Microsoft softens the blow, sorta...

Mary Jo Foley in her post

Microsoft to offer Vista ‘Family Pack’ discount for Ultimate users

sites the possibility that if a home user buys a full license of Windows Vista Ultimate (~$399.00 MSLP) that Microsoft will sell two additional licenses at a price somewhere between ~$49.00 and ~$99.00.

399 BLOWS!!!

49-99 seems just about right.

Bill Gates and Vista Vision

Thanks to some enterprising soul I was able to watch the majority of the CES 2007 Keynote address hosted by none other than that perennial CES Keynote Dignitary: William "Windows" Gates...

I am impressed with the direction that Microsoft has chosen in presenting its flagship product before the Consumer Electronic Show. Hype and multimedia glitz - sound and fury signifying little, to paraphrase the Bard. Appealing to the home user, the gamer and the family-picture-scrapper Windows Vista will be your link to your friends and your life. With a click the mouse or X-Box controller you can determine what your friends are doing and with whom. Even driving in your Ford you can enjoy the ubiquitous Microsoft connectivity.

In the course of the 66 minute presentation I think I heard the Office suite mentioned...er, uh, once... in passing.

[Amendment: Bill mentioned Office ... twice... in passing.]

This makes me very happy. Microsoft has declared its intended area of focus; Middle America. That leave business waving like a limp flag and serious computer users looking for a serious computing environment. I am excited because it appears that in going after the emotionally driven, vain 'Meriken middle market Microsoft is finally declaring itself to be the second seat OS that it really is.

Lives up to its name, is as good as its word...

Steven over at WinExtra pointed us toward a product that you just don't see every day. Here is a product that really does exactly what it claims. It comes clearly packaged, it is easy to install, does exactly what it says it will do, doesn't have any back-doors or hidden "features"... NaDa, zip ziltch, zero... just exactly what you would expect from every good software provider.

Go here, get yours => Get your NaDa here

I got mine and it is great!