On CBS MoneyWatch: 10 Most Expensive U.S. Colleges
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 47 of 70:
Next »
« Previous
I'd agree with you
If not for this line, especially the part I put in bold:

Consumers would pay for about half of the PC upfront and then, say, 50 cents or 75 cents per hour of use.

That half upfront cost, that's the hardware cost. If free software was used, you wouldn't even need the 50-70 cents per hour added on. And you and I both know that Linux is not the only free software out there, so you can't use that as an excuse. So basically all that's happening is people are buying hardware at retail price, but their software is on a "lease to own" plan.

Now there's nothing against a "lease to own" software plan if that's what works for your pocketbook, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking MS is being Mister Nice Guy here. All they are doing is offering a business proposition with no risk on their own part.
Posted by: Michael Kelly   Posted on: 05/22/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

I knew it was coming...the ultimate licensing scam.  Stellardyne | 05/21/06
You have no concept of Business  nucrash | 05/22/06
Really?  tslocum7 | 05/22/06
There are some that are pretty close to the same though  ajole | 05/22/06
Different products  Fred Fredrickson | 05/22/06
Hmm.  tslocum7 | 05/23/06
oh, hey bill didn't see you there !  st!lborn | 05/22/06
people should sign on for Linux  Linux Geek | 05/22/06
There is no Linux business model  crocd | 05/22/06
put away that booze!  Linux Geek | 05/22/06
A Linux subscription is NOT cheaper  Jeff the god of biscuits | 05/22/06
If only Linux  ajole | 05/22/06
You knew this was coming...why didnt you say so earlier??  TrueSpeak | 05/22/06
Yeah... And PrePaid Cellular is any different?  Wolfie2K3 | 05/22/06
M$ is smoking something.. Fool me once.. Fool me twice..  thetruth_z | 05/22/06
Emerging markets caanot afford this  crocd | 05/22/06
Even then, how would they handle payment? Poor people in developing  DonnieBoy | 05/22/06
I don't think they meant that level of developing  ajole | 05/22/06
Pay as you go?  bony tryan | 05/22/06
The problem is, MS can not afford a Linux eco-system to take hold in  DonnieBoy | 05/22/06
Don't think you've quite got a grasp of how this will work...  Wolfie2K3 | 05/22/06
RE: Pay as you go  Ptero.4@... | 06/07/08
Microsoft rearguard action in Brazil  whisperycat | 05/22/06
Yes, this is what MS is fighting. Linux pre-installed and a  DonnieBoy | 05/22/06
Competition  Tim Patterson | 05/22/06
The big thing for MS is they don't want Linux pre-installed on new PCs to  DonnieBoy | 05/22/06
Are they going to charge to have your system hacked too?  itanalyst | 05/22/06
New Virus  babar77 | 05/22/06
Waste of effort...  Wolfie2K3 | 05/22/06
Microsoft pitches pay-as-you-go PCs  Loverock Davidson | 05/22/06
10!  crocd | 05/22/06
Why rate him  nucrash | 05/22/06
If he was Mike Cox  crocd | 05/22/06
Yet ANOTHER stupid post  itanalyst | 05/22/06
hey dude  crocd | 05/22/06
Mike Cox is Soylent Green??  itanalyst | 05/22/06
Hard to beat the price of Free  nucrash | 05/22/06
They trie it in Namibia  crocd | 05/22/06
What I find amazing  Linux Advocate | 05/22/06
It is hard to beat free  Loverock Davidson | 05/22/06
Congratulations, Loverock!  Zeppo9191 | 05/22/06
I do all the time  Loverock Davidson | 05/22/06
Nice joke, Loverock! (nt)  Zeppo9191 | 05/22/06
One would also hope  Michael Kelly | 05/22/06
So...  tslocum7 | 05/23/06
They have better things to do than run Seti@home  ajole | 05/22/06
I'd agree with you  Michael Kelly | 05/22/06
You bring up a really good point.  phburks | 05/22/06
More detail here  crocd | 05/22/06
:)) They are so funny!!!  plon | 05/22/06
That Razor/Razorblade thing again...  BitTwiddler | 05/22/06
Yes, and what kind of software will they use for their pay service?  itanalyst | 05/22/06
Raping the third world!  Reverend MacFellow | 05/22/06
Could be a great deal for running LInux  tic swayback | 05/22/06
Or spare parts for that matter...  tic swayback | 05/22/06
MS pay as myou go PC  Bobby Joe Reed | 05/22/06
What is it with business today?  Laff | 05/22/06
Just Say No...  Hi_C | 05/22/06
it will still devistate the individual when the time comes  Laff | 05/22/06
M$'s pay-as-we-blow plan  Mr. Roboto | 05/22/06
Screw pay as you go. UXGA Dell 8200 laptops for $400 on Ebay.  GreatInca | 05/22/06
Blah...Blah...Blah  bergmystr | 05/22/06
How does MS plan to sell these?  ajole | 05/22/06
Article ignores the most important point.  mobrien_12@... | 05/22/06
RE: Article ignores the most important point.  Ptero.4@... | 06/07/08
Internet Cafes  pamschel | 05/22/06
Well "IF" there is a God I suppose it makes sense she is GREAT!  Laff | 05/23/06
TIME TO SWITCH TO LINUX  kokuryu | 05/23/06
Pay per click...  interested_amateur@... | 05/29/06
RE: Microsoft pitches pay-as-you-go PCs  Ptero.4@... | 06/07/08

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement

Enterprise Applications

  • Check out some of the easiest and most powerful ways to boost productivity while saving money on your application infrastructure. See ZDNet's comprehensive Enterprise Application resource center, now!
  • New Online Dashboard
  • Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost effective solutions to real life IT problems. Oracle Topline