I love that Yogi Berra saying “It’s Déjà Vu all over again!”

In the latest news, Microsoft is playing the consumer-manufacturer games that they did with the Windows XP introduction right after Christmas.

That’s right — according to an article at Seattle PI, Microsoft is offering some free upgrades to buyers of new computer systems during Christmas.

If I recall correctly, the manufacturers’ experience was that the pre-XP Christmas was one of their worst.

Interestingly, not all current XP OS versions will have a free upgrade! The most common Windows XP system sold to consumers has Windows XP Home. Unfortunately, the coupon for an upgrade to Vista will still cost $49.99 for the actual upgrade — plus shipping.

Manufacturers are free to price their upgrades the way they want to, so some may offer better (or worse) deals.

Moral of the story: If you want a new computer for Christmas, make the family a pretty gift certificate good for a Vista computer system. Don’t plan on buying an XP system and then upgrading immediately.