I have currently counted only a few extras: Some extra sounds, 2 new games (only small windows games), Dreamscene (which anyone can now get on any edition) and the language packs.

I feel ripped off. I think that all people with Vista Ultimate should receive a free upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate. This would make me feel a little better about it, but I still feel that Microsoft has let all its best customers down.

I bought Vista Ultimate 2 weeks after it was released. 6 months later I made the permanent switch to Mac and got a job at Apple. Unfortunately, my programming requires Windows so I will be needing Windows 7. Needless to say, I will not be paying for a copy.

Over the next couple years???!! Are you kidding me?? I’ll buy a new computer by then! And I already bought the retail version of this OS like 10 months ago!

@smellywinsock: I understand you’re point of view, but you’re missing the point. Please refer back to the screen capture at the top of this post. There is no way anyone at microsoft could possibly defend this as legitimate advertising. And this advertising is the reason I upgraded to Vista at all! If I wanted Vista home, I would have just stuck with XP. So I would have saved a lot more than 80 bucks. More than that, if MS would have said this is all there is to Ultimate, I never would have paid for this version. My Mac friends are laughing at me for being duped once again. I really want to defend microsoft, but they’re making it virtually impossible. I have no idea what they’re doing anymore, or what their planning for the future of microsoft, and my confidence in MS is severely diminishing. I’m going to read through the Apple site for the first time in my life just to see what my options are. If MS delivered what they promised, that wouldn’t be necessary.

I expected tools to really customize and tweak vista. So much for that.

Why there are so many troublesome versions anyway.

Keep it simple HOME -> PRO -> SERVER 3 versions are good enough.

AND everyone gets extra toys when it comes to updates. Because everyone of us has paid money for it!

Even though you make valid points. You’re forgetting that the way MS advertised Vista Ultimate was that these “extras” would make the whole experience of purchasing the Ultimate version worthwhile.

You’re overlooking the fact that what they delivered, about making Ultimate different from the other versions of Vista, is short of what they promised.

So what Vista Ultimate customers got a few extras? That’s not the point. The point is that they fabricated their product’s features to something it’s NOT. So they lied about it. Only AFTER they started to receive angry e-mails and phone calls did they say “sorry” and mention “over the next couple years”.

I’m sure you’d feel a little different about it if you purchased Vista Ultimate expecting everything a corporation advertised.

While I know many people didn’t buy a retail copy, but home use consumers that did were offered quite a few extras from the gate. The “gifts” included a free printer, free thumb drive, free wi-fi adapter, etc. Only consumers who purchased Ultimate were entitled to these exclusive gifts. That alone would cover the difference in cost for consumers that took advantage of it.

I’m not saying Microsoft doesn’t need to offer more in the Ultimate Extras section, I just don’t see the need to get upset about things that can be had for free elsewhere,about missing newsletters that would only glorify the product even further or offer news updates that could be found on any number of other sites/blogs.

The main selling point of Ultimate were the integration of business features like BitLocker, added faxing capabilities, enhanced security, etc. This is why I just cant fathom that the majority of people purchased Ultimate on the notion of a free newsletter, or exclusive screensaver. Even if they did, they were going completely on speculation, or preconceived notions of what to expect as Ultimate Extras.

My point is that I believe Ultimate owners already got a few extra programs and features that others did not. There is also more to come, whether that be another language update or a truly innovative program, who knows? In either case its just more icing on the proverbial cake that already has a few extra layers,more sprinkles, and better taste than the Premium cupcake.

I don’t think you are right, Microsoft did promise much more than it delivered:
http://www.istartedsomething.com/20070923/ultimate-extras-con/

While Texas Hold’em and Dreamscene may theoretically be considered “Cutting Edge ProgramS” …

… there was not a single “innovative service” offered through Windows Ultimate Extras so far. No free online storage or premium Windows Live Mail etc.
… no free “unique publications” either. No free ebook for Ultimate owners.

Microsoft did NOT deliver all promised extras …