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Yeah... And PrePaid Cellular is any different?
Once everyone is hooked at the low cost of ownership for this system, the next step...raise the prices. So now instead of spending $100-300 for their operating system and using it for 4-5 years you will be paying $500 a year every year.

First off, this is designed for "emerging markets" (guess that's the new euphamism for "third world countries".) At the moment, I don't think you've got much to worry about.

Secondly, as the article stated, they got the idea from the prepaid cell industry. And if you look at it carefully, you'd KNOW they're screwing people left and right with their rates.

Consider that you can get 1000 minutes for $39 (T-Mobile) which works out to something like 3.9 cents per minute and T-Mo's best Go Phone plan is like 10 cents per minute - and that's ONLY if you buy the $100 card. Granted, you have to use the 1000 mins per month or they go away permanently, but then again, the prepaid minutes expire as well.

For what it's worth - the prepaid method might be good if only to give people access to computers where they had no other option.

On the other hand, if they can leverage their computing skills into a halfway decent paying job, they might be able to buy a nice, shiny box complete with an OS and everything else they need/want.
Posted by: Wolfie2K3   Posted on: 05/22/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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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

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