According to a story in The Seattle Times, Windows Vista will be offered at a price starting at $199, going up to $299 for the business edition.

Paying for this stuff at such prices seems so antiquated, doesn't it? I can't imagine how much money companies flush down the toilet on Windows software when they don't have to.

I mean, why don't more people use Open Office? It's free, does everything Windows products do and can even be saved as Windows files. Someone e-mails you a PowerPoint file? No problem.

I've been using it for the last 2-3 years and have no complaints.

And to make such prices even worse, here comes Google. No doubt the kids at Mountain View are poised to offer Windows copycats, Web-based and cost-free, supported by their AdWords product.

Vista had better be 'sh*t hot,' or Microsoft risks a much quicker road to irrelevancy than they are already on.