I Want to Believe in Ultimate Extras
 Joe Wilcox
News Brief. But, once again, Microsoft has shattered my faith. |
This afternoon, Microsoft PR sent e-an mail about the release of new Ultimate Extras. I rushed to Windows Update, but they weren't there. Even when I find them—surely they will be available—how much extra will they be?
The new additions bring the Extras count to five categories and about a half-dozen nonlanguage downloads. Now who's really playing Hold `Em poker here, Microsoft or the customer who put out as much as 400 bucks for Windows Vista Ultimate and the promise of all those Extras? Genuine Windows ownership comes with rewards, right?
I had more fun enhancing Windows when "Themes" were the norm or when Microsoft offered "Plus" packs.
Today's Extras include a new Sound Schemes category and, count `em, two sound schemes: Glass and Pearl. I'm really looking forward to those glass sounds. As New Wave rocker Nick Lowe might say, "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass."
Another Extra: a third Windows DreamScape pack with more motion nature scenes. When I'm working alone, I just activate one of those DreamScapes. The continuous whirling of my laptop's fan is really good company. And when it's cold, I use DreamScape to heat up my laptop for warmth. The extra processing drain helps slow down applications, so I can break off from all my work. I just love it!
Finally, Ultimate Extras has more language packs. Thirty-five. I speak one-and-a-half languages, but a DreamScaper dreamer must have hopes.
But, wait, a terrible thought just came to me. My Vista Ultimate notebook doesn't have Service Pack 1 installed. I guess that means no more Extras without another leap of faith. Do I believe? Do you?
Related Posts:
- Are Exclusives and Extras the Ultimate?, Microsoft Watch 5, 2008
- SP1's Ultimate Challenge, Microsoft Watch, March 4, 2008
- Microsoft Pulls Troubled Vista Update, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 19, 2008
- Pre-SP1 Updates Whack Windows Vista, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 15, 2008
- Vista SP1 Goes MSDN, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 13, 2008
- The Vista RTM Question, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 7, 2008
- What's Good About Vista SP1?, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 4, 2008
- Microsoft Sort of Releases Vista SP1, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 4, 2008
- What Went Wrong with Windows Vista, Microsoft Watch, Dec. 6, 2007
- Broken Windows, Microsoft Watch, Aug. 9, 2007
- It's Not Ultimate Enough, Microsoft Watch, July 2, 2007
- Vista's Discount No More, Microsoft Watch, June 28, 2007
- The Vista Contradiction, Microsoft Watch, June 4, 2007
- How Does Windows Vista Rate?, Microsoft Watch, May 20, 2007
- The Trouble with Windows Vista Capable, Microsoft Watch, April 4, 2007
- How Ultimate Is This?, Microsoft Watch, Feb. 26, 2007
- Microsoft's Ultimate Disadvantage, Microsoft Watch, Jan. 28, 2007
- Windows Vista Family Discount Is No Ultimate Bargain, Microsoft Watch, Jan. 18, 2007
- Windows Ultimate Advantage, Microsoft Watch, Jan. 7, 2007
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Comments (5)
Joe -- it's even worse than you think.
Your post generated enough curiosity to see what the new "extras" were all about.
Upon installing them I got a blue screen (fault in non-paged area). Uh-oh.
After the reboot I tried again, this time with DreamScene disabled. Same blue screen. Uh-oh.
I then tried one-by-one starting with the sounds. The sounds installed fine. Then I went to install the DreamScene pack and BAM! ...the same blue screen appeared.
The first blue screen shocked me as the only time I've seen Vista blue screen on me was with some buggy drivers early on.
So for the premium I payed for Ultimate Extras I get some neat sounces, and a blue screen if I try for anything more. Not a bad ROI.
Yes, I'm running SP1 on x64 Ultimate. I don't know if someone could get a DreamScene pack to blue screen Vista SP1 during an install if they tried. That's talent.
On the bright side Microsoft has my error reports.
Posted by Kevin | April 22, 2008 8:44 PM
OK. I've been really patient, but Microsoft is starting to piss me off. This s*** is what I paid a premium price for? I could get more from a Plus! pack on Win XP. And they want me to invest in partner exclusives and spend more money? What a crock of s***. That's it, that's it, that's it! I'm switching to an OS that pays attention to and spoils their customers, and is not disconnected with reality. They need to pull their heads out of their SAAS. Grrrr!!!
Posted by Joshua | April 22, 2008 9:19 PM
The problem is that the Extras team is underfunded (zero funded, I believe)
I postulate that if Microsoft spent $1M they could outsource the whole problem and have greatness and Ultimate Love with zero impact on their own development teams.
I know for a fact that there is not a lack of great ideas internally and externally for simple things that people would love.
Posted by Petter | April 23, 2008 4:45 AM
So you've paid $400 for an OS on the promise of some extras, and when you finally get them, they crash your machine ?
Wow. And they wonder why Microsoft's reputation is heading down the toilet.
Me? I paid £125 - $250 - for a FIVE MACHINE upgrade to Leopard. Cool thing, it only comes in one flavour. A working flavour at that.
Still, I look back on my two frustrating hellish months with Vista and smile - after all, without that pain, I wouldnt have switched to a macBook Pro.
Thank you, the QA and Marketing team at Microsoft. Without your complete stupidity, I'd still be on XP.
---* Bill
Posted by Bill Buchan | April 23, 2008 6:08 AM
The "Wow" starts now?
Posted by Partners in Grime | April 28, 2008 11:35 PM