Votes | Average: 0 out of 5 Votes | Average: 0 out of 5 Votes | Average: 0 out of 5 Votes | Average: 0 out of 5 Votes | Average: 0 out of 5 (Be the first to rate this article) Loading ... Loading ...

by Mike Zazaian September 22, 2006 - 11:32am, 27 Comments

Vista's Upgrade Anytime interface

Microsoft is tidying up the mess it made by releasing eight versions of Windows Vista by keeping them all on one disk

While many have criticized Microsoft’s choice to release eight different versions of its upcoming OS, they’ve made some degree of amends by packing all eight Windows Vista versions onto one disk for consumers. Upgrade Anytime as it’s called would simply package a different product code with each disk, giving the user the ability to upgrade at a later date simply by acquiring a different code.

According to a statement from Microsoft upgrade codes will be available through Microsoft’s Solution Provider partners and PC makers, but not directly through Microsoft’s website. After purchase users will receive their new product key either through an email or directly from the seller’s website, at which point a simple upgrade is done by entering the new key code in the Upgrade Anytime interface. Surprisingly simple for a Microsoft product.

When asked if the new packaging scheme would pose security risks, a representative for Microsoft simply noted that Vista will be, The most secure version of Windows yet. The Microsoft representative might have to take his statement up with Bob Gleichauf, the chief technology officer in Cisco Systems’ security technology group. To Gleichauf, Vista is a ticking timebomb of security issues:

Parts of Vista scare me. Anything with that level of systems complexity will have new threats, as well as bringing new solutions. It’s always a struggle in security, trying to build for what you don’t know.

[via cnet]