September 23rd, 2007

Vista SP1 "tries to hide the Ultimate Extras shame"

Posted by Adrian Kingsley-Hughes @ 5:09 am

Categories: Microsoft, Vista

Tags: Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Windows Vista SP1, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Operating Systems, Software, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

While many are waiting on Windows Vista SP1 to come along to knock off some of Vista’s rough corners, it seems that some at Microsoft will welcome the release too - specifically Microsoft’s Windows Ultimate group.

Long Zheng explains why:

On a related note, Windows Vista Service Pack 1 even tries to hide the Ultimate Extras shame by removing much of the information in the Control Panel applet. This is what you see in the current RTM version about Ultimate Extras.

This is what you see in Service Pack 1.

This dramatic change to the wording is basically Microsoft’s way of trying to pull the curtain on the cornucopia of Windows Ultimate Extras that were initially promised to customers.  Forget the “cutting-edge programs,” the “innovative services” and “unique publications” because there aren’t any.  If you’re still holding out hope for any exciting Extras, you might as well give up now because it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing any.  Face up to it, if you bought Windows Vista Ultimate because you hoped to get your hands on cool Extras, you were conned, and being conned sucks.

So far the Extras that we have seen have been dismal and the ones that are allegedly still in the pipeline (a final release of DreamScenes and a handful of language packs) are even more dreary and uninspiring, and that’s if we ever see them (actually, not seeing them might be better).  The unofficial Powertoys that Microsoft made available for previous versions of Windows were a lot more exciting (and useful). 

Anyone else feel conned?