MS wants people to stop pirating, but....

[aUt0eXebat]

They put a huge price on their software, ie the new office XP, id like to have that, but im not spending that much $$ on it. and Windows XP, i want that too, but its going to be around $400-500, they wonder why people pirate their software...... not everyone is as rich or even close to Bill Gates.....

its also stupid that I have to pay to try out their beta xp also, maybe im wrong and dont have to, can anyone correct me?

 

[JuryDuty]

<< They put a huge price on their software, ie the new office XP, id like to have that, but im not spending that much $$ on it. and Windows XP, i want that too, but its going to be around $400-500, they wonder why people pirate their software...... not everyone is as rich or even close to Bill Gates.....

its also stupid that I have to pay to try out their beta xp also, maybe im wrong and dont have to, can anyone correct me? >>



Well, the price is hefty, no argument there, but there were so many good deals available when OfficeXP came out, I got a free digital camera, ZIP drive, CDRW, palm, etc, after rebate. Of course, I auctioned all of them and ended up getting 2 copies of OfficeXP for free in the end. I'm sure the same kind of deals will be around when WindowsXP comes out.

Incidently, WindowsXP should be following the same pricing as other versions of Windows. You should be able to get a full version for about $200, or upgrade for under $100.

They do ask that you pay $10 for the beta--kind of weird, but if you signed up for one of their &quot;XP events&quot; like many of us did, you get it free. Check out this page.

So, yes, the prices are hefty, but with all the partner stuff, you can actually make a profit and have the latest software if you play your cards right.

 

[rocmonster]

1. you don't have to pay to test beta software, you can apply to be a beta tester. Odds are slim, but you have a chance over time. Many people in these forums have either MSDN access to new and beta MS software, are beta testers for MS, or just simply and quietly search IRC, ftp's or the net for other ways to (*cough*) aquire beta software.

2. MS charges what they feel the market will bear (granted, they have used good ole' american know-how to slant the market in their direction). Office is their bread and butter, is probably the most popular office suite out there, and is easy to learn in a business setting.

3. Why do you want to run XP? If you already have win98 or even better, win2k, you don't need XP plain and simple.

 

[lucidguy]

<< MS charges what they feel the market will bear >>



This is a naive thing to believe. Microsoft is intentionally overpricing Office XP and Win XP to encourage piracy. With the so-called activation (and doubtlessly other methods alongside it that they are not disclosing) they will pretend to have &quot;accurate&quot; numbers indicating the extent of widescale piracy.

Using this so-called &quot;data&quot; they will lobby lawmakers to put in place very harsh punishments for software piracy and reverse engineering, enact laws that severely limit or outright abolish fair use, legalize EULA's, etc, etc.

Microsoft knows that they are becoming less and less relevant in a world where Open Source software performs just as well as overpriced, closed source software. They cannot compete on technology. They cannot compete on price. Therefore, they are setting up the stage for a chain of events which they hope will let them compete with Open Source using legal measures.

However, lawmakers are becoming more and more clueful each passing day. Alchin's, Mundie's and Ballmer's &quot;Big Lie&quot; campaigns were laughed off, losing Microsoft a lot of credibility. Microsoft just doesn't know how to handle an opponent it can't underprice, buy, or sue.

 

[murdock2525]

Lucid ...You're a pain in the ass !
Maybe worse than me !!!!!!!!!!!!
You get on ole Flecha, a student about trying to extend ? a program just to check it out.??? Then you whine about MS and some conspiracy to corrupt MP3 files... That you prolly pirated......
Now you're claiming MS is intentionally encouraging piracy ????
They are becoming less and less relavent as a software source ???
Jesus boy !.... Go apply for a job and let them know your expertezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz at star office and your immense knowledge of god knows what (NOT )
The first questiond asked are Access/ Power point....Word/outlook is always an assumption...
Lay off the Xtacy son..You need some reality !

 

[lucidguy]

<< Lucid ...You're a pain in the ass >>



I would consider taking you more seriously if you had criticized my statements rather than attacking my character.

You accuse me of being a pain in the ass, of pirating software, of not knowing anything about computers. This is not a very good way to debate with someone you haven't even met. You have no idea what my expertise is, you have no idea what I do or do not do. For you to claim otherwise is arrogant and pretentious.

In the thread about the database, I pointed out relevant law without making moral judgments. In other threads, I made what I believe are reasonable analyses of Microsoft's digital music and pricing strategies. If you believe my comments are somehow misled, by all means point out how and why. I would be interested in intelligent rebuttals. But you won't get any respect from me if all you can do is call me names.

 

[Shudder]

Companies like Microsoft, Adobe, etc.. THRIVE off piracy.

Let me break it down to you how their business model works.

x software costs $500+

Home users won't buy that. Some will, but it's insignificant. Home users pirate software left and right. They think it works good, and they brag about getting $500 for nothing. Plus since it's 500 bucks it MUST be good.

Home users become VERY proficient in x software.

Company A, realizing this, saves money on training by just getting software x and their users automatically know how to use it.

Company A can't pirate, because they have deep pockets and will get their arses sued off. Maker of software X knows this, sells tens, hundreds, thousands of copies of X at 500 bucks a crack to company A. THey make a LOT of money because they have to legally buy it.

The cycle goes on and on. Without piracy MS would have been nothing. They know this. Companies will easily pay 500 bucks for an office package, the home user won't, and it's nothing new.

 

[CQuinn]

[/i] >>

Companies like Microsoft, Adobe, etc.. THRIVE off piracy. [/i] >>



There are a couple of flaws in you analysis.


[/i] >>

x software costs $500+[/i] >>



Retail price, few people pay retail. Most store purchases would run
from 40-60% or full retail due to coupons, rebates, and OEM bundles.

Home users spend more time getting the next product (for bragging rights) than
actually using product x.

Home users proficiency is limited to what little he does with the app at home.
Experience does not match up against actual workspace, where solutions using
applications like product x have to be applied to specific projects along
specific guidelines.

Company A pays more in backtraining or thru loss of productivity getting supposedly
proficient users up to speed. Additional revenue is lost in the third party training
market.

Software makers make no additional profit from Company A because the companies are
getting discount breaks for buying product x on bulk orders in the first place.