Microsoft to offer free Vista Upgrades?

Well, for my first post I'm going to have to talk about this one. Recently I found an article that was posted on www.downloadsquad.com. I love this site, don't get me wrong, I have a RSS feed on my Google home page. I'd just like to throw some caution into the wind about this though.
The site claims that if you buy a new PC in the future, Microsoft will be offering free Vista upgrades if it has XP on it. This opinion may be true, but be careful!
I used to work for Microsoft Replacement Parts, we did honor a "Technology Guarantee" which stated that if a RETAIL BOXED COPY was purchased within 6 months of a newer technology being released, we would honour an upgrade at no fee to the consumer. This was Microsoft's rule, and this is legit.
Now here's the clincher, and the article does state that they are working on this with partners. Most computers purchased with a pre-installed operating system carries what is called an OEM copy. What this means is that Dell for example, has purchased a bulk license at a discounted price from Microsoft for windows XP. Now before this copy goes on your new PC it is loaded with your PC SPECIFIC software as well as the OS. Because this is no longer a full retail version, all support in Microsoft's eyes is referred back to the Vendor, ex Dell. These copy's are cheaper to the consumer and MUST be included with hardware. Sometimes, its sad to see, these copy's are sold on popular websites with, say, a keyboard, technically a piece of hardware. The issue is when it comes to bulk licenses, as the article stated, when you purchased a new PC with the OS already on, 99.9 percent of the time its going to be OEM. Therefore is Dell for example, going to carry on this price of upgrading and honouring this new Vista operating system to all its customers. This would be very very costly to them. You can't just install a new operating system on your computer and expect things to go smoothly, I've made that mistake. Where are all the drivers for things such as a network card or a wireless card. All your pre-installed settings are going to have to be reconfigured, this is easy for a person well seasoned with computers, to backup all these things first, but for the average computer user, you are going to get a severe headache and end up taking your PC to a tech for alot more money then a free upgrade. You see that CD you got with your new PC has all that information on it already, and the OS has been tuned for your computer with settings already in place. Its been modified. Its not a full version anymore. Microsoft can't help you here, they don't have the additional software to install for you, and I'm not sure that these vendors are going to take on the responsibility of reconfiguring all of your computers for a new operating system. Free support is not going to be free anymore, its going to cost alot more money, where does this cost come from?
SO, to save your butt:

*Contact the vendor before purchasing your machine to check with them whats going to happen if and when you want to upgrade, also be sure your new PC IS Vista ready

*Home Builders- Buy the full version, make sure its Retail, comes in a box, and has all the necessary product keys and windows stickers...It'll save you hassle in the future, and Microsoft, will honour their guarantee to you at least, yours is retail.

*Consumers, if you buy a new PC ask that a full version be installed NOT OEM, then you are OK, Microsoft, not the partner, will honour their agreement.

*If you are buying on EBAY, or other places, read the small print and do your research, if your OS CD is not the standard price, chances are you are not getting the boxed copy. Anything under 100 dollars for the newest version is very sketchy, and probably is not legit. You probably won't be eligible in the future.

Another note about this, and I"m very passionate as I was very upset when I couldn't offer free support, replacement Cd's at no cost or anything else, when this happened, is that this isn't just Operating Systems. Your keyboards, on the product ID, may be OEM, and your Mice also. Media centre additions, are created by vendors, just endorsed my Microsoft. BE CAREFUL if you want to buy an expensive product and expect Microsoft to repair it, or replace it, that its actually their product!

To Find product Id's or other relevant information to see if you have legit copies:
On your operating system, right click on my computer and go to properties, the second set of numbers will indicate whether you have a legit retail bought copy or a bulk license including OEM...if it says OEM, its OEM. On keyboards and mice and other peripherals, if you flip them upside down, they will have a PID, again the second set of numbers indicate how the license or product was purchased from Microsoft. If it says OEM, that's what it is, you'd better call Dell.

This may be overkill but I have seen way to many cases where consumers have had to spend alot more money then they should have because they were tricked, or misrepresented in their purchase. In the end Microsoft will get the bad name, because the online vendor for example, or seller, offers NO "free support" or guarantees.

Do your research...and happy computer shopping!