Microsoft was unable to launch Vista for the holiday season of 2006 and decided to initiate a program with free upgrades to Vista. Depending on the version of XP that shipped with the computer determined which version of Vista the person was able to get. At the same time it also launched the “Vista Capable” and “Premium Ready” programs. This confused consumers and has led to a class action lawsuit against the company.

Windows Vista had much higher system requirements than that of its predecessors. Newer features such as Aero Glass wouldn’t run on systems labeled “Vista Capable,” only the most basic features of the operating system would function. To make matters worse those that purchased “Vista capable” systems were only eligible to receive a copy of Vista Basic.