can purchase copies of operating systems from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for only half the retail price.

Microsoft's WindowsVistaTestDrive.com website gives people the opportunity to use a virtual computer to test new features of Windows Vista Business. The "Test Drive" server also installs Office 2007, helping users feel what the two new software will bring.

If you want to buy cheap software, customers can go to some sites like Newegg.com, which has started selling Vista OEM versions. Windows Vista Home Premium has an official price of 239 USD, but OEM copy is only 119.99 USD, Home Basic is 99.99 USD while Vista Ultimate is USD 199.99 (original price is 380 USD).

Windows Vista.Photo: KomoTV .

Many online retailers and original equipment manufacturing companies are also planning to promote separately for Vista. Toshiba has just announced three laptops using Vista, Satellite P105 (US $ 1550), U205 (US $ 1,300) and A135 (US $ 900 - US $ 1,500).

Amazon.com starts to discount $ 5 - $ 20 depending on the operating system version. Microsoft also allows consumers to buy and download this new software online.

Although Windows Vista is not yet available to consumers, the software group in Redmond, Washington (USA) has been preparing to release Service Pack 1 upgrade. Observers say this proves that Vista is not yet complete . " Vista SP1 will be a standard Service Pack, full of patches as well as product quality improvements ," the Microsoft representative said.

Meanwhile, according to research firm Gartner, although integrated in new computers, Windows Vista will account for only about 12.3% of home PC systems worldwide and Windows XP accounts for about 77.1%. .

Since 2008, Vista will begin to prove its superiority and become a popular operating system a year later with a market share of 55.4%. Vista's biggest rival is Apple Mac OS X, which is only about 2.9%.