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I also hear that pirated versions will do a check to see if the software is stolen. If so, then Aero will be disabled.
To be honest I don't see why users should have to PAY MORE for an Aero version. The cost of Windows is already too high. If Bill Gates wanted to, he could easily sell it at half the price and still make millions. Then they wonder why people are so keen to pirate it...
I'm just hoping the non-Aero version of Vista still allows you to choose from a rainbow colour slider for the graphics. One thing I hate about XP is that it only comes with 3 colour schemes! To get more, you have to rely on third-party skinning programs, or switch to the horrible flat concrete-like look of Windows 98.
Now I'm thinking of either sticking with XP for longer, moving to Apple or Linux, or saving up for a version of Vista that has Aero. I feel Microsoft will damage their sales no end by doing this, as frustrated people like myself say "Enough is enough!" and move to other operating systems.
The cost of Windows is already too high.
Its a bargain for those who spend lots of time in front of a computer, especially for those who earn living from using that software. Look at price of modern games - Windows that you will use many more hours than 4 games is sure worth the price.
Almost nobody buys retail Windows anyway - most people get new version of OS via purchase of new PC, OEMs pay something like $60 to Microsoft for it - pretty good price, the same as one game for a console.
If Bill Gates wanted to, he could easily sell it at half the price and still make millions.
He can't even if he wanted to - such move would lead to serious drop in share price and Bill Gates will certainly get a class action lawsuit - he has legal responsibility to maximise shareholders value. He can't drop price of Windows, but he can donate money he earns to good causes.
...if the cost of the OS truly exceeded its utility it wouldn't have 90% of the marketplace.
A 90% reached by penalising vendors who did not sell PCs with Windows on, so the majority were forced to. There are other reasons Windows is so prevalent.
I'm not going to knock the usefulness of Windows. I use it everyday at home and at work. I love XP despite its faults. However, when I thought about buying a second copy to install on another PC, well the cost just seemed too high to me. And if Vista with Aero is going to cost even more (who knows the exact price) then maybe it's time to switch.
Remember, Linux don't cost a cent. (If only it ran all Adobe software, I think a lot more people would try it out.)
Back when MS finally announced the different versions of Vista [webmasterworld.com] that would be available they told us that all of the Vista editions, except for Vista Starter and Vista Home Basic, will include the new Windows Aero UI. Keep in mind that they also have Vista Home Premium and Vista Ultimate for those who want more features.
And the rest of us can spend a little extra $ on our OS as we have done with our computers.
