The Australian newspaper reports that Online upgrades are off limits to us Aussies who may be interested in downloading the upcoming Vista OS.

MICROSOFT’S push to do more business online has hit a roadblock in Australia, with the company confirming that local users hoping to install a copy of its new Vista operating system will have to go to the shop to buy it.

Wow! What a way to treat customers. Any other business doing this would be told by the collective where to go - but Microsoft is different.

The company confirmed that its Anytime Upgrade service, which will allow customers to download upgrades of its Windows Vista operating system, will be off-limits for Australian customers.

off-limits for Australian customers! They do know they are in business selling a product, do they? Or do they just treat their customers as cattle and herd them along the way knowing they’ll buy … eventually! Is that what they mean by a monopoly? Is that why maybe the Mac is slowly gaining market share?

And so you wonder why there is so much Microsoft hate going around - and I’m not usually a M$ hater but this is one step closer because of this.

Downloads of full versions of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office from Microsoft’s Windows Marketplace website will also be restricted to North American customers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dear Microsoft:
RE: There is a World Outside of North America

Where do I begin …