Microsoft Announces Vista Launch Dates

By Geoff Duncan November 2, 2006

Microsoft has reportedly pulled the trigger on what’s sure to be one of the largest—and most-watched—software launches to date, the release of Microsoft Windows Vista. Belying rumors of last-minute problems which may have delayed release, the company has confirmed it will release Windows Vista to corporate customers on November 30th, 2006, and the consumer on January 31st, 2007.

Microsoft will also release Office 2007 on November 30, 2006.

Windows Vista will be available in six separate versions at different price points to match the needs and capabilities of different Windows Users. Three editions are aimed at business users (Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate), two at home users (Home Basic and Home Premium), and one at markets in developing nations. Ongoing antitrust issues mean a separate edition (sans selected components) will be available for the European Union, and a separate edition is likely for the South Korean market, where Microsoft is also facing antitrust scrutiny.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Computing

Microsoft finds a sneaky way to slip more ads into Windows

The new windows 11 start menu.

Microsoft is currently testing a new way to showcase ads on the Windows 11 Start Menu, and it's meant to encourage users to download more applications.

The brand has used the top of the Windows start menu as an area to showcase general ads in the past, and it was not well-received by system users. However, it is now experimenting with putting what it calls “app promotions” at the bottom of the start menu area, according to Windows Central.

Computing

Intel Battlemage graphics cards: release date speculation, price, specs, and more

Intel Arc A770 GPU installed in a test bench.

Despite a rocky start, Intel's Arc GPUs are now among the best graphics cards you can buy. Targeting budget PC gamers, Intel has established itself as a major player in gaming graphics cards, and all eyes are on Team Blue with its next generation of GPUs, codenamed Battlemage.

We know Battlemage GPUs are coming, and Intel has slowly been dropping hints about the graphics cards over the past year. Although we're still waiting on an official release date, specs, and pricing details for Battlemage GPUs, there's a lot we can piece together already.
Intel Battlemage: specs

Computing

Steam Deck 2: release date speculation, specs, pricing

Steam Deck held between two hands.

It's a matter of when we'll see the Steam Deck 2, not if we'll see it. Valve has talked publicly multiple times about its plans for a next-gen Steam Deck, which shouldn't come as a surprise given that the original is easily the best handheld gaming PC you can buy.

Although the Steam Deck 2 is still a few years off, Valve has been dropping hints about the handheld for a while. Here's everything we know about the Steam Deck 2 right now, from the possible release date to details on specs and performance.
Steam Deck 2: release date speculation