The NDA has been lifted, so..

Microsoft is allowing, for the first time, a Family & Friends Discount on its flagship operating system, currently Windows Vista.

First disclosed to me under a strict NDA on Saturday, January 6, 2007, at the recently concluded Windows Vista RTM Labs in Las Vegas, the Windows Vista Family Discount (the official name) plan gives purchasers of the retail SKU of Windows Vista Ultimate Edition the right to purchase two licenses of Windows Vista Home Premium Edition for only $49.oo USD each, a savings of 69% over the upgrade price of $159.

Indeed, a 3-computer home currently running Windows XP, upgrading to Windows Vista, will experience a total discount of $220, or 38%, if this plan is utilized.

Props to Microsoft for this as it somewhat mitigates the pain.