"Microsoft To Ship All OS Bits With Every Version Of Vista"

ActiveWin.com - Microsoft To Ship All OS Bits With Every Version Of Vista

"Microsoft plans to market several versions of Vista but will distribute all of the OS bits with every product shipped so users can easily unlock and step up to more full-featured versions using electronic keys, sources said. "No matter which edition you buy you get all the bits and a key to unlock it. Everyone will have all the bits," said one source familiar with Microsoft's plans. "Right now we maintain master images for each version of Windows XP and it's a lot of work. Now there's just one master image." Having a master Windows Vista operating system means customers that buy PCs preloaded with one Vista SKU, Home Basic, for example, will be able to punch their credit card into a Microsoft Web site to unlock Vista Home Premium and more speedily deploy media center features without an on-site visit or requiring a wipe and reload of the system."

That's pretty darn cool... if it really happens with the Vista RTM.

I have to wonder how MS is going to secure this. I mean this sounds like a piraters' wet dream...Maybe combinded with an uber "Windows Validation" for all patches? So someone might be able to illegally unlock a higher end version, but then never update it or download anything from MS?

Anyway, for legal users, this is a very neat feature. I can see this helping me with my parents and daughter. They can get the Basic version and then easily (i.e. without my help ;) upgrade to a higher end version when/if they want to. No re-install or upgrade. etc. That's just cool...

It's got to help MS with their patch/SP management too. Just one OS image to manage, no matter how many SKU's...

Come to think about it... Does this mean MS could release a "free" version of Vista? A very basic version, which you can later pay to unlock cool/extra stuff? Give this to OEM's so there's no cost to them for providing Vista, but still gives them upsell capability to highed end versions.

Talk about competing with Linux on price ...