In a horrible attempt to resurrect the once much-anticipated Ultimate Extras, Microsoft has released a few new “Exclusive Extras” for Windows Vista Ultimate users.

What exactly are these new Extras? Two new sound schemes and a couple of new Dreamscene backgrounds! It’s been seven months since we’ve last seen any new Extras, honestly, this is the best you can give us?

Microsoft, I’m sorry, but this has become inexcusable at this point. First, in October, you flood users with more language packs than anyone will ever be able to use in their lifetime, and now you release these “extras”, clearly in a sad attempt to silence our complaints. Well, congratulations, because you’ve done the exact opposite in my books. Users have payed a premium for these so called “Extras”, and a few measly novelty items like these don’t even come close to justifying that premium. You have failed your customers, once again.

Personally, I know I won’t be satisfied until I see a copy of Geometry Wars make it’s way down the Windows Update tubes.

Some of you may remember the campaign Microsoft Australia started this time last year, called “It’s not Cheating“. The goal of the campaign was to stop the piracy of Microsoft’s products amongst teens, in this case, Microsoft Office. So how did they do it? They sold it at a price you will never be able to find anywhere else, except maybe the streets of China. Unfortunately for most however, this offer was only available in Australia, until today September 2007.

Microsoft has taken the campaign worldwide under the new name of “The Ultimate Steal“. The offer is now available to residents of Canada, United States, France, Italy, Spain, Britain, Korea, Taiwan, Mexico and of course, Australia.

On to the important details now, of course, you’re probably wondering how cheap they’re possibly selling it for? The answer: dirt. Somehow, someway, Microsoft is managing to sell full retail copies of it’s Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate for the insanely low price of $64 CAD, or $59 USD. That’s a whopping 93% discount from the full retail price; I guess that just goes to show the true value of this software. Of course, as with any deal like this, there’s going to be a few catches. This offer is only availble to College or University students with valid campus email addresses who reside in the countries listed, and must be able to show proof of your enrollment with a valid student card, should it be requested from Microsoft.

If you meet the criteria above and desperately want to take advantage of this offer, act quick, because come April 30th, it will be gone.

Update: Well, apparently I’ve been living under a rock for a while, because it seems this offer has been available worldwide since September 2007. So, my bad. Either way, consider this a reminder that you only have 14 days left!