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Microsoft Windows 7: Upgrade or just buy a pizza? | |
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| Time: 00:32 EST/05:32 GMT | News Source: News.com | Posted By: Andre Da Costa | ||
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BusinessWeek is running a piece on Microsoft's latest attempts to fight back against Apple and Linux and its secret strategy to force unwitting Windows users to upgrade to various flavors of Windows 7. Microsoft says the process will be simple. Customers enter their credit-card information, then a 25-character code, make a few keystrokes, then reboot. (Microsoft Corporate Vice President for Consumer-Product Marketing Brad Brooks) says pricing hasn't been determined, but upgrading "will cost less than a night out for four at a pizza restaurant." I can't decide if this strategy is profoundly stupid or just utterly moronic. | ||
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| #1 By 8556 (12.210.39.82) at 4/11/2009 8:50:05 AM |
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Microsoft will get between $15 and $25 per preloaded Windows 7 OEM license on netbooks, about the same as XP brings in on netbooks. If the upgrade charge is $40, which most business people would pay out of their pocket, then this is a sound strategy. Calling it stupid or moronic indicates the write is not familiar with running a business that makes a profit. In any case it cost MS nothing to implement this plan and offers the hope of an increased revenue stream over and above what preloaded XP brings in currently on netbooks.
Now might be a good time to buy some MSFT stock. |
| #2 By 32313 (208.131.186.2) at 4/11/2009 10:09:38 AM |
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The question is, will the average consumer like Lisa and Jackson or Lauren be interested in this strategy? Most consumers when they buy a computer, they tend to stick with whatever comes preloaded. If they pay $800 or $1500, they consider that a big investment, they are not interested in finding out 15 mins later or 1 month later, that to get a certain level of functionality, they have to spend more money.
I know folks who bought a PC or Laptop with XP Home and they are very happy with it. My brother bought a Dell Inspiron with Vista Home Basic back in March of 2008 and he is quite happy with it, regardless it lacks some of the eye popping functionality found in SKUs such as Home Premium and Ultimate. I told him about Windows 7, showed him and he says that looks cool. Is he interested in upgrading? Not really. Now, taking into consideration Anytime Upgrade, which is actually even much easier to use in Windows 7 than Vista. Folks are not going really put up with a bait and switch tactic. I personally don't even know why Microsoft is continuing to sell a Starter Edition, noting that all Netbooks today can even run the Windows 7 Ultimate SKU just fine. If the Company wanted to present a cost effective solution, at least let it be Home Basic. But Starters 1024 by 768, 3 app limits are really going to annoy users. Will they migrate to Linux because of it? Maybe. Will they upgrade to a higher SKU? Maybe not. Like my brother, consumers will adopt, if the 3 app limit is what I bought into, so be it, but I am not going spend another dime, I have bills to pay, kids to feed. |
| #3 By 15406 (72.140.218.146) at 4/11/2009 11:16:42 AM |
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#2: "eye popping"?? Um, OK. You realize that Windows trails the rest of the OS world when it comes to desktop visuals, right?
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| #4 By 28801 (65.90.202.10) at 4/11/2009 2:43:28 PM |
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#3: In your opinion. I've seen various Linux distros and most look like Windows 2k.
With respect to the MAC, I would think that, for many, the case design is more of a selling point than the OS. |
| #5 By 1896 (74.166.235.69) at 4/11/2009 3:58:14 PM |
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What I found ironic... and tragic is that the clips coming out from Redmond about desks of the future, OS in ten years etc. are so much better than everything else seen on the web; still they are never released.
Yes this has happened for years. |
| #6 By 28801 (65.90.202.10) at 4/14/2009 1:41:50 PM |
| All of this has happened before, and all of will happen again. |
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