EA Puts foot in mouth, MS has no comment

[Lil Frier]

I came up with that number because YOU said it. She paid $40 for Windows 8, and then got free Windows 10. Also, MS already doesn't make money every year on OS upgrades. They make money on PC builders paying for each license and on companies paying for them. MS doesn't care about users buying their OS. It is such a small market they aren't losing any real income.

You don't have a key that predates this model for OEM copies of Windows. It has been that way for a long time (XP at least). An OEM copy of Windows 7 should not activate on a new MB or CPU combination than the one it was originally activated on. However, this generally isn't an issue because you just use the help or call MS and tell them you had to replace faulty hardware and acknowledge that copy of Windows is only activated on one machine and are good to go.

Yes, I said because MS didn't charge full price for W8, and gave W10 for free, they lost money. You just totally interpreted that statement into something different. What, I'm not entirely sure. I also didn't say they make money annually, I said they lost the year of upgrade revenue for W10's first year of release. Again, you're twisting my words into something completely different than what they are.

Also, I'll just go ahead and disagree with you about the Windows key activation. I used the same copy of my OS from my AMD Phenom II build to my Haswell one. I didn't need a new key. I didn't have to get MS to help me out. I just threw in the disc and went to it.

But we're 18 miles off-topic. Not going to bother with the discussion further, so have whatever say you wish, and let's move on.

 

[cmdrdredd]

No, they would have lost about $100-150 from my sister because they didn't charge for W10 and had a discount for an early W8 upgrade. Not sure how you came to that number in any way, since my argument was that they are throwing out money by not charging customers typical, full prices to upgrade, and now making the OS free to upgrade for a year for the vast majority of folks.



The obvious question then, what if you only change one of them? If your board dies, but you keep the same CPU, what happens? What if you are an AMD person who's able to keep a board across generations? What if you are using W10 from a W8 upgrade whose key predates that matter?

Regardless, I'm in CS, and my school gives me the OS for free. Nothing I have to worry about.

You can change a CPU without an OS install. You cannot do that with a motherboard. So if you swap the CPU for a new model it will just keep on running. When you have to install again and validate the license for activation is where it gives problems. You could always try calling them and explaining you replaced a broken part with an identical one and get them to unlock your activation code.

 

[Subyman]

One of the things that keeps popping into my head when I consider getting a Xbox is the cut down GPU. I know it shouldn't be a primary concern, but I've always been a huge hardware guy so there is no way to ignore it for me. I may end up getting a Xbox One some day, but it will only be for Forza and maybe Halo. Everything else I'd rather play on PC.

 

[EightySix Four]

One of the things that keeps popping into my head when I consider getting a Xbox is the cut down GPU. I know it shouldn't be a primary concern, but I've always been a huge hardware guy so there is no way to ignore it for me. I may end up getting a Xbox One some day, but it will only be for Forza and maybe Halo. Everything else I'd rather play on PC.

Because I have a gaming PC, I didn't take hardware into account when picking which console to keep. If I'm playing a game where graphics are one of the primary drivers for me (some are), I buy it on PC. If I want to play a game with my Xbox Live buddies or it is more of a "couch" game, I buy it on Xbox. It really helps that I pipe my TV through my One so I can switch into games during off-times instantly - the speed of being able to do that is a surprisingly big driver in my increase in play time since I bought it.

Neither console can really get in the ball park of a gaming PC, and won't even be in the same city after the 14/16nm cards come out this year. Why worry about hardware then? So for me it came down to exclusives (Forza is my shit and all my friends play Halo), accessories (Xbox controller > PS4 controller), and tertiary features (TV) and for me the Xbox One won. As far as MS leaving the market, why would they? Did Sony leave after a second place start in the 360/PS3 generation? Microsoft is making good money from Live and everything surrounding the gaming program and it is a strong sales tool for Azure. Both consoles have sold more than they had at this point last generation...

 

[BoberFett]

Yes, I said because MS didn't charge full price for W8, and gave W10 for free, they lost money. You just totally interpreted that statement into something different. What, I'm not entirely sure. I also didn't say they make money annually, I said they lost the year of upgrade revenue for W10's first year of release. Again, you're twisting my words into something completely different than what they are.

Also, I'll just go ahead and disagree with you about the Windows key activation. I used the same copy of my OS from my AMD Phenom II build to my Haswell one. I didn't need a new key. I didn't have to get MS to help me out. I just threw in the disc and went to it.

But we're 18 miles off-topic. Not going to bother with the discussion further, so have whatever say you wish, and let's move on.

I'm not sure they really lost out on that much money for giving away Windows 10 for free. I can't imagine they ever sold that many retail copies of Windows upgrades. The vast, vast majority of Windows installations are OEM and enterprise agreement. Both of those still have to pay for the OS. The benefit for giving away Windows 10 is to nearly eliminate the base of older OSes, resulting in lower support costs.

 

[CZroe]

I still don't understand the topic title. How did EA put their foot in their mouth? Nothing in the OP explains what this means. If EA was saying that the XBOX One was going to outpace the PS4 or something and then this data contradicted what they said then you might have a point, but you still have to actually SAY IT to make the point.

I dunno: did EA say something like that? Is this data flying in the face of what they told us to expect?

 

[HeXen]

Actually this is significant beyond fanboyism, as Microsoft has been considering dumping Xbox entirely and they don't seem to be making much real inroads against Sony this gen, despite all their work. I think that would be foolish, but I could see them look to make it a service and compete with Steam. They could even still make an Xbox system, but it'd be different, make it more like the Surface line, where its good, but is meant as much to help OEMs do their own versions.

Just make Xbox a client like Steam along with a big screen mode option and market the controller specifically for PC. And a Xbox OS that is windows based to compete with SteamOS.

 

[CZroe]

Actually this is significant beyond fanboyism, as Microsoft has been considering dumping Xbox entirely and they don't seem to be making much real inroads against Sony this gen, despite all their work. I think that would be foolish, but I could see them look to make it a service and compete with Steam. They could even still make an Xbox system, but it'd be different, make it more like the Surface line, where its good, but is meant as much to help OEMs do their own versions.

You seem to have missed that this is almost exactly what they are doing. By making cross-platform apps, the XBL Marketplace devs will inadvertently be fleshing out the Windows Store and the rising tide is supposed to lift all boats (Surface, Windows 10, Windows Phone, partner devices, etc).

 

[Lil Frier]

You seem to have missed that this is almost exactly what they are doing. By making cross-platform apps, the XBL Marketplace devs will inadvertently be fleshing out the Windows Store and the rising tide is supposed to lift all boats (Surface, Windows 10, Windows Phone, partner devices, etc).

That's the plan, but it's not quite working yet (speaking as a W10, W10M, and XB1 user). Devs have to still do a bit of extra work to get an app from W10 to the W10M store, and not all of them are. Some devs have even pulled out of W10 and W10M (banks being the biggest offender, it seems), and others just haven't bothered to update their W8/W10 apps to Universal ones (which would then support Continuum as well).

We keep hoping it'll happen, but then again, Trillian's been promising folks a WP8 app for 2-3 years now, and nothing's happening. VLC said it's going to keep working on finishing its W8/WP8 app because they don't want to screw over customers, and that's been paired with a statement that they have 0 plans for a W10/W10M app right now. The NBA still hasn't offered something for its League Pass/Game Time (whatever they call it) platform. MLB hasn't mentioned updating its At-Bat app for W10/W10M, though it does work on those platforms already (if inconsistently, and not through Continuum).

 

[Rage187]

Don't think I care, nor do I have much to add except that I haven't actually played anything on either the PS4 or XB1 in months. I download all the giveaway games for PSN+ and XBL Gold but never really play them. Nothing interesting I guess until SF5 next month.

I bought a WiiU in december. So far, I have put 300+ hours into Xenoblade chronicles and another 290+ into Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate.