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With Free Version of Windows, Microsoft Gives In to the Google Way

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Re: With Free Version of Windows, Microsoft Gives In to the Google Way

#11

Post by cbhl »

mappu wrote: post #10
bifftannen wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can script the OS and application install with WDS, SCCM, and AD. Just because you can't or won't do it doesn't mean it can't be done.

Can you script all those common installers that are (a) not an msi, (b) don't have a /SILENT switch or other unattended installation, (c) require license input, or any combination thereof? I guess you could use AutoHotkey to simulate mouse clicks, or attempt to repackage the software yourself. But when comparing the ability to script installations in general, linux has a major, major advantage.

Repacking all the software yourself so that you can automate the installation of packages is hardly what I'd consider a solution.

In practice, people use drive images of Windows, or Ninite, or pay the neighbourhood PFK $12/hr to "automate" it.

Re: With Free Version of Windows, Microsoft Gives In to the Google Way

#13

Post by bruce511 »

hughdbrown wrote: post #3

"Google offers free OSes to computer and phone makers as a way of driving the use of its search engine and countless other web services, and now, Microsoft is at least experimenting with the idea of doing much the same thing. According to the report, its free operating system is known as Windows 8.1 With Bing. As the name implies, the OS is meant to feed the use of Microsoft’s own search engine, as well as other Micr…

What you are describing here is the cost of changing from an OS you know, to one that you don't. Since this cost greatly exceeds the sticker price of windows, or Mac for that matter, it is the real reason why people tend to stick with the OS they already know how to use.

It's one of the reasons why Linux never got much traction on the desktop. Sure it made a great desktop OS for the technorati but Joe Public knows how to do what he wants in Windows, and saving $50 isnt incentive enough for him to change.

As you say, "free is not enough".

Incidentally the exact same thing plays out with regard to apps. Office may have strong Open Source competition, but free is not enough there either to get most people to switch.

This effect is not limited to the OS itself, but extends to the flavor of the OS as well. Despite what the popular press says, windows 8 is not bad, but it is different. Vista was better than you think, but wasa different to XP and so on. Xp was the gold standard for a long time, so it's easy to forget how much people resisted it at first.

And before you get too smug, look at the division in the Linux market right now over Unity.

Here's the thing. The price of the OS is irrelevant. Free is not an advantage. Windows will exist on the desktop for many years to come, and will likely flop on the phone. But price will have nothing to do with either outcome.

Re: With Free Version of Windows, Microsoft Gives In to the Google Way

#15

Post by skrebbel »

As a Microsoft customer, this alienates me from them. Paid software means that our interests are aligned: I want good software and Microsoft wants to make good software so that I buy it.

Free commercial software means that I'll have to pay through other means, typically means that I'll have less control over.

Re: With Free Version of Windows, Microsoft Gives In to the Google Way

#16

Post by jebblue »

teacup50 wrote: post #14

If you want to see what the future of free operating systems looks like, watch free network TV. This isn't a good trend; who will be the HBO of operating systems?

Lately and for the foreseeable future it's Netflix. Oh Os'es, Linux of course.

Re: With Free Version of Windows, Microsoft Gives In to the Google Way

#17

Post by asdfaoeu »

antonius wrote: post #2

As the article mentions, Windows revenues have been important to Microsoft's business for quite some time. It's hard to imagine how positively shareholders would react to this type of business decision.

This isn't to promote Bing this is to stop people from switching older machines to different operating systems.

Re: With Free Version of Windows, Microsoft Gives In to the Google Way

#18

Post by hrjet »

bruce511 wrote: post #13
hughdbrown wrote: post #3

"Google offers free OSes to computer and phone makers as a way of driving the use of its search engine and countless other web services, and now, Microsoft is at least experimenting with the idea of doing much the same thing. According to the report, its free operating system is known as Windows 8.1 With Bing. As the name implies, the OS is meant to feed the use of Microsoft’s own search engine, as well as other Micr…

What you are describing here is the cost of changing from an OS you know, to one that you don't. Since this cost greatly exceeds the sticker price of windows, or Mac for that matter, it is the real reason why people tend to stick with the OS they already know how to use. It's one of the reasons why Linux never got much traction on the desktop. Sure it made a great desktop OS for the technorati but Joe Public knows ho…

Familiarity is more of a problem for the older generations of people. But they are a receding market share.

And my hunch is that newer generations are more adaptive to new interfaces, having grown into a world where there already many options available.

Re: With Free Version of Windows, Microsoft Gives In to the Google Way

#19

Post by veidr »

teacup50 wrote: post #14

If you want to see what the future of free operating systems looks like, watch free network TV. This isn't a good trend; who will be the HBO of operating systems?

Superior, industry-leading 'content' that nevertheless has a small slice of the total market, demographically skewed toward rich people?

Complete and and iron-clad control of its distribution?

Pretty sure we already have that. It's Apple.

Re: With Free Version of Windows, Microsoft Gives In to the Google Way

#20

Post by beagle3 »

skrebbel wrote: post #15

As a Microsoft customer, this alienates me from them. Paid software means that our interests are aligned: I want good software and Microsoft wants to make good software so that I buy it. Free commercial software means that I'll have to pay through other means, typically means that I'll have less control over.

Your interest and Microsoft's interests haven't been aligned in years.

Your interest is to keep an OS supported. Microsoft's interest is to release Browser and DirectX updates only for the latest-and-greatest, so that you'd updgrade.

Your interest is an open ecosystem. Microsoft's interest is to have a closed garden. (They haven't been successful with that one, but they're trying).

Your interest might be a usable Desktop OS like Win7. Microsoft's interest is to ram their touch interface down your throat so that you'd get used to it, and your next phone may possibly run Windows - regardless of what's good for you.

Your interest is a usable system that just works. Microsoft's interest is providing a "Protected Media Path" that would degrade your experience if your equipment is not xIAA certified.

You already have NO control. You're already paying through other means. You might have had an illusion of control taken away from you - but that's a good thing.

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