Live data from Hacker News

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

wired.com

21–30 of 155 posts

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

#21
The worst thing I found with Windows 8. Using any of the metro apps, there was embedded advertising inside of the apps. Upsetting to be advertised to inside of applications running on an O/S that I paid money for.

It's ok though, they fixed it, when I upgraded to Windows 8.1, the upgrade destroyed my ability to run metro style apps at all - I just got some arcane error message when I try to run/launch anything metro related.

I went back to Windows 7.

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

#23

"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…

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.

That's almost funny.

I was too lazy to do things properly (kickstart script, etc.) so I have a bash script with about 10 "apt-get install" lines that set up everything I want on Ubuntu or debian, and a few more "echo" lines that configure 90% of my other preferences.

50 line scripts that contain very little other than the names of the programs I want or the configuration I want.

Let's say I just got a new computer with Windows 7/8, not part of a domain or anything - just a new laptop. Care to list the steps needed to get into your favorite state (list YOUR favorite 10 apps you need to install)

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

#24
I really doubt this will have any effect on Microsoft revenues from computer retailers like dell, and windows starter editions has always pushed an IAP for an upgraded version.

The only market they loose is the customers who go to a local store to buy windows starter/basic edition. I think that is a pretty small market, but feel free to correct me.

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

#25
post #24

I really doubt this will have any effect on Microsoft revenues from computer retailers like dell, and windows starter editions has always pushed an IAP for an upgraded version. The only market they loose is the customers who go to a local store to buy windows starter/basic edition. I think that is a pretty small market, but feel free to correct me.

I tend to agree with this. Also, I doubt if big corporations, perhaps locked into multi-year contract, would bother with this free edition. I bought MS Office in a retail outlet but otherwise Windows OS itself has always been prepackaged.

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

#28
post #20

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 Des…

>Your interest is to keep an OS supported.

That's not true. It's in your interest to benefit from improvements in software quality. (Certain "upgrades" from Microsoft have been anything but that, but we've certainly come a long way since Windows ME.) A product encumbered by technical debt is going to be weaker.

There are certain well-defined, self-contained systems where never changing makes sense - things that will run for decades, like lab instruments and life-critical industrial automation. General purpose computing isn't one of them.

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

#29
post #23

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.

That's almost funny. I was too lazy to do things properly (kickstart script, etc.) so I have a bash script with about 10 "apt-get install" lines that set up everything I want on Ubuntu or debian, and a few more "echo" lines that configure 90% of my other preferences. 50 line scripts that contain very little other than the names of the programs I want or the configuration I want. Let's say I just got a new computer wi…

I just use the same old .exe that I generate from ninite.com. It takes just one click and I have all my favorite apps running. I just need to install VS2013 and are good to go. It can't be more simple than this.
Post reply on HN