Windows 7 pricing: Some users fume as the rose-colored discounts fade

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I think...

... you've raised a fascinating set of points. In particular the perceived logic and dynamics behind the possible strategic thinking behind W7. A very poignant, thought-provoking post.

QUOTE:

"...If no fully automated upgrade from XP to Win7 is available, it's not because it can't be done, but because--as a result of whatever strategy or confluence of strategies--Microsoft has chosen not to do it."

I completely agree with the implication that the approach by MS is less to do with practicality and more to do with product marketing strategy. I also believe that eventually this will begin to affect uptake of MS OS's.

There does not, however, appear to be any evidence that negative publicity surrounding the pricing regime and upgrade-path methods being made available will seriously affect the overall uptake of W7.

MS OS's have reached a point in the public culture where they are 'just accepted'. That is to say, that the public are so very used to using MS products, that it has actually become difficult for the majority to change. Then again, why would they wish to? There are no life-altering, paradigms: in the form of an alternative OS.

It has to be pointed out that usability and familiarity play *as much* a part in personal choice of OS (indeed for any software) as price and ease of transition: this has not been lost on MS - hence their decision to go ahead with the current pricing and upgrade schedules.

Personally, i do not like the pricing regime for W7 - i also believe this is a bad time to be releasing new products (i.e. during a massive economic recession). Furthermore, i also have no immediate plans to upgrade from my current OS of choice (XP Pro) to W7. If anything, i plan on deploying one of either Mandriva or PCLinuxOS in a dual-boot setup (alongside XP) instead. This is a systems setup i have used successfully in the past and hope to use again.

I also believe Apple and Linux (et al) will - no doubt - enjoy some small net-gains via a migration of former MS OS users. The question is 'how much of a migration?'. As for MS, it seems logical to say they will have factored in slight net-loss of users during the initial planning and market research phase prior to the W7 official project launch. Some things in product conceptualization, design, development and marketing (after all) are inevitable.

What many fail to recall are 'the many good things' MS has achieved in the field of OS development and design over many years. And after all, there is always going to be negative press and focus surrounding MS's activities - it's now a given. I hope (perhaps to the point of futility) that many can find some semblance of objectivity, enough, to acknowledge that.

Again, a very thought provoking post.

Grazi

Posted by: thx-1138_@...   Posted on: 07/03/09  (Edited: 07/03/2009 @ 06:10) You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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