I wonder about the branding value of the startup sound.
The only time I reboot my computer is when it crashes or when its operation has disappointed me in some respect and I think a reboot would help.
This is, of course, not my favourite time to use my computer and so it would be the last time I'd want to have a "branding experience".
Apple has a startup sound when the computer is turned on and passes initial checks. It's reassuring when your computer fails and you're not sure if it will come back up or not. (*)
If my memory serves, last time I used Windows, the startup sound actually was heard before the computer was fully awake and ready for use. I hope for the sake of Windows users that Vista has changed this.
I haven't used a Windows computer extensively in some years, having completely switched over to Apple some years back, so all this talk about Windows is pretty theoretical.
I will say that Vista's upgrade prices look ridiculous. I can't see buying an upgrade to Vista for $200 plus when I could buy a whole new computer for $299, and that computer would certainly run Vista a lot better than even a top-end Windows computer more than, say, six or so months old.
D
(*) The only time I had a major failure on an Apple computer was when I put bad memory in it. Let's just say that was a bad idea, not Apple's fault, and leave it at that. Don't buy cheapo memory and get burned like I did!
Not sure where you're getting your prices....but looks like the upgrade should cost about $115, which is reasonable.
There isn't any. To have branding value, you have to heat the iron up until it's red-hot.
I think it's got more value as a status indicator. You can use the sounds to determine what's going on... from several doors down the hallway.
Thinkpads make a unique sound when they come on and off an external power supply. You hear a bunch of these in conference rooms just before and after a meeting.
XP and 2K default startup sounds are different so you can tell them apart... but they're still user-customizable.
This is just one more example (as if we need any more) of Microsoft taking choices away from their customers.