Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 released Tuesday

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Performance dancers created a 'human billboard' in midtown Manhattan on Monday to celebrate the release of the new Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007.

Dancers braved cold New York temperatures to help launch the new software, performing acrobatic flips and jumps off a wall, located seven stories high.

More than five years in the making, Vista was released for businesses on November the 30th, but the unveiling for consumers of the latest edition of Windows - which runs more than 90 percent of the world's PCs - was scheduled for Tuesday around the globe.

A Microsoft spokesman said the company was excited about the new systems. "Tomorrow around the world, in 39,000 retail stores, Windows Vista and Office 2007 will be available to people for the first time. People's digital lives are going to be easier and safer, better connected and more fun," said Michael Sievert.

Vista retails for 100 to 400 US dollars, depending on the version and whether the user is upgrading from Windows XP. The Redmond, Washington-based software maker contends that Vista is such a huge improvement over previous computing platforms that users inevitably say "Wow" when they see it.

Microsoft also included its Media Centre multimedia software with higher-end versions of Vista and added stronger connections between the PC and the Xbox 360 game console. In the past year, Microsoft has faced increased competition from Google Inc. and smaller, open-source players.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has yet to fully connect its disparate online services under the Live brand. Microsoft shares were down 21 cents at 30.39 US dollars in midday trading on Monday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.