Trying Out Vista Can Be Trying

Looking before you leap is always a good idea with new software releases, particularly those from Microsoft. But some readers who have been taking Windows Vista and/or Office 2007 for a test spin are encountering some interesting problems. "I visited my local Staples the night of Vista's Jan. 30 release to use a coupon and acquire a copy of the Business edition for testing purposes," wrote one reader. "What I sa

A third reader's beta testing of the 64-bit version of Vista already had him sold on the product, but he has found actually acquiring it to be a major challenge. "I have used the 64-bit beta of Vista for the past six months or so and liked it. Nice clean reliable OS. So I preordered Vista from Amazon. It arrived today. I tried to install it as an upgrade to the beta version. No can do. The DVD that is provided from Microsoft doesn't have the 64 bit version on it (the beta DVD had both 32 and 64 bit versions) and in tiny, tiny print on the bottom of the very unique and hard to open Vista Professional box/housing/vault it says in about 6-point gray on black type: 'Includes 32-Bit DVD and information on obtaining 32-Bit CDs and 64-Bit DVD, additional fees may apply.' What the heck!? Amazon had no information on this when I ordered it, and now I gotta pay more for what I already paid for?"

"So, I look in the tiny instructions that came in the big hard to open and very uniquely shaped box, and find a website to go to in order to get the 64 bit version. I go there. I select United States as the country and press the "Order Now" button -- and go to limbo. I get a blank Explorer screen and that's it. I persisted -- spent three hours trying to get though their screens. Each screen took a long, long time (30 minutes or so) and multiple tries to get to the next page. Finally I got to where I could tell them my credit-card info and click that I want it. I click that button -- and nothing -- blank browser screen again. I checked on 'Help with your order' -- it suggests to contact them to use the contact information on the receipt page. I never got to the receipt page. Classic Catch-22. So I tried again. Same results. Started at the beginning, went through all the screens, and fails on the receipt page."

"At this point I have no idea if I've ordered it or not," the reader wrote. "I've been on the phone listening to bad music from Redmond for the past hour, and still haven't found anyone in Microsoft who can tell me if I ordered it -- or how many times I ordered it. I usually don't Micro-Bash, but hey, Microsoft, get a clue! It just ain't right charging for what people already paid for, and it might behoove you to have in place a way that WORKS for them to get what they already paid for."