Authorized Niveus dealers get early access to Windows Vista. Just one of those interesting press releases I found today.

Milpitas, CA – November 21, 2006 – Niveus Media, an award-winning designer and manufacturer of digital entertainment media centers, has announced the launch of Get Ready. A Windows Vista Early Adopter program intended to provide Niveus’ Authorized Dealers with the knowledge needed to install and support Windows Vista, prior to its scheduled January 30, 2007 launch date, Niveus’ program also provides dealers the opportunity to showcase Vista’s increased functionality within media center solutions.

“We’re very excited to be offering our valued dealer network the ability to familiarize themselves, as well as their customers, with Windows Vista today; without waiting until general availability in January 2007” said Brian Paper, VP of Marketing and co-Founder of Niveus Media. “Our dealers are selling products today that will be installed months from now. This program not only allows them to gain technical expertise and installation experience with Vista but also allows them to demonstrate this next generation platform in their showrooms.”

With the year coming to an end, Microsoft will have a big bang of launching the business debut of Windows Vista and Office 2007 at a November 30 event in New York City.

“This event will mark the business availability of three major releases from Microsoft,” the software maker said in an invitation e-mailed to the press yesterday. The announcement makes good on Redmond’s promise of delivering Vista in 2006 — in a manner of speaking.

The Windows lovers won’t get its hands on the new OS until early 2007 — March 15 at the latest, according to the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista and Microsoft Office Technology Guarantee program. See what Vista coupons will get you.

Before you run out and get those Vista upgrade coupons for a new PC, let the buyer beware. Its good to stop and consider what you are getting into. You only have 1 transfer window for your licence.

Here’s a post about Vista upgrades from PC Magazine, via Yahoo. It lists your upgrade options and what it will cost you when you buy from various manufacturers. Here are some small quotes, more info is available in the article.

Acer: Any Acer Windows Vista Capable or Windows Vista Premium Ready PC bought between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007 includes an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista option, automatically. Redemption must be completed by March 31. Users can check to see if their PC qualifies under the offer by clicking here.

Dell: Spokesman Bob Kaufman told eWEEK that while the company plans to charge $45 plus shipping and handling to move from Windows XP Home to Vista Basic, the upgrade from Windows XP Media Center Edition to Vista Premium and from Windows XP Pro to Vista Premium will only incur a shipping and handling fee.

Gateway: A Gateway spokesperson reported that all eMachines and Gateway PCs were eligible for a free upgrade to Windows Vista, starting Oct. 26.

HP: North American consumers who buy a new HP Pavilion or Compaq Presario desktop or notebook PC, or HP Digital Entertainment Center, with a qualifying Windows XP operating system that is designated “Windows Vista Capable” between Oct. 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007 will be eligible for a free upgrade to Vista. Customers should visit HP’s web site to request their upgrade. Proof of purchase will be required.

Lenovo: Lenovo’s Express Upgrade to Windows Vista Program will allow customers who purchase a Lenovo Vista Capable or Vista Premium Ready PC between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007 to receive a license and copy of the Windows Vista operating system when Microsoft places it on the market in early 2007. (The PC must carry the “Vista Ready” logo above, and consumers should be ready to supply a proof of purchase.) Customers must redeem the offer by March 30, 2007.

Toshiba: To qualify for the program, users need to have purchased a notebook PC pre-installed with “qualifying” Microsoft Windows XP software between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007. While Toshiba has made a Web site available to facilitate the Windows Vista upgrade transition, it was not working as of Oct. 26. What or if Toshiba will charge for an upgrade, or what format it will arrive in, was not known at press time.

If Microsoft thinks their free or discounted upgrade coupons for Windows Vista are going to skyrocket fourth-quarter PC sales, they might be in for a surprise. Gartner, the research firm thinks it won’t do much to keep sales up as users may not want to pay US$49 to receive Vista Home Basic, or US$79 to upgrade to Vista Home Premium. If I were a user, I’d wait at least a year before I jump into any Vista to make sure my software programs run as they are now. Any downtime is a waste of time.

Gartner Views Vista Free coupons Are NoBig Deal source

According to sources close to Microsoft, the Redmond Wash. developer will toss a coupon into each Windows XP- or Tablet PC-equipped computer bought between 26 October 2006 and 15 March 2007 for a free or discounted upgrade to Windows Vista. Gartner is skeptical of the coupon’s ability to move PCs because of the upgrade prices most buyers will face. Under the “Express Upgrade” program, people who buy a PC pre-installed with Windows XP Home, the most popular SKU, must pay US$49 to receive Vista Home Basic, US$79 to upgrade to Vista Home Premium.