With Windows Vista coming out in two weeks, countless gullible fools will probably spend a fortune on major upgrades, or new computers, just to make Bill gates another $80 Billion. A full version of Vista (as opposed to an upgrade version) will probably cost Rs.18000 to buy. I'm willing to bet a full copy of Windows Vista Premium will cost more than a bottom of the line brand new computer. Don't believe me? Just wait and see.

There are at least four versions of Vista, and I'd suggest not buying any of them unless Microsoft has changed dramatically by reducing prices, offering free technical support, posting an email contact number for suggestions and complaints, done away with PRODUCT ACTIVATION (the worst idea ever), and releases a free service pack 3 for Windows XP that removes the PRODUCT ACTIVATION feature, includes all cumulative updates for Windows XP from the last service pack 2 release up to and including the present, and fixes the ridiculous limits on hard drive sizes that exist for no other reason than poor planning or an intentional oversight to make you buy the newest version of Windows!

It drives me absolutely crazy to know how many millions of people are going to go out and make Bill Gates even richer than he already is when they must know deep down that they're just going to get ripped off again by him. How can anyone support product Activation, no technical support, and no way to even send an email to the company when all they get for hundreds of dollars is poorly written, bug-riddled computer code?

A full copy of Windows XP costs between Rs. 6,500 and Rs. 7,500. A bottom of the line Celeron Processor that will run it with no problem can be bought for as low as Rs. 2000. In what world does it make sense for an operating system to cost as much as triple the cost of the CPU chip that runs it?

Don't buy Vista, and send Bill Gates a message that he can't keep using his monopoly to charge insane fees for an inferior and defective product, with a copy protection scheme thought up by a mental midget. No more Product Activation or unrealistic size limitations used as a poorly disguised marketing ploy to get you to buy the latest version of Windows just to get an operating system with new errors and new limitations that must be overcome.


The best copy protection scheme in existence is this: a reasonably priced product with free technical support and (yes, here it comes) an actual manual that explains the features. If a software company can produce a 3 GB video game, supply a manual, free technical support, email contact information, and then charge between Rs. 1300 and Rs. 2500 for their product, then why can't Microsoft? Is Microsoft just not very good? (like anyone needs an answer)


I think it's time IBM, Dell, Gateway, Compaq, and HP got together and produced a new operating system to give consumers a real choice. Don't kid yourselves, they have the resources to do it, they just need to know that there is a market.

Again, don't rush to buy Windows Vista.