14 DAY TRIAL // The Hold 'Em game is a variation of the Texas Hold 'Em poker game that Microsoft delivers exclusively to Windows Vista Ultimate users. Hold 'Em is considered one of the Windows Ultimate Extras, and you will need the high-end edition of Windows Vista in order to play it.
Hold 'Em can be downloaded from the Microsoft Windows Update Web site but only if you have a genuine copy of Vista Ultimate or if the operating system is still in its Initial Grace period. According to the Redmond Company, Hold 'Em benefits from the support of DirectX 10 technology in order to deliver smooth, animated and rich graphics while enabling the user to compare his luck and poker skill with the computer.
Microsoft is also delivering BitLocker as an Ultimate extra. This technology will enable ultimate customers to take full advantage of the encryption capabilities of Vista Ultimate that come as a solution for an ever-increasing need of data privacy. The climate is ripe for the encryption technology introduced in Windows Vista, but Microsoft has been criticized for limiting the availability of BitLocker.
Additionally, Microsoft is serving a preview of DreamScene together with a video wallpaper pack and a selection of Vista static backgrounds.
Microsoft has applauded the Windows Ultimate Extra as a source for exclusive resources for Windows Vista Ultimate users. As far, the extras designed for the Ultimate edition fail to deliver an extra kick to the operating system, to say the least. Users will need their poker faces exercised with Hold 'Em if the Windows Ultimate Extras team continue with such offerings.