The Vista MUI SKU story

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

roxfan — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 04:58:38 GMT

This entry is really confusing.

"I think it is a terrible idea." Which idea? The idea of making MUI packs available only for Ultimate and Enterprise? Idea of making them available for Business? Or idea of using Business edition by companies? I reread the entry a few times but still can't decide which is it. Also, I don't really get what does the upgrade version have to do with all this?

Then maybe I'm just slow.

P.S. What is SKU?

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Michael S. Kaplan — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 05:18:45 GMT

I think the limitation is terrible -- the very one Mike is complaining about.

If the worry is price, the upgrade version is cheaper?

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Björn — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 06:36:54 GMT

"[...] since the upgrade version can be used to do clean installs if you have qualifying upgrade media."

Wasn't there some noise on the intarweb about the Upgrade versions needing an installation of the qualified OS? E.g. you cannot do a clean install anymore even if you have the qualified media at hand?

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Michael S. Kaplan — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 07:46:41 GMT

Yes, but that is what I am saying -- the media is something most people have. You do not have to have it pre-installed, you just have to put in the CD so that the qualifying product can be recognized.

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Pavanaja UB — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:34:12 GMT

What about the LIPs for Vista? Do they also available only for the Enterprise and Ultimate editions?

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Michael S. Kaplan — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 08:44:48 GMT

No, LIPs are still downloadable by all (that Hindi one I pointed out being the first of many).

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Mihai — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 09:42:50 GMT

<<You do not have to have it pre-installed, you just have to put in the CD so that the qualifying product can be recognized.>>

From what I read on "the internets," not quite true.

See http://www.windowsitpro.com/mobile/pda/Article.cfm?ArticleID=95011&News=

http://apcmag.com/5223/vista_upgrade_can_do_clean_install

It seems that MS tried to make it more difficult for pirates(?) and in the process the result was more inconvenience for the regular users (as usual).

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Michael S. Kaplan — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 10:23:27 GMT

This is not quite true (as one of the articles you cite points out!). There is a method for doing it that works.

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Mike — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:21:53 GMT

Microsoft still does not recognise that language borders do not exist even in the home. A Windows/Vista SKU does not have a label on the box saying "cannot be switched to another language interface" - in the list of marketed features, it's a quantum blip.

Now Microsoft doesn't even attempt to mitigate the situation by making international copies of Windows available freely (employees can't even by them through the Microsoft Store) - so this strengthens the grey market for illegally imported or pirated versions of Windows.

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Michael S. Kaplan — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 21:31:53 GMT

Sigh.

I could point out the ease with which multilingual SKUs can be created by OEMs as well as all of other mitigations for the pieces of Mr . Mike Williams' critcisms that are true (as well as corrections for the ones that are false) but I guess I am resigned to the fact that his comments will continue to make bold claims without proof and then intersperse those with true claims not explained well enough.

(and then of course ranting complaints when people are unable to discern the difference in time)

Mike, still waiting in the other post for your long path example of the claim made? :-)

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

someone — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:56:40 GMT

This stupidest SKU problem is not just for MUIs. Its there even for Bitlocker and the Unix subsystem. Basically, MS should have created just offered the exact same features for Business and Enterprise except for the different activation and license. But someone stupid inside MS thinks that a small business owner will never need Bitlocker or need to migrate his Unix apps. Hopefully, MS will listen and change it by Vista SP1. Otherwise, just why should I upgrade to Vista Business from my XP Pro MUI if I can get Services for Unix on it??

MUIs and LIPs - How to write in Chinese and localize Windows in your language

Scott Hanselman's Computer Zen — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 09:59:43 GMT

Additional personal speculation on the Vista MUI SKU story

Sorting It All Out — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 19:04:40 GMT

I was watching Oliver Stone's Wall Street last night and there was a bit that popped out at me. It was

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

lAb rodour — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:42:17 GMT

An english speaking guy with Japanese wife and Kids who are Leaning Spanish, French and Hungarian once told me... I would rather use a MacOSX machine or Linux... as there are no restrictions on how you can use your computer in the home or in the office, and these days... all of Microsoft's proprietary formats have been completely reverse engineered.

Only Mircrosoft and Adobe continue to try to slice up the world and represent it as a pie-chart...

that is so... well... 2-D

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Michael S. Kaplan — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:54:54 GMT

Hmmm.... I guess.

How is that Linux version Microsoft Access replacement coming? :-)

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

anotherQ — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:24:59 GMT

A lot of personal user, who bought or got a computer in another country(with a foreign-language Vista Home) asking me if they have to buy another copy of Vista to have it in their mother tongue. (Except those how has available LIPs)

Do you think it's gonna be a solution for this (like more LIPs), or i should just tell them to buy another copys??

Thanks!

re: The Vista MUI SKU story

Michael S. Kaplan — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:43:34 GMT

Actually, that was the XP story -- you had to start with English or else buy a new copy, and then if you wanted MUI you need at least a SELECT license agreement.

The Vista story allows anyone to upgrade what they have, and once upgraded to Enterprise or Ultimate anyone can install MUI.

The story is not perfect but it is much better than it was, and no one has to reinstall anything, a there is a clear update option.