Personally, I think Bill and co. were floating a trial balloon. Let's not forget all this started way back in 2005, when MS suggested they were releasing more than just a server/pro/home triumverate for their next uberOS. So now I see on Slashdot (by way of Yahoo News) that the "confirmation" page, the one Paul Thurrott must have been reading, on Microsoft's own website, was a "mistake." That's a good one guys, you almost had me going for a second there.

Seriously, are you buying this? We know Vista will come in a rainbow of flavors. Suddenly the hue and cry when it hits mystical ocho, I don't get it. Besides, Thurrott said this was all confirmed. Engadget essentially told Bill is was a dumb idea, and there's just plain common sense. So who wants to bet we see a mere three domestic editions of Vista come holiday season? I'm not counting those EU editions, they are the same darn thing. Besides, Microsoft already has a ton of OS'es out there. PocketPC, SPOT, Server editions, embedded, XP home and pro, and Media Center— this is what they do. And one salient point mentioned by Franklin in the comments from an earlier post: how many distros of Linux are there?

For added fun, be sure to read all the comments on the Slashdot thread. Nothing brings out the wit like Microsoft and potential financial disaster. The blood is in the water, and nothing loves blood more than comedy. My favorite, "Think you can replace Solitare with Halo 2 for Vista Ultimate?" I like it because it is a fantastic idea.