Microsoft can't break bad habits?
On Jan 23, 10:28 pm, Roy Schestowitz <newsgro...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
> Microsoft 'educational' comic
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
> | Are Bill and the Boyz about to do a Captain Copyright, as the
> | bizarre and ridiculous cartoon character Access Copyright dreamed
> | up was called?
>
> http://p2pnet.net/story/11101
Keep in mind that Microsoft has been calling computer users "pirates
and theives" since
1977, and they don't seem to care who gets alienated. In 1977, the
reaction was that most dealers sent back their original copies of
Microsoft BASIC and told MITS that they didn't like being called
thieves. Microsoft solved the problem by cutting a deal where MITS
would prepay for a copy of BASIC for every machine MITS thought they
would sell (Or, more accurately what Microsoft thought MITS would
sell). The price wasn't that unreasonable, about $50/machine, but it
was enough to alienate a lot of people.
Microsoft has sponsored organizations like the SPA and BSA, both of
whom were viewed as the equivalent of Hitler's Storm Troupers, in the
software world. Often the SPA would raid a business, claiming piracy,
and demanding proof of full and proper licensing for every single
program on every single machine - even though the machines were OEM
machines.
With any luck, Microsoft will alienate about 500 million people enough
that they will want to purchase Linux instead of Vista. There really
is no overwhelming need to upgrade from Win2K or XP to Vista, and there
are many good reasons to wait 2-3 years for the product to become more
stable, and/or to evaluate other alternatives such as Macs and Linux.
Too bad SCO is more interested in Suing people than in the desktop
market. They once had a very exciting desktop market which might still
be a winner, but not after they alienated millions of UNIX/Linux OSS
contributors.
> Related:
>
> Microsoft seals its Windows and opens the door to Linux
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
> | Now comes the really interesting question. With Vista's activation
> | technology, Microsoft has the power to stamp out piracy everywhere. But
> | will it choose to do so everywhere? After all, if folks in China or
> | Thailand or Ethiopia have to pay for Vista, they won't be able to run
> | it because they won't be able to afford the licence fee.
Microsoft uses "wage appropriate" license fees in these countries. The
license itself is typically 1 days pay at median income. For half the
population, it's a stretch, for the other half, it's not much of a
problem. The average worker in China makes about $3/day at exchange
rates. The US counterparte makes about $120/day. Windows costs around
$200 in the US and about $1 in China. The point is that rather than
bring home cash, they buy things that can be purchased at China rates
and sold in the USA at USA rates.
For 3 Windows licenses (equivalent), Microsoft can buy 1 Xbox, and sell
it in the USA. The exchange rates encourage trade deficits, and, in
effect, lower interested rates on the real products.
> | In which case
> | they may finally wake up to the attractions of free software such as
> | Linux - and it's easy to imagine what that will do to Microsoft's
> | plans for world domination.
Microsoft does seem determined to upset as many people as possible.
They seem to forget that most stores have Macs 2 Isles down. HP, Sony,
and Toshiba might decide that Windows alone isn't enough to sustain
revenue and profit levels. They may decide that Linux must be part of
their overall strategy, including at Retailers.
> | It's a delicious prospect: Microsoft impaling itself on the horns
> | of a dilemma it has created for itself. Roll on Thursday.
> http://observer.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,,1956941,00.html
Microsoft has alienated customers numerous times, but it's like the
pusher who mistreats his crack-addicted customers. Girl can't put up
the cash, she can put out at a party, keep the boys who do still have
some money - happy. Microsoft force-fed XP to the corporate market,
and it backfired. Most companies have an "escape plan" which they can
use in case of emergency, as a way to reduce dependence on Microsoft,
should they push too hard.
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