Vista Requires More Hardware Resources than Microsoft's Windows for
Supercomputers - A sign of Microsoft's alienation from its users?
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft's Slow Divorce from Users
|
| Microsoft is in bed with the end users, but simultaneously the company has a
| responsibility to its partners and especially to the original equipment
| manufacturers. The Redmond company sells more Windows copies via the OEMs
| than through all the additional channels combined. According to Microsoft's
| own estimates, sales of Windows through the OEM channel account for in excess
| of 80% of all the revenue brought in by the Client division.
`----
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Vista-Requires-More-Hardware-Resources-than-Microsoft-039-s-Windows-for-Supercomputers-71157.shtml
Days ago:
Don't cry for Microsoft (the truth is, it never loved you)
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft's history can be simply summarised. It made billions on the back of
| software that was in fact years behind the competition. What it did right,
| was to license the software for anyone who used a standard Intel
| architecture. This made it instantly poplar and useful for a lot of people.
| Other simply followed suit.
|
| But Microsoft either always failed to make a great product for its time or
| never bothered. My money is on the latter. So many unpaid programmers making
| Linux the great operating system it is today must testify to that end.
`----
http://teknoboy.blogspot.com/2007/11/dont-cry-for-microsoft-truth-is-it.html
Related:
Music industry meeting could change the Zune
,----[ Quote ]
| Bryan Lee, corporate vice present for Microsoft's entertainment
| business, told me today that the meeting was set up as part of the
| deal struck between Microsoft and music business honchos, who are
| always wary of piracy... The meeting was supposed to take place "some
| time after the holidays," he said. It also talks about the future
| of the zune.
`----
http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2007/01/music_industry_meeting_could_change_the_zune.html
http://tinyurl.com/y7z5wl
Unbundling Microsoft Windows
,----[ Quote ]
| Computers in the European Union should be sold without a bundled operating
| system, according to this submission to the European Commission. It says that
| the bundling of Microsoft Windows with computers is not in the public
| interest, and prevents meaningful competition in the operating system market.
`----
http://www.globalisation.eu/briefings/competition-policy/unbundling-microsoft-windows-200709231241/
>From Doug (making a 'sales' with Microsoft's *REAL* customer)
,----[ Quote ]
| AMENDMENT NUMBER 13
| Amendment Date: June 1, 1995
| to LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR MICROSOFT PRODUCTS #1107-3053
| between MICROSOFT CORPORATION, a Washington USA Corporation
| and COMPAQ COMPUTER CORPORATION, a Delaware, USA Corporation
|
| ..
|
| (a) COMPAQ agrees to pay MS a royalty of Five Hundred Dollars (US
| $500.00) for each full or partial Customer System, identified in Exhibit
| M6 .. the joint expectations is for COMPAQ to distribute 10,000 Customer
| Systems identified in Exhibit M6 on or before March 31, 1996
|
| ..
|
| NOTE: The above royalties are exclusive of any charges by the Authorized
| Replicator, as applicable for copies of Product ordered by COMPAQ. The
| above royalties are for Product for use on Customer Systems with no more
| than four (4) processors.
|
| ..
|
| (b) In order to support the end-users, COMPAQ agrees to employ for so
| long as COMPAQ continues to market and support the Product at least one
| support technician who has successfully completed, at COMPAQ's expense,
| the Microsoft Certified Professional program for BackOffice .. MS agrees
| to allow end user customers to purchase software support through MS'
| available support programs. Ms is not responsible for providing free
| support to COMPAQ resellers or customers.
|
| ..
|
| (g) COMPAQ may modify existing Customer Systems or add additional
| Customer Systems (which are uniquely configured) to Exhibit M6 on a Per
| System basis at a royalty of US $500.00 by providing a written request.
| MS reserves the right to approve modifications or additions for new
| Customer Systems submitted by COMPAQ, Such approval will not
| unreasonably be withheld.
|
| ..
|
| (b) MS agrees to adjust the royalty for BackOffice by a commensurate
| percentage., if the Estimated Retail price (ERP) of the equivalent
| BackOffice retail SKU changes during the term of this Exhibit C17. MS
| agrees to use reasonable best efforts to provide written notice to
| COMPAQ at least (30) thirty days prior to a change in the Estimated
| Retail price (ERP) of the equivalent BackOffice retail SKU. Such
| adjustment shall not be proactive.
|
| ..
|
| (i) COMPAQ and MS mutually agree to create a US $4,500,000.00 fund for
| joint activities specified in a jointly developed marketing plan to
| encompass; field engagement, training, channel development, promotion,
| public relations, events, and other key activities ..
|
| ..
|
| (i) COMPAQ shall contribute US £2,000,000.00 of which US $500,000.00
| shall be allocated for COMPAQ equipment purchased at COMPAQ's fully
| burdened manufacturing cost. COMPAQ shall allocate US $750,000.00 in
| cash on July 14, 1995. On or before January 1, 1996 COMPAQ shall
| allocate the remaining US $750,000.00 in cash provided this Exhibit C17
| is still then in effect. The timing for the allocation of the US
| $500,000.00 in COMPAQ equipment shall be determined by the jointly
| developed marketing plan.
|
| (ii) MS shall contribute US $2,500,000 in cash. MS shall allocate US
| $500,000.00 upon signing of this amendment, and US $1,375,000.00 on
| July 14, 1995. On or before January 1, 1996, MS shall allocate the
| remaining US $625,000.00 in cash provided this Exhibit C17 is still then
| in effect.
|
| ..
|
| (iii) COMPAQ and MS shall each designate individuals responsible for
| jointly managing the BackOffice marketing plan and funds. The cash
| portion of the joint fund shall reside with MS.
|
| (iv) Upon termination of this Exhibit C17, COMPAQ and MS agree to split
| the remaining balance of the joint funds in the same proportion as each
| party's cash contribution at the point of termination.
`----
http://edge-op.org/iowa/www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/2000/PX02317.pdf
|
|
