Post report: Vista limits choices, when others say we have too many

I read this morning in the Washington Post that Vista Limits Choices (or so Alan Sipress and Jeffrey H. Birnbaum report), as well as in this related article in the Post on Vista from Michael Liedtke.

“Internet search leader Google Inc. is trying to convince federal and state authorities that Microsoft Corp.’s Vista operating system is stifling competition as the high-tech heavyweights wrestle for the allegiance of personal computer users.

“In a 49-page document filed April 18 with the U.S. Justice Department and state attorneys general, Google alleged that the latest version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system impairs the performance of “desktop search” programs that find data stored on a computer’s hard drive.”

Whew… I thought that this was in reference to Steve Jobs’ comments on the number of Windows Vista choices available to customers… 

“Set to launch in October, Leopard will be priced at $129 USD, just like previous Mac OS X releases. In a swipe against Microsoft and Windows Vista, Jobs explained the pricing behind Leopard: “Basic version, $129. Premium version, $129. Business version, $129. Enterprise version $129. Ultimate version, $129,” he said.”

Thanks, Apple. BTW, it’s [Windows Vista] Home Basic.

Hmmm… I wasn’t aware that Leopard offers BitLocker capabilities, advanced entertainment recording and management, and other capabilities… 😉

At retail, I heard it explained quite clearly yesterday by a sales rep at a local office supply chain store about the different editions of Windows Vista. (See this handy Vista feature comparison chart.) He went through the various versions and narrowed down the customer’s choices to Windows Vista Home Premium and “in some power user cases, you might consider Windows Vista Ultimate.”

IMHO, most consumers and home PC users should consider new computers or an upgrade to Windows Vista Home Premium. This version offers improved mobile computer power management, Tablet PC support, Windows Media Center support (esp when you have an on-board radio or TV tuner card). Most laptops I saw at retail this weekend featured this version. For basic computers, such as a kid’s PC or a current laptop running Windows XP, I would suggest Windows Vista Home Basic edition.