Comments on: Ballmer: We need a $100 PC

The Microsoft CEO says one way to stem growing piracy of Windows and Office in emerging markets is to offer low-cost computers.

[landlines]

Excellent Support Cannot be stolen

The Gates-Balmer regime in Redmond still doesn't get it. As long as they keep force feeding flawed products with lots of bugs and no meaningful product support, they are creating a body of users who feel cheated...and therefore justified if they rip off a few extra copies 'to get even.'

The way to stop the piracy is to put out a quality product and back it up with excellent support. Then let the kids steal a copy: they won't be able to steal the support, and serious users will end up voluntarily paying for these extra copies in order to get the support.

I'm not just dreaming up this scenario. Our firm has shipped payroll software nationwide for over 20 years, and we have ZERO trouble with piracy. Only one case turned up in 20 years, and the kid who stole and resold the copy turned himself in and paid us in order to make the end user quit calling him for the support he was not prepared to provide!!!

The secret is to (1) make the software truly useful, (2) ship a quality product, and (3) provide excellent one-call-solves-the-problem support. We also have a "no hold: call the client back" policy in order to show respect for our clients' valuable time.

If you treat your customers like sheep or foolish children, they will have their revenge. And if you create a misguided "Busines Software Alliance" which publicly encourages disgruntled employees to cause trouble for their employers (which are your customers), you are destroying brand loyalty and creating enemies in the business community which will dump your products at the first opportunity.

What's Stevie B smokin'

A $100 computer with a $98 dollar operating system?

I can see linux people making the argument.
Walmart had a linux box for $248 (w/o monitor).
By my standards its stripped down, but it's actually better than my old box that's still functions as an email and IM box.

[Steven N]

dunno but look for yourselves

Even better without sound...

http://www.tarmo.fi/arc/monkeydance.mpeg