My copy of Windows Vista Ultimate just came in the mail today. This will be the OS that gets installed in my newly built PC. This piece of software was prohibitively expensive at launch, but for this one, I got it for what will be a net price of 23,000 Yen... which is just about the regular price of Vista Home Basic.
I said "what will be", since I actually got it for 33,000 Yen (which in itself isn't bad at all) under a special rebate campaign that Microsoft has in Japan.
Amazon JP: Windows Vista Ultimate
Microsoft Japan winter cash back promo
The Ultimate Edition obviously has a larger rebate than that of Home Premium, and strangely enough this makes the net price for the two products essentially equal.
Vista Ultimate is also the only edition that ships with all the language packs, so it really is the only sensible choice for me.
On that note, I was extremely pleased when I found out that I can order the English DVD for Windows Vista through Microsoft's Windows Vista Alternate Media program. This program is mainly for requesting 64-bit versions or discs in CD form. I really only intended on checking out the UI for in case I would need to get a replacement disc in the future, but seeing that they had given me the option to have an English disc despite my Japanese software license, free of charge, there really was no reason to not make a request. I ended up requesting an English 64-Bit Vista Ultimate disc, and paid for a grand total of 1050 Yen for shipping. Not bad!
Windows Vista Alternate Media
I unfortunately do not know if owners of Japanese Vista Business, Home Premium or Home Basic would be able to get an English disc through this, since the Ultimate edition comes with all languages on the disc anyway.
I'm going to install this on my new PC tonight.
