New Vista Stuff RC3 Vista News Discuss New Vista Stuff RC3 in the Windows Vista forums; ActiveSync is no more for Microsoft Windows Vista and is getting a face lift called the Windows Mobile Device Center. Windows Mobile Device Center RC3 is available for the following ...

[Snuffy]

ActiveSync is no more for Microsoft Windows Vista and is getting a face lift called the Windows Mobile Device Center.
Windows Mobile Device Center RC3 is available for the following versions of Microsoft Windows Vista RC1.

# Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (x86 and 64-bit)
# Microsoft Windows Vista Professional (x86 and 64-bit)
# Microsoft Windows Vista Premium (x86 and 64-bit)
# Microsoft Windows Vista Server (x86 and 64-bit)
# Microsoft Windows Vista Home (x86 and 64-bit)
# Microsoft Outlook XP, and Microsoft Outlook 2003 messaging and collaboration clients
# Microsoft Office XP
# Microsoft Office 2003

The following mobile device operating systems are supported by Windows Mobile Device Center Beta:

# Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0
# Messaging and Security Feature Pack for Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0
# Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
# Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003
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Currently it is available as a Release Candidate 3 (RC3) for download.

Windows Mobile Device Center Beta 3 for Windows Vista (x86)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

Windows Mobile Device Center Beta 3 for Windows Vista (AMD64)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...DisplayLang=en

[Znod]

Yes, I am using beta 3 with my Pharos 525. It works well, in general, but can be a tad temperamental.

[Snuffy]

Microsoft to offer Vista ‘Family Pack’ discount for Ultimate usersEven though the retail launch of Windows Vista just a couple of weeks away, Microsoft is still continuing to fine-tune its licensing and pricing details.

Sources said that Microsoft will announce some time over the next few days that the company will allow Vista Ultimate customers to purchase two additional copies of Vista Home Premium for somewhere between $50 to $99 a piece.

In order to qualify for the so-called "Family Pack" promotion, customers will first need to purchase at retail a copy of Vista Ultimate, which carries an estimated retail price of $399 U.S. The deal will not be offered to those who purchase Ultimate preloaded on a new PC, sources said; it will be for customers buying and/or upgrading via retail channels only.

Sources close to Microsoft were sketchy about some of the particulars. The exact price of the additional copies isn't clear: Some believe it will be $49.95 per copy; others, $99.95. Vista Home Premium's current estimated retail price is $239 per copy.

Microsoft is making multiple versions of Vista available on a single DVD, as part of its Windows Anytime Upgrade marketing plan. As a result, users who want to take advantage of the new promotion will be able to "unlock" the additional licenses from their DVD using a software key after paying for the additional copies by credit card, sources said.

Microsoft officials did not respond to a request for comment on the Family Pack promotion by the time this blog entry was published.

Ever since it announced its Vista pricing and licensing terms last year, Microsoft has been fine-tuning them, based on requests (and outcry) from its customer base.

In November 2006, Microsoft relaxed its policy regarding the number of devices upon which customers will be permitted to install legally a copy of Vista. Microsoft made the change due to complaints among its user — and especially, its power-user — base.

Some Microsoft developers and testers, most notably, Windows-Now.com founder Robert McLaws, have been advocating for Microsoft to consider some kind of family-licensing program. McLaws has been arguing since last summer that such a plan could benefit both Microsoft and its customers, if done right.

McLaws blogged in August 2006:

"If Microsoft were to make this (family discount program) happen, and every home that has more than one computer were to upgrade, Microsoft could realize at least $900 Million dollars in additional revenue. … I know not EVERY family will upgrade every computer, but of all the families I know, most have at least two computers in their house, and of those, most would rather upgrade them all at once.

"It’s a plan that has the potential to eliminate families unintentionally pirating software, AND it could get Vista onto millions of additional PCs. Will Microsoft actually do it? We’ll just have to wait and see."

Ultimately (no pun intended), the Family Pack discount is just one more way Microsoft is looking to continue to grow the Windows revenue stream, in a market where Windows already has more than 95 percent desktop operating-system market share.

News Source: ZDNet Blogs

[Znod]

Nice info Snuffster. You are a real fount of info. And, I greatly appreciate your efforts in keeping us informed.

[mojavekroc]

Snuffy,

That really is big news. I think that Microsoft should think of doing this with all of the versions of Vista, not just Ultimate.

By doing this, they will get a lot more people to install Vista..

I also think that they should have went up to 5 pcs in your home. This is more common than most think..

In any case, this is a good move on Microsoft's part..

[Snuffy]

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/more...ebiegames.mspx

great freebie games
From action to classics, RPG to shooter, they're all free 3 Great ones. Plus the Great one(s) that come with Vista Ultimate..