I have a retail version of 32-bit Vista Business. But I'd like
the 64-bit version so I can use all the memory in the Mac Pro.
Well, as you may know, Microsoft doesn't actually sell a 64-bit
retail version. You have to buy the 32-bit retail version first,
and then ask them to post you (snail mail, not email) the 64-bit
version. And there's a form to request a 64-bit DVD here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/64bit.mspx
Ok, so far so good. Here's where it gets complicated. First, I
don't like disclosing my card details online. There's too much
fraud nowadays and Microsoft aren't exactly renowned for
online security. And what's more, they ask you to click "Order
Now" before they've even told you what the nominal handling fee
is.
So I decided to dial up Microsoft and order over the phone.
Should be pretty simple, right? Apparently not. I have to speak
to 5 or 6 different people. Every time I get transferred, I have
to begin describing what I want from the start. I have to give
every one of these people my name, and some of them can't even
distinguish between my first name and my surname, referring to
me as Mr <first name>.
So eventually, after several calls over a 24 hour period, I get
through to someone who can deal with this. Hooray! Or not. What
they're going to do for me is go to the web link above, and
they'll enter my details, and I'll tell them those details over
the phone. They apparently have no other mechanism in place for
ordering 64-bit Vista over the phone.
So there I am, going through this convoluted process. The web
page asks for some piece of info, they ask me over the phone, I
tell them the info, they ask me to repeat what I've told them,
then they read it back to me, I correct any mistakes, they read
it back again, I confirm it, and then they enter it into the web
page form and we move on to the next item. Sheesh.
On the one hand I'm thinking, couldn't I just do this more
easily myself online? On the other hand, I've got this far so
I'm determined to push through to a conclusion, however silly
the process may be. They wasted my time with these calls, and
now I'm going to make them work for me. A sort of rudimentary
justice if you like, even if it does inevitably waste yet more time.
Eventually we get to the payment part. Up to 28 days for
delivery, apparently. Wow, that's efficient! And note this: they
still haven't told me how much money they want and now they want
my card number. But it gets worse. They will only accept Amex,
Visa or Mastercard. They won't accept my debit card, even though
almost everyone else will these days. Oh, and I don't have any
of the cards listed above.
Now, excuse me while I go a tiny little bit insane.
the 64-bit version so I can use all the memory in the Mac Pro.
Well, as you may know, Microsoft doesn't actually sell a 64-bit
retail version. You have to buy the 32-bit retail version first,
and then ask them to post you (snail mail, not email) the 64-bit
version. And there's a form to request a 64-bit DVD here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/64bit.mspx
Ok, so far so good. Here's where it gets complicated. First, I
don't like disclosing my card details online. There's too much
fraud nowadays and Microsoft aren't exactly renowned for
online security. And what's more, they ask you to click "Order
Now" before they've even told you what the nominal handling fee
is.
So I decided to dial up Microsoft and order over the phone.
Should be pretty simple, right? Apparently not. I have to speak
to 5 or 6 different people. Every time I get transferred, I have
to begin describing what I want from the start. I have to give
every one of these people my name, and some of them can't even
distinguish between my first name and my surname, referring to
me as Mr <first name>.
So eventually, after several calls over a 24 hour period, I get
through to someone who can deal with this. Hooray! Or not. What
they're going to do for me is go to the web link above, and
they'll enter my details, and I'll tell them those details over
the phone. They apparently have no other mechanism in place for
ordering 64-bit Vista over the phone.
So there I am, going through this convoluted process. The web
page asks for some piece of info, they ask me over the phone, I
tell them the info, they ask me to repeat what I've told them,
then they read it back to me, I correct any mistakes, they read
it back again, I confirm it, and then they enter it into the web
page form and we move on to the next item. Sheesh.
On the one hand I'm thinking, couldn't I just do this more
easily myself online? On the other hand, I've got this far so
I'm determined to push through to a conclusion, however silly
the process may be. They wasted my time with these calls, and
now I'm going to make them work for me. A sort of rudimentary
justice if you like, even if it does inevitably waste yet more time.
Eventually we get to the payment part. Up to 28 days for
delivery, apparently. Wow, that's efficient! And note this: they
still haven't told me how much money they want and now they want
my card number. But it gets worse. They will only accept Amex,
Visa or Mastercard. They won't accept my debit card, even though
almost everyone else will these days. Oh, and I don't have any
of the cards listed above.
Now, excuse me while I go a tiny little bit insane.
