Microsoft Ready to Cash In on Big Gamble

[nsane.forums]

Microsoft has tied the fate of both Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office to the success or failure of Windows 8.

Microsoft revealed the date this week when it plans to start collecting on its bets. As of October 26--the official release date for Windows 8--all the cards will be on the table, and we will see if the gamble will pay off or not.

What gamble? Microsoft has a lot riding on Windows 8.

Internet Explorer 9 only works with Windows Vista and Windows 7. Its successor--Internet Explorer 10--will only work with Windows 7 and Windows 8. The next generation of the Microsoft Office productivity suite is also limited to Windows 7 and Windows 8. PCs that aren’t running Windows 7 or Windows 8 are being left in the dust by Microsoft.

Microsoft has been uncharacteristically brazen about drawing these lines in the sand in recent years. The fate of Internet Explorer and Microsoft Office (and Windows itself) is tied directly to the success or failure of Windows 8. Now, it is putting its proverbial money where its mouth is, and doubling down with the discounted Windows 8. Making Windows 8 available for a mere $40 is a compelling offer.

If you use Windows--and you’re still using Windows XP or Vista—Microsoft is ready to call your bluff. You’re welcome to reject the bargain upgrade to Windows 8 and keep your legacy operating system. After all, it’s working just fine so you don’t need to upgrade, right? But, you’ll be on the wrong side of Microsoft’s line in the sand, and you will probably find both support and sympathy lacking when issues arise.

Many users could care less about Internet Explorer 9 or 10. Chrome, Firefox, and a plethora of other options work just fine. There are also businesses and consumers still happily using Office 2010 or even Office 2003, and they’re not interested in switching to Office 2013 any time soon. But, the $40 price tag on Windows 8 may still be enough to convince people to make the switch--just to hedge their bets and leave their options open.

While many users love Windows XP and maintain that they haven’t moved to Windows Vista or Windows 7 because they simply don’t see the need, I can’t help but believe money is still a major contributing factor in that decision. I translate it to “I like Windows XP, so it’s not worth $200 for me to buy Windows 7.” If Microsoft gave away Windows 7 for free, I think many of those holdouts would happily embrace the newer operating system.

Well, Microsoft isn’t giving Windows 8 away for free, but it is making a Godfather-esque “offer you can’t refuse”. With Windows XP rapidly approaching its end of life in terms of Microsoft support, that $40 move to Windows 8 will be very appealing. But, the bargain offer has a time limit, so users only have until January 31, 2013 to decide.

Microsoft has a lot on the line. Beginning October 26 we’ll see if Microsoft’s gamble will pay off.

View: Original Article

[voodoohippie]

Here is something for Microsoft to ponder on:

I run an Internet Radio station playing Progressive Rock, Classic Rock http://thelegacyradio.tk and use SAM Broadcaster which is in itself a memory hog. I'm lucky as my HP Elite 400 has the 8GB Ram and the processor power to run SAM but at a price tag of about a grand it better have the power to run SAM if you know what I'm getting at. Now before I had to buy a new machine on the count of my other machine melting down I did run my station quite nicely on Windows XP, SAM Broadcaster and 2GB RAM and a 1TB HDD and it ran quite nicely on a $200 Dell Vostro 200. So for some of us Microsoft had better chip in that FREE computer with 8GB of RAM and I'm sure Windows 8 will require 16GB RAM just to run SAM Broadcaster on that. As an Internet Radio station operator I can't afford to shell out a grand or more to get the same performance a $200 tower can do for me as an Internet Radio Broadcaster. Ebay sells Windows XP machines that have fast processors, 512MB Graphics cards and they do quite well. Oh I love Windows 7, but for all the bells and whistles comes a price. Windows XP should always be an option for users and M$ knows this. So they may as well start shelling out FREE computers to all Internet Radio broadcasters across the USA then.

Real Album Rock

http://thelegacyradio.tk

[keyman]

Here is something for Microsoft to ponder on:

I run an Internet Radio station playing Progressive Rock, Classic Rock http://thelegacyradio.tk and use SAM Broadcaster which is in itself a memory hog. I'm lucky as my HP Elite 400 has the 8GB Ram and the processor power to run SAM but at a price tag of about a grand it better have the power to run SAM if you know what I'm getting at. Now before I had to buy a new machine on the count of my other machine melting down I did run my station quite nicely on Windows XP, SAM Broadcaster and 2GB RAM and a 1TB HDD and it ran quite nicely on a $200 Dell Vostro 200. So for some of us Microsoft had better chip in that FREE computer with 8GB of RAM and I'm sure Windows 8 will require 16GB RAM just to run SAM Broadcaster on that. As an Internet Radio station operator I can't afford to shell out a grand or more to get the same performance a $200 tower can do for me as an Internet Radio Broadcaster. Ebay sells Windows XP machines that have fast processors, 512MB Graphics cards and they do quite well. Oh I love Windows 7, but for all the bells and whistles comes a price. Windows XP should always be an option for users and M$ knows this. So they may as well start shelling out FREE computers to all Internet Radio broadcasters across the USA then.

Real Album Rock

http://thelegacyradio.tk

Well said!

[ck_kent]

Micro$oft doesn't really care about their users. It's called "Planned obsolescence". Hardware manufacturers love them because it forces users to upgrade their system.

[keyman]

Micro$oft doesn't really care about their users. It's called "Planned obsolescence". Hardware manufacturers love them because it forces users to upgrade their system.

Very true.