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Dave Mackey

David Mackey

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What if Microsoft gave Vista away?

    Microsoft is hardily chomping away on its latest revision of the widely used Windows Operating System. This latest rendition will be known as Vista and is expected sometime early in 2007.
    I haven't spent too much time with the OS, too many more practical problems confront me on a daily basis - why that server is crashing or purchasing new equipment, helping users troubleshoot their problems. But for some reason I started thinking...
    What if Microsoft released Vista for free? I agree, it is extremely unlikely, but there are some good reasons to do so:
1. Microsoft is currently in the middle of a long struggle with Linux for control of both the server and desktop arenas. While Microsoft still dominates in this area, there has been some gains for Linux and other open source software. One of the greatest reasons many companies are switching to Linux - whether one desktop or server is not because of distinct performance improvements but rather because of an (at least perceived) lower total cost of ownership (TCO).
2. Microsoft could continue to require Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) to pay for the software (an end-user only free license) which would allow them to generate significant revenue even while giving the software away free.
3. Microsoft could only release the lower and mid-range versions of the product for free, with relatively minor upgrade fees to move up to the more full-featured versions. This would encourage individuals to become involved with the product and as they became familiar with it they could upgrade further.
4. Microsoft could combat Apple successfully on the multimedia front by offering a free Vista Media OS in conjunction with OEMs that would be very attractive to the end-consumer at a reduced price.
5. This would not be out of line with the way Microsoft has been doing business lately with its release of the Express editions as well as its recent release for free download of Virtual Server 2005 R2.
6. Microsoft has significant cash reservoirs which along with its enterprise products could carry it through the loss of inflowing cash from Vista sales.
7. Microsoft could include more ad based products with Vista without as many complaints from consumers. For example, bundled internet, advertising on Windows startup screen.
8. Microsoft could continue to increase revenue by encouraging individuals to focus on value-add products rather than the core OS - for example Windows Defender and Windows OneCare.
9. Microsoft has done this before on a lesser scale with Netscape and did so successfully (until Mozilla came out of the blue).
    Valid business model or ridiculous fantasy? Let me know.
Published Apr 20 2006, 10:48 PM by admin
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Comments

 

TechBlog said:

Random geek linkage for a stormy Friday morning in Houston . . . • Dell's growth drops below that of the PC market, and at least one analyst blames its failure to use AMD chips. Dell's purchase of Alienware notwithstanding,...
April 21, 2006 5:36 AM
 

mangledspine said:

*sigh*.

1.  Complete your train of thought.  If Linux has a lower perceived TCO, so what?  What would Microsoft be able to do. and why do you think it would work?

2. This won't work.  Why?  How many times would I, an average user, go to Dell for anything?  Maybe once every five years.  Considering Microsoft hasn't released an operating system on such a timely schedule, (say every 5 years?) I won't have an opportunity or a need (if Windows XP is working just fine like thousands of Windows 98 are still doing) to purchase it.

3.  I don't think this will work either.  For $50-100 extra, I'll fork out the money for the full edition thank you (and keep it for a lot longer than usual to get my value and use out of it for the next 5-8 years).

4.  If this would involve using Windows Media Center, somehow with updated software for editing video etc, perhaps this might fly for people who like using Microsoft products.  But, for an outlay of $3-4000, I can buy a desktop ready PC with a great operating system plus the software I need to edit videos.  And it's top of the line, and easy to use.  I shouldn't need a special version of any operating system unless it has more gain than another (which if you view the MS knowledgebase, user groups, or the Internet in general, you will see that people have a lot of usability issues with Media Center)

5.  This isn't a reason, it's an opinion which is more in line with your previous point.  So why make another bullet point?  English aside, the only reason they are making Virtual Server free is to get it out there to the masses.  Microsoft has reached a critical point wherein software exists out that does the majority of tasks users need, but these packages are completely free.  Visual Studio?  Well, if you're willing, you can use Bloodshed Dev-CPP, or or heaven forbid notepad.exe.  Microsoft's compiler is already near free to use - it's the licensing under which you can use it (and also distribute your finished application) that is restrictive.

6.  What world do you live in?  A corporation exists to *make money*, not to sit idly by and spend it.  "Carry it through the loss", huh?  Where does it stop?  How does it stop?  Extrapolate your thoughts.  I would say unless Microsoft realizes that there are people out there who enjoy making software and want a lot of other people to use it and therefore make it free to use, modify, distribute, and even turn a profit on, there business will fail regardless of how much money they can throw at their problems.

7.  Yeah, watch how fast I block this with my 3rd party hardware or broadband router.  Oh, I can't even use the new version of Windows without allowing the operating system to go out on the Internet and download new ads to make more money?  I'll find another operating system, learn it, and learn to live without Microsoft (like I already do in the majority of my work).  Also, you forget a lot of individuals and companies have policies AGAINST Internet access at all, and advertising content sites are one of the many blocked categories of sites in filtering software.

8.  Spybot is free, and if not, I'll gladly pay a $20-50 a year for updates (just like people do with Symantec products).  Not only that, in my opinion, tlhey could be in store for another anti-trust battle (remember the whole Netscape/IE/bundling fiasco?) if they don't do this carefully.  

I already depend on Microsoft for Windows Updates, and I might argue that had Microsoft been proactive with their security/OS model etc, we wouldn't even have a need for software like AntiSpyware (which was NOT their creation, but an application they acquired from GIANT in hopes that people could finally get some piece of mind while surfing the Internet).

If they were to innovate with their software (Windows is nothing but a carbon copy of the Apple OSs), and start looking at where their current cashflow lies, they may be able to figure out how to win this war.

9.  Let me fix this up for you: Microsoft has done this before on a lesser scale with Netscape and did so successfully, until of course they were convicted of anti-trust practices, fined, and forced to fix the problem.  Let me say this again: Bundling software in a certain manner, may be anticompetitve and illegal in some cases (like in Microsoft's).  This also is a continuation of the previous point and should not be included in your list of ten points.


If you're going to argue, make it good.  There are too many people on the Internet with an opinion (like me) who actually give a *** about the world around them.  Make your points clearly defined, and back your statements up.  No one wants to read a stupid post about your opinions (which haven't been thought out completely); all this does (in my case anyway) is serve to tell the public at large that you want visitors to your site.  Right witty comments, write useful information and hope it gets linked.

No one likes Internet whores!

April 21, 2006 6:20 AM
 

Star said:

What If I gave you a broken car free?
November 3, 2006 8:09 AM
 

Dave's Innovations. said:

Once upon a time one of my stories took off on Digg. It was entitled, "What if Microsoft gave Vista away?"

February 10, 2007 8:55 AM
 

Raul said:

hello I'm looking for anyone who has a windows vista ultimate full dvd....i need the hardware number on them, anyone who can help, please e mail me at Raul677@aol.com

April 14, 2007 2:48 PM

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