....winston‫ wrote:

Stef wrote:
Came across this little blurb. chuckle, chuckle

http://www.theverge.com/2014/2/28/54...ing-experiment

What a joke as a marketing ploy. When half your customers don't like
the product, giving it away won't change that consensus. MS has
already reduced licensing frees with little or no tangible results.

MS is in denial. It needs to get its head out of the sand, and give
their desktop customers what they want: A true desktop, mouse and
keyboard version.

It would also be nice if it ran on users' current hardware and
a totally new system purchase wasn't necessary. But perhaps, I'm
dreaming, and asking too much. This IS Windows after all.

Stef



Not going to happen...the OEM's are in the driver seat..and want to
maintain margins by using current hardware.

And Microsoft is riding shotgun with the gun pointed directly at the
driver's head. And the ammunition? MS software licenses. Many times
that license, the life blood of the PC & laptop business, and now
tablets, too; has been used by threat of modification or outright
revocation to coerce manufacturers to produce what MS wants to improve
their marketability. And profits.

If by "current hardware," you mean the latest stuff hitting the market,
I agree. Manufacturers generate income by selling "new and improved"
hardware. No one's going to buy new, 5 year old or even 2 year old
hardware. I meant by "current hardware," the hardware the user
currently owns, not what is currently being sold. Big difference.
And as far as the Windows OS, unrealistic. Every major release of
Windows has required hardware upgrades, sometimes, an entirely new
system. The exception might be W7 to 8. The W7 hardware should run
W8/8.1. Of course, there are caveats.

The future market is smart devices, not desktop pcs.

You make it sound as does the press like no one's making desktops
and laptops anymore. Desktop sales were only down 3% last year. And a
lot of that was caused by the economy -- can't afford to buy a new PC
-- and the dislike of Windows 8 -- not going to buy an OS I hate; I'll
wait for 9; or buy a Mac.

And FYI: smart devices are just part of the market. Yes, sales are
through the roof, but it's the new toy, new status symbol, and teen and
20-somethings have just GOT TO HAVE ONE! It'll settle down as soon as
the newness of it wears off, and they realize you can't easily write a
term paper or thesis or business report on your cellphone or tablet. I
would've hated to write this reply on my cellphone with just my thumbs.
;-)

Look to the east to understand the who the target market is...it might
have been you and I yesterday...it won't be us ever again.

A look to the past and common sense decerns the future better.

Adapt or realize later that what you continue to use (if Windows) will
cease to be supported on hardware and software.

I have adapted. Long before there was a Windows and it was just
DOS, I chose the Amiga. And when that died, I switched to Linux.
Windows isn't and never has been my primary OS. I have to use it at
times. I have to repeatedly repair it for clients. But I don't use it
much. It wouldn't bother me in the least if Windows crashed and burned,
and Microsoft went out of business. I never much cared for their
Draconian business model anyway.

Reality bites...

Ain't it the truth!

Stef