Amazon has started taking pre-orders for the Vista software on its website, charging $US239 for Windows Vista Home Premium and $US199 for Vista Home Basic– the ones consumers are most likely to use.

According to the Amazon website, Vista Business is listed as $US 299. Vista Ultimate, targeted at home and business users, is listed as $US399, though some customers marked this product with an "overpriced" tag.

The website notes that all the Vista products will not be released until January 30 2007, and that they are available for pre-order only.

See: www.amazon.com