READY, SET...
(Update below)
As the Wall Street Journal indicated yesterday, Dell started to take order for computers with Vista installed around midnight Friday night, getting a head start on the official launch of Microsoft's new operating system scheduled for Tuesday, January 30th.
You can go to the Dell site right now and order a desktop or laptop with Vista to be delivered Tuesday or later.
HP also seems to have followed suit.
What's interesting is that the several other major PC makers haven't followed suit. They're all still offering "Express Upgrade" paths to Vista, which no one should really want, given the relative hassle involved, two business days from the official launch.
However, it's interesting that one still can't order a new Vista decked computer, even from Dell, with Microsoft Office 2007 installed.
Anyone have any insight on why Gateway, Toshiba, Lenovo and others aren't doing the same thing Dell is doing? Seems like they're competing with one hand behind their back.
Update:
As Zoli Erdos points out in the comment below, Costco seems to be selling not just computers with Windows Vista already, but also shrink-wrapped packages of Windows Vista AND Office 2007.
Again, not sure how Costco can jump the gun ahead of other retailers with the official launch still three days away. I'm assuming they're available from Costco as a pre-order, not actually available until Tuesday.
Costco Online started selling Vista PC's from Dell, HP and Toshiba today.
Posted by: Zoli Erdos | Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 10:24 PM