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Ask HN: what does Microsoft sell that you can't get for free?

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Re: Ask HN: what does Microsoft sell that you can't get for free?

#11

Post by HelpfulHoratio »

Khao wrote: post #8

Personally, I don't think that any OS is even close to being what Windows is. Maybe Macs are the closest and I believe they got a few things down better than Windows, but this alternative isn't free either. As for Linux I have tried different linux OSes and I see only use for them in server environments. None of them have made me want to lose Windows completely because they weren't as plug and play as Windows is. Ano…

This post is unintentionally hilarious.

Re: Ask HN: what does Microsoft sell that you can't get for free?

#15

Post by duck »

Exchange - gmail

I see this comparison so often, but it really is apples and oranges. I love gmail and use it daily, but it isn't a replacement for Exchange. First, gmail is just a client... you have no control over the server aspect with Google. That is fine for a lot of small businesses, but for most mid to large companies that isn't an option.

Does Exchange cost a lot of money? Yes, but with that you get a first class messaging platform that you control.

Re: Ask HN: what does Microsoft sell that you can't get for free?

#16

Post by AlexMuir »

patio11 wrote: post #12

A desktop OS my mother can use. Sorry Ubuntu. You've sudo apt-got my-heart but, well, reality isn't coextensive with our aspirations.

This was what I thought until I installed ubuntu. Maybe it's the honeymoon period, but it just works. I doubt your mum is doing heavy graphics work or playing games and those are the only two things that are keeping me on win 7. The interface ubuntu is nice, it's stable and programs can be installed in one click.

I'm not saying its perfect, just that it's much, much better than I thought.

Re: Ask HN: what does Microsoft sell that you can't get for free?

#18

Post by AlexMuir »

duck wrote: post #15

Exchange - gmail I see this comparison so often, but it really is apples and oranges. I love gmail and use it daily, but it isn't a replacement for Exchange. First, gmail is just a client... you have no control over the server aspect with Google. That is fine for a lot of small businesses, but for most mid to large companies that isn't an option. Does Exchange cost a lot of money? Yes, but with that you get a first c…

I just don't get this insistance on control over utility servers. If we take sensitive businesses out of the equation there's really no argument for it. How many times has gmail been down for me? Never. What about exchange/lotus notes? At least once a month. And even when they work they're shit.

Re: Ask HN: what does Microsoft sell that you can't get for free?

#19

Post by AlexMuir »

melvinram wrote: post #7

"Free" isn't the thing Microsoft should be worried about. If Twitter grows to become 50,000 people in 10 years, they won't select Google Docs because it's free. They'll choose it because it helps them get work done better for an overall lower cost, and that is really what Microsoft should be worried about because their competitive edge in most areas is eroding quickly. For example, Android isn't going to beat Windows…

I agree that price isn't the issue, but by being free (to con sumers at least) these alternatives are ubiquitous, and therefore widely recognized as better. If they were paid for none of us would have used them, so we couldn't all agree that they are better.
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