[psychodad449]

Excellent article. obviously it should be angryprogrammer. go build some PC's and put linux on them and have fun with that. if you read the article it explains exactly what versions there are ad why. it makes total sense. you can pay for only the version with the features you need. period. don't want to pay. get linux. or i hear snow leopard will be cheap.

[psychodad449]

by the way, for remote support you don't need remote assistance. i use techinline.com
easy to have the person use and only costs 3.00/session.

[hbact665]

I am a reader of this site as well as the magazine and I sure don't know how to build a computer. I don't see why I would even want to if a standard machine today pretty much does everything I need on a day-to-day basis. Not to mention, the site focuses more on features, electronics, functionality, and usability of software/consumer hardware.

I like this article. It's well written and made perfect since to me.

[wreckerg]

@ mscalisi:

Your comment about "endless" patching is total bunk. Are you saying that MS is the only software vendor that patches? I don't get the statement. Apple and Red Hat releases patches, would they be in the category or endless patching. When it comes to vulnerabilities it is about the amout of time from detection to remediation and MS has the best track record in the industry. Red Hat for instance only releases patches quarterly, living with a vulnerability for over 90 days isn't great in my book.

[GHynson]

Why not just remove MS and Windows, and have the enduser "MAKE" thier own OS.
That will solve all the bitching.

[Grr8008]

There is such a thing. Kind of. Linux. That said, your point is extremely valid. We get angry at these companies for every little thing we think they do wrong, yet how sad would we be if they were gone? Anyway, I feel that this is a true article. The average end user will not even know how to pick but just about anyone can figure out that the one that they are pushing probably has what they want.

[Rdewey]

Amen Brother!!!!

[pcg208]

I think Windows 7 should come in one stripped-down version, then allow users to download additional features from Microsoft or Windows Live for free. That would greatly lower the price of Windows 7, and cost less for Microsoft to produce. OS installation will also be very fast.

[rgreen4]

The cost of the additional features is not in the distribution but the development. Your statement makes it plain that you believe MS should provide the development of the additional features for free.

As for the six versions, unless they have changed it recently, there will only be two versions released into the retail market - Home Premium and Professional. To get Ultimate, you will have to get that directly from MS through online registration.

BTW - anyone who ever installed Vista, knows that the four domestic retail versions are all on the DVD. Your COA unlocks the version you paid for.

[provillus]

Jesus you guys! Get a grip of yourselves!

The average consumer will always face two versions to buy: the Home Premium and Professional.

Starter
& Home Basic -not sold in US, come with the machine. Enterprise
& Ultimate are for businesses or high-end market, meaning that
you'll not see any of those four sold on your local stores' shelves
anytime soon.

What's there to confuse you, for goodness sake?!

[ClaudeD]

the average user will see only 1 version of Windows 7 and thats the cheapest version the computer manufacturers can get. Special orders will see the other version at a premium price.

[rgreen4]

The low end systems that will be correct. For midrange and above consumer machines they will have Home Premium just as they do now. After all the OEM install disc for Vista Home Premium is typically only $10 more than Home Basic. On a volume license basis it's probably a lot less. On business class machines it will be universally the Professional version.

[Evildave]

Grr8008 said:

There is such a thing. Kind of. Linux. That said, your point is extremely valid. We get angry at these companies for every little thing we think they do wrong, yet how sad would we be if they were gone? Anyway, I feel that this is a true article. The average end user will not even know how to pick but just about anyone can figure out that the one that they are pushing probably has what they want.

If Microsoft up and folded? Shut their doors?

There would be dancing in the streets!

Ding dong, the witch is dead! The wicked old witch is dead!

OK, there'd be a certain sector of advertising-related jobs lost. Who'd pay all of those shills to write up glowing reviews about broken M$ products every week? Not many programmers would lose their jobs, as Microsoft doesn't hire many. They just bring in a horde of contractors to do the work, and get rid of them all once a project is 'done'. No knowledge capture for M$. The rest are middle managers and administrative sorts who can do the same kind of non-work anywhere.

[Evildave]

onceknown said:

Undefined: Like the article says - it would cost too much for the full realm of customers.

As if it costs one penny more to stamp a CD/DVD with the 'full' edition versus the cripple-ware version. Actually it costs more to have six different runs of the thing, developed and tested six different ways, put in six different kinds of packaging, marketed six different ways, etc. The public would be better served by ONE version that worked well and got twice as much testing.

Microsoft is much better served by making the choices confusing and forcing people to 'upgrade' (i.e. buy TWO licences) when the end-users discover that the crippleware version of windoze they got by default with their computer is inadequate.

The important thing is to educate the public that they have choices OTHER THAN the evil M-pire to run on their computers. When the public at large finally understands this, Microsoft will either have to mend their ways, or fade away.

[psychodad449]

whatever, dave. you're just a hater. microsoft is the world leader in OS and software. people would definitely miss them if they were gone. if you don't like different versions, try linux...oh that's right they have like 1800 different versions.



it's not like microsoft is the only company that charges more for premium versionns of their product.

[LainIwakura]

dave you sound like an apple fan boy or one of those linux zombies that goes around telling people that linux is the way of life.

[Evildave]

LainIwakura said:

dave you sound like an apple fan boy or one of those linux zombies that goes around telling people that linux is the way of life.

Well, you look just like someone who opened a sock puppet account just to dish out abuse.

[Evildave]

psychodad449 said:

whatever, dave. you're just a hater. microsoft is the world leader in OS and software. people would definitely miss them if they were gone. if you don't like different versions, try linux...oh that's right they have like 1800 different versions.Note the little picture next to my name. Try to guess what OS I use.

And I identified all the people who'd truly miss the world's 'favorite' MONOPOLY ABUSER: Employees, and paid shills.

A 'hater'? I hate the sin, not the sinners. You don't know any better than to use Windoze? Too bad for you. Just like watchin' hamsters poop in their food bowl.

Quote

it's not like microsoft is the only company that charges more for premium versionns of their product.

Nope. Nor is Microsoft the ONLY company to get products from. Of course, when you look at most of the other companies that sell multiple versions of products, the lesser versions are 'crippled' trial-ware. I sure hope you'll be happy with your limited trial-ware version of Windoze to go with your limited trial-ware version of M$ Office and your limited trial-ware version of Windoze antivirus security bandaids, along with your limited trial-ware version of photo software and trial-ware versions of whatever other bundleware you got with your new PC.

I'd rather get the all-in-one OS that comes with everything fully functional, unlimited and free. Not that you couldn't use something like OpenOffice in Windoze. You'll just have to remove that limited, preinstalled crippleware version of M$ Office to make room, and get over the silly notion that you should pay MICRSOFT for everything.

[LainIwakura]

Haha...
i've never seen someone use so many anti-MS terms like Windoze, M$ in a article post before.

As for the trial-ware they don't exist when you build your own computer like me.

Anyways i think it's time for the apple fan boy to leave. Your excessive trolling is getting annoying

[MarioJP]

LainIwakura said:

Haha...
i've never seen someone use so many anti-MS terms like Windoze, M$ in a article post before.

As for the trial-ware they don't exist when you build your own computer like me.

Anyways i think it's time for the apple fan boy to leave. Your excessive trolling is getting annoying

I thought i was the only one feels the same no?. You know at this point one would think that maybe we should ignore people like him. Never have i seen so much hatred towards a company. In any case as for me i have no problems with microsoft products and what i fail to see is what trialware software??. I have yet to see that on my pc. Oh thats right i don't deal with the middle man as i only buy OEM Copy of windows directly off Newegg. This is why i have stop paying attention to this guy.