Amazon.com is no longer accepting pre-orders for the Windows Vista operating system, following a request generated by Microsoft. Amazon.com, along with other e-commerce websites have been accepting pre-orders for Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate, although neither of the editions were available for the general public.

The idea behind this initiative is that customers could at least reserve a copy of the operating system and receive it following the consumer launch scheduled for January 29, 2007. "Because of a Microsoft request, the many versions of the Windows Vista operating system are not currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com. They are estimated to be available January 30, 2007, and you can sign up at right to be notified via e-mail when Vista becomes available for pre-order. If you've already pre-ordered Vista at Amazon.com, your order will be fulfilled when the software is available," reads a message posted on Amazon.com. Currently, Amazon.com informs that "Availability: This item is currently not available" for all Windows Vista editions.

As far as the 2007 Microsoft Office System is concerned, the Redmond Company has presented Amazon.com with a similar request: "Because of a Microsoft request, the many versions of Office 2007 are no longer available for pre-order at Amazon.com. They are estimated to arrive early in 2007, and you can sign up at right to be notified via e-mail when Office 2007 becomes available. If you've already pre-ordered Office 2007 at Amazon.com, your order will be fulfilled when the software is available."

Microsoft additionally revealed that Amazon.com is not a singular case and that the Redmond Company has asked all retailers involved with the commercialization of Windows Vista and Office 2007 without its explicit permission to disallow pre-orders. Microsoft explained that pre-sales could negatively impact the consumer availability process of Windows Vista and Office 2007 and affect vendor competition and that consequently, the company had decided to limit pre-orders.