In tone with the descriptive titles of the various Windows Vista editions, Microsoft is getting ready for another stage of the monumental fiasco that is Ultimate Extras. What are Windows Ultimate Extras? Well, Microsoft accompanied the launch of Windows Vista, focusing on the high-end edition of the operating system, with the promise of a set of exclusive offerings tailor fitted on Vista Ultimate. And it remained just that. A promise, nothing more than a vague concept, a shell without actual content.

What are the Windows Ultimate Extras? That's a question Microsoft asked too. And the answer comes as following: "Windows Ultimate Extras are programs, services and premium content for Windows Vista Ultimate. Thede features are available to those who own a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate."

No they aren't! The features are equally unavailable to all Vista users. Well, at least Microsoft is making no discrimination between Vista users, although customers that paid $399 for a copy of Ultimate should be entitled to a high-end user frustration. But on the other hand, Microsoft has become an expert in delivering endless flavors of frustration with the missing Ultimate Extras.

Just think back. At the beginning of January, before Vista was even available to the general consumers, Microsoft rushed to deliver Hold 'Em Poker Game and BitLocker and EFS Enhancements. It wasn't much, but it offered an insight on more juice offerings to come. Then, concomitantly with the release of Vista, the company also dropped the first set of Language Packs.

Time passed, and in March, Microsoft threw more Ultimate Extras crumbs, some cute Ultimate wallpapers, the Windows DreamScene Content Pack and the beta for Windows DreamScene. And then, all went quiet on the Windows Vista Ultimate front. Too quiet... there were no more extras, DreamScene seemed caught in a perpetual beta, the actual Ultimate Extras team disappeared...

Nothing but good news for Ultimate users who are definitely getting the ride of their life. And in July Barry Goffe, Director, Windows Vista Ultimate came out and said that Microsoft intends to ship DreamScene and the remaining 20 Language Packs by the end of the 2007 summer. Well... the clock is ticking... There are now three days left to the end of summer. The company did indicate that they were preparing to launch the rest of the language packs. No word on DreamScene. But hey... since it's still summer, let's give Microsoft a chance shall we?