UK families barred from massive Vista discounts

 

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By Barry Collins

Posted on 19 Jan 2007 at 11:16

UK families are being denied savings of up to £400 on Windows Vista, following Microsoft's decision to restrict a new discount scheme to US customers.

American families are being offered the chance to buy two additional licences of Vista Home Premium for just $50 (£25) each, when they buy a retail copy of Vista Ultimate. Full retail copies of Home Premium will cost around £220 in the UK. Microsoft claims the scheme will "make it easier for households with multiple PCs to make the move to Windows Vista."

However, the company clearly doesn't want to make it easier for British buyers, who will already pay more for Vista than their US counterparts, as the family discount is only being offered in North America.

A Microsoft spokesperson declined to explain why the offer wasn't being extended across the Atlantic. Instead, the company issued the following statement. "The program is time-limited, running from General Availability of Windows Vista (January 30, 2007) through June 30, 2007. As the program progresses, Microsoft will evaluate the results and determine whether to continue or modify the program."

This isn't the only instance of UK buyers getting a rough deal on Microsoft products. Last year, PC Pro exclusively revealed how the company expects British buyers to pay up to 70 per cent more for Office 2007.

Microsoft has also announced that both Vista and Office will be available for download for the first time.