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- drouk1556, on 10/12/2007, -1/+47No, you've got this all wrong. "Developing countries" in this case isn't referring to countries with a low HDI or standard of living, it's referring to countries filled with developers.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -4/+29crack dealers often offer low cost "samples" to establish long term addiction.
- GawtMilk, on 10/12/2007, -4/+24Windows is a business, Linux is not. That's why it's not free. Plus, considering $3 is the same as what you would pay to get a Linux DVD, I don't see what the problem is. People aren't 'locked' into Windows, like many of the people here say. I could, at any time, download Ubuntu. I just don't *want* to.
- EruLabs, on 10/12/2007, -3/+21Getting kids hooked on Windows? Uhm...
I 'grew' up around windows 95 and helped my grandpa install 98 when I was 9 (the day it came out). I got a computer around the time XP came out, and was coding by the time SP2 was released.... Im also a linux fanboy.
Its not herion. Its software.
edit: "Plus it'll "lock" those buyers in to using Microsoft products forever, which is worth more than $3......."
What the hell are you talking about?!?! Proprietary software is NOT addictive, and its not evil! Its just as powerful as the open-source model. - adolfojp, on 10/12/2007, -6/+23Does this also apply to free Ubuntu disks.
- aryachaty, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21Some say why the $3?
For one - the media cost. The DVD costs about that much to print right? maybe more.
Instead of rampant piracy, this is much better.
After all in India, MS office s/w costs $ 475. I can tell you, being from India, that no one can afford that.
people either just pirate it or use an Internet cafe. the cafe people are probably pirating it too.
perhaps a $ 20 or $ 30 is what people might be able to afford or even a $ 100. Broadband penetration is low, people cannot "download" open-office though one can sometimes buy one of those PC magazines with a free CD that has these open s/w's. - binaryspiral, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14I got my legit copy of Office 2007 for free by attending a free demo... I walked around, got free shwag, ate good free food, sat in a comfy couch in the lobby and did some work away from the office until the boring lectures were done. Walked over to the hand out table and received my free copy of Office 2007 Pro with legit serials.
Microsoft isn't loosing money giving this stuff away - they're gaining suckers who will develop more stuff for it. If the developing world is running linux - they're going to develop linux applications. If they run pirated windows software - they will most likely not have the best experience and switch to something else.
Either way Microsoft loses, unless they get people to jump in with both feet. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15>>why pay 3 dollars?
Don't forget they have to pay royalties out to a number of companies whether they sell the software or give it away.
>>but is in reality a shrewd business move to both compete with pirates and get kids hooked on Windows
Damned if you do and damned if you don't. Forget the fact that the founder has done more for the impoverished of the world than any human alive. No, he's just trying to jam the Windows crack needle into the arms of babies. - Nougat, on 10/12/2007, -2/+15Microsoft has realized that the world market will not purchase their products for the prices that have been set in and by the US market. They are going to sell their products cheaper in developing nations because they're trying to match the local economies.
Let's say you make US$50K a year. A $500 software package is one percent of that yearly income. Now, in a third world country, US$50K a year would make you one of the richest people in the country, and you would be living a life of luxury. So comparatively, they'll sell their products cheaper, trying better to match that "percentage of income" ratio.
This is exactly what the phramaceutical companies do. They sell high in the US, and low elsewhere, though a lot of the "low elsewhere" is because of government regulation in those elsewheres. But what ends up happening is that the price paid by the US market subsidizes the R&D for the third world.
Some people think that's *****; why should we have to pay high and let everyone else get the benefits? Well, in MS' case, everyone else *is already* getting the benefits, and *not paying at all.*
So this move by MS is a good business move (gets more legit customers), a good philathropic move (bringing technology above board into the third world) and a good move for the customers (reduces the subsidy paying customers front for R&D). - estvir, on 10/12/2007, -6/+18Please explain how you're 'locked' in to Microsoft products, FOREVER.
- KoZo, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12Do you really want to use Windows Starter that can only open up to 3 Windows and 3 programs at the same time?!? or use pirated Windows?
- eunichs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10"is in reality a shrewd business move to both compete with pirates and get kids hooked on Windows"
Of course it is a business move - MICROSOFT IS A BUSINESS! If i was a shareholder I would hope that they were making shrewd business moves. It's as if people expect MS to act as some kind of government organisation or charity.. Just because their Chairman is very charitable with his personal funds doesn't mean the company should begin using shareholder money to fund charity. Business is business, and as far as business moves go, while this may be "shrewd" it will definitely have a positive effect on the world. - Jorlwind, on 10/12/2007, -2/+10"After all in India, MS office s/w costs $ 475. I can tell you, being from India, that no one can afford that."
Ain't just in India friend. I live in America and I can't even afford it!
OpenOffice for me. - BevansDesign, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Bill Gates: "Hey kid, hey you. Got Windows here, 3 bucks a pop. Need your fix? Need to spin like a CD-ROM? I got what you need, yo. Hey yo, yo, I got paperclip here. Clippy. He talks & *****. He'll help you out. Find you some files. Spellcheck and *****. What do you think, kid? 3 bucks and you can surf on the int-ar-net. Check out some IE7. You'll be seein' *****, man. Seein' the whole int-ar-net. You and Clippy, surfin' down the tubes, yo. What do you think?"
- yaosio, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8If Google did something like this there would already be 10 million comments saying how Google is the greatest corporation ever.
- whitehornmatt, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Google already do this, but for free:
http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+xp+torrent&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a - loconet, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6Well put. That is exactly what Ms is doing. Look beyond the cheap software, they are afraid of OLPC creating a new generation of non-Microsoft users.
- Raidenwolf, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I did not get into computing until 1982 and it was just getting into mainstream then. From what I learned from people in computer clubs before me between 1975 and I guess 1980 you could order computer kits, but they did not come with OS software. Os's were hard to come by a lot of different versions (Kind of like Linux) but you payed 25 30 to 60 dollars and no guaranties it would work completely with what you had. From what I gathered (I really don't know) people copied all those different type Os's and that's why computer clubs where really in existence. Luckily I missed all that fanfare and started computing when MS DOS was king and windows was emerging.
And I will have to say that home piracy is what made Microsoft today.
All those one and a half a million people that pirated Microsoft as kids in the 80's have grown up to run businesses and pay for Microsoft product as part of doing business. They grew up with Microsoft that just sums it up.
Being a business move to both compete with pirates and get kids hooked on Windows should have been his direction years ago, even for the US and also Microsoft should push the student priced packages at an even lower price. Also if you are going to charge 450 for VISTA ULTIMATE why not make it a site license for home users. What normal family could truly update all systems systems at that price, I am going with most families are starting to have 2 systems per household. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4coming soon to ebay. mongolian XP with authentic serial numbers for only $6!
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4They do that for most colleges in America...lookup MSDNAA
- ajamer, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7I doubt they'll be selling it for $3 in India
It's full of well to do tech companies (that are taking jobs from westerners)
It would be weird to see the Dell tech support people given $3 copies of office and vista - Tenoq, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4@ estvir:
People can't learn more than one OS. Have you ever tried to explain a new piece of software to a layman? Imagine how much more complex it is selling the idea of swapping to a completely different OS, all with slightly different versions of the same programs. It's not an easy thing to do because morons don't like change: and the vast majority are morons. ;)
If someone first uses a computer with Linux - they're likely to stick to it. Likewise: start with Windows, the majority will stay with Windows. It's not that they don't have the choice to change, it's that they don't WANT to change. That's how they're 'locked in, so to speak.' - laserblazer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3... and continue to rip off the country that made it so successful.
***** you, Gates, you miserable little thief. - dravidian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Smart move. Software doesnt cost anything to produce so its still probably making a decent profit at $3.
Plus they're going to have millions more computer literate kids as a result of this move .... 10-15 years from now, MS's use base will have quadrupled.
And so what if its another evil M$ attempt at global domination? This will help more poor people than many UN aid programs. So unless you're somehow helping thousands of lives, and at the same time setting the stage for greatly increased profit in future years, I suggest you stfu and go back to your day job. - ChaperonNoir, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3That's a pretty good move from Microsoft. But whatever happens, all that matters is that Open Source software is getting really popular. And Open Source software is also present on Windows systems.
- genghisjuan, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Well, I think this might be great for developing countries. I live in one (Mongolia) and would have to say 70-90% of the windows installations here are pirated. I am not sure if you can use windows update on pirated copies, but I know that the public computers I have used (in schools and such) are always rife with viruses. With genuine, updateable copies and some decent AV software you could probably clean up most of those computers and make them a little more reliable. In addition a pirated copy of windows here will still cost you about $2 (the cost of the media/burning fees) so I don't feel that anyone would much have a problem with buying legitimate copy for $3.
- kirkio, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4... in other news, people in developing countries say that $3.00 is too much and that they'll just use FCKGW...
- eunichs, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Sure a power user who wishes to explore different options in operating systems won't be "hooked", but because common customers are unwilling to learn new environments, they are effectively hooked. It is easier for them to pay for the Windows software than to spend the time learning a new environment. They are, effectively, "hooked".
- silga, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2aww i tought we were special haha
i guess they jsut want us to develop for em - eunichs, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Yeah which they can download on... oh yeah wait they dont have computers. I am guessing that this software deal will end up being a deal through hardware refurb companies or new hardware distributors to effectively reduce the price of new computers with MS software installed. Releasing discs into the wild at that price is too risky considering the ability for illegally "parallel importing' them into the western world.
- TheJenks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Have to start them off with something, they already have all of us. We are all bending over to MS more and more with each version with price, authentication, drm etc
The new market will have to be taken over slowly once more. Im surprised XP is letting me write this. - ninja21, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3yeah, I'm thinking they'd rather get something for their software than get what they have been getting from these countries :/
- OBKenobi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3How is it a good thing? These people should be using Linux because it's FREE. No $3, no activation, no DRM, NO ARTIFICIAL LIMITATIONS.
- markdr123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yeah, you've got a point.
- Ranneko, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Why is it that smart business move and altruism are mutually exclusive?
- dracostimpy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1How else are they gonna compete with piracy? They can't force China to stamp it out, so the only option MS has is to sell it cheaply in the hopes that it deters piracy and brings them a meager profit rather than none at all.
This is exactly what I expected MS would do as rational economic thinkers, and I applaud them for finally coming to their senses. Now that they've awakened to reality and taken steps to compete with the illegitimate competition of pirates, their next step is to compete with the legitimate competition of free, open-source systems/software. The only way they'll succeed in that battle is to provide a compelling product, and it seems these days that the excitement over Ubuntu is far greater than Vista. Start making a good product, Mr. Bill, or you'll be asking Steve Jobs to bail MS out someday like you did for them not long ago. - Homunculiheaded, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3I love the MSDNAA. Eventhough I run linux at home and have no problem playing with an apache server and mySql, above all I love playing with different platforms, and having all of the MS stuff free is great for experimentation.
And this is nothing strange, they know that today CS students will end up being tomorrows department heads, sys admins and whatnot and if they can't play with MS products because of price they're much less likely to recommend it to any company they work for. This is true of most professions, students get free access to otherwise prohibitively expensive products so that they can build brand loyalty.
Sure MS is evil, but if I can get a free Vista and XP pro partition on my primarily Linux machine, I'm not going to complain. - specialK16, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1huh?ยบ
- cyberghost232, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well that's $3.00 more than I'll pay for it. Besides don't those "Developing Countries" need that $3.00 for rice or some *****?
- RobertFC, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4They're making such a profit off of us who live in developed countries that they can afford to do this in developing countries.
Come on Microsoft! Share the love! - markdr123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Predatory pricing anyone?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predatory_pricing - Tenoq, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"grew up around Windows 95..."
Which makes you what, all of 14? How about you look at everyone else who grew up around you: how many of those have switched to Linux? 1-2%? 5%? Maybe 10%, if they're really forward thinking. How many do you think would still be using Linux if they started with it? 90%? :P - insovietrussia, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@estvir
"This program is not responding. To return to Windows and check the status of the program, click Cancel" - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1ya because windows is worth 3 dollars! lol
- cbambrick, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Wow how is this a "shrewd business move?" Microsoft understands that many people in these developing countries cannot afford to spend the money for the software... Microsoft is offering the people this software legally for practically nothing. They are making some money their own business (which last time I checked, is the goal of most successful businesses) and helping fight an illegal practice.
- minimaximus, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Microsoft: Damn if they don't, and damned if they do
MS gives s/w for the price of the DVD: they're using underhanded strategies to hook us up on Windoze & Office (which suck, but somehow we'll get hooked anyway)
Open Office/Linux for free: Way to undermine the profits of those capitalist pigs, who demand money for their work, heh. - hanief84, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2The function is very limited. It's not a Starter Edition. It's a Sucky Edition.
- ctged, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2How long does it take to earn 3 USD in developing countries?
- gordigor, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@eunichs
It is easier for them to pay for the Windows software than to spend the time learning a new environment
By that logic, its easier for them to get linux for free than to spend the time learning a new enviroment. That doesn't compute.
Sooo they must be paying for ease of use? Kinda like when I pay a mechanic to fix my car, instead of investing my personal time to become a mechanic? -
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