Re: [News] Microsoft Already Testing Windows-Killer (Pay-as-you-go PC)

[Paul Bramscher <pfbram_nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Roy Schestowitz wrote:
> __/ [ chrisv ] on Sunday 25 February 2007 01:56 \__
>
> > John Locke wrote:
> >
> > > On Sat, 24 Feb 2007 13:28:01 +0000, Roy Schestowitz
> > > <newsgroups@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Microsoft tests "pay-as-you-go" software
> > > Isn't "pay-as-you-go" a tactic developed by the Mafia ?
> > > When they came into your store, if you didn't "pay" you
> > > didn't "go" !
> > >
> > > Seriously, this kind of crap really pisses off consumers.
> > > What happened to the board members ? Shouldn't they
> > > be examining the current policies and executive structure ?
> > > This is a public company and the board members have
> > > obligations to protect investors.
> > Micro$oft has been trying to figure out how to migrate the market to a
> > "subscription model" for years.
>
> It is potentially more profitable because payments are spread over a period
> of time, so the company can deduct from people's wages. It works for the
> investors, not the customers. And it raises many questions, too. People
> would get locked out of their PC (and not because they have not paid the
> electricity bill). WGA validation/activation has proven that false positives
> are not rare either (affecting 0.5 or 2 million people, IIRC).

That's Google's plan too -- online (no privacy) subscription-based 
office productivity software.

I'm banking on OpenOffice, with KOffice/Abiword as backups.