The January 30 launch marks the availability of the new-generation products via traditional boxed packages and pre-installed on computers, and comes two months after they were made available to the business market.
Microsoft Australia's newly appointed Managing Director Tracey Fellows said Windows Vista is the most important release of Windows that Microsoft has ever delivered.
"Australian consumers will be among the first people in the world to experience the powerful innovations that have been delivered with Windows Vista and the 2007 Office system," Fellows said.
The Sydney launch event, held at the Museum of Contemporary Art, attracted some 250 press and business partners. The presentations included demonstrations of the new software which went smoothly with the exception of a jittery projector which often dimmed and even blanked-out a few times.
Windows Vista is now available in four versions - Home Basic (A$385 or US$298), Home Premium (A$455), Ultimate (A$751), and Business (A$565). Windows XP users can take advantage of the upgrade to these versions for less with the Home Basic upgrade for A$199. Academic pricing is also available.