Comments on: In Asia, Microsoft sees slow start for budget XP

The product draws a tepid response in Thailand, Malasysia and Indonesia. Piracy, however, seems to be maintaining its allure.

[Eduardo1234565]

market doesn't exist

XP Starter is designed for a market that doesn't exist. It is a simplified version of XP that lacks a lot of functionality, but adds in a tutorial.

It is aimed at beginners, but beginners don't buy computers in these countries. Incomes are low and credit is not available, so people have to save up for several years to buy a computer.

By the time they do so, they have already expert as a result of using computers at work, school, or internet cafes. They want a fully functional OS, and they can't afford a legal copy of regular XP, so they buy a pirated copy or Linux.

[Earl Benser]

MS Pipe Dreams....

A somewhat cheaper version of Windows with stipped feeatures
versus a no cost (or very low cost) pirated version with full
features, maybe even Windows XP Pro with no activation
requirements.

Damn..... That's a real tough choice to make, isn't it????

[catchall]

Any ideas yourself?

I'm being serious. I'm not looking for an argument, or looking to debate the merits of 'Starter Edition'. In a situation where you can easily get a copy of the real thing, a lower version makes no sence.
But what should MS ( or for that matter, any company that produces paid for software ) do? Folks can easily get Linux for free; they don't want it. They want XP. And they are willing to steal it. How does a company make sure it gets paid for services rendered?

It's spelled Malaysia not Malasysia...

A piece of friendly advice: Misspelling a country's name could potentially insult a lot of people.

Apologies...

The misspelling I saw was in the news letter that was sent via email. After reading the full article I see that the spelling is correct....

Just an idea: Sell Your Old OS for Cheap!

Sell the unsupport version of Windows (2000, ME) for a reasonable price (less than $20). That way average people (non techgies) are able to pay for it. People can always get free help from their computer store.

Something to think about: Games like Counter-strike:source is selling for $20 in Thailand while it is sold for $50+ in US or Sims 2 for $15 in Thailand and $39+ in US. How can they do it?

[Arby_CNET]

Official currency denomination of Malaysia

It is hoped that the world's media would honor how the Ringgit is officially quoted in print:

The official symbol of the Ringgit is "RM", and it must be placed in front of the amount quoted, ie. RM100, RM1,000. The currency name "Ringgit" is always verbally quoted in singular tense; there is no plural equivalent. An example in a conversation would be, "The car sosts 50,000 Ringgit."

[HughT]

MS cheap OS

If Microsoft really wants to stay in the running in Asia (or the rest of the world for that matter) they should un-bundle all the garbage from the OS and let everyone pick their own email agent, browser, multi-media player and other software, then price it reasonably (< $20 US). They are so used to gouging the public and killing competition because of their monopoly they have come to think of it as their "right to gouge". Well they should learn that outside the US (Land of freedom and hypocrisy) they do not have government collusion in their gouging.

Linux versions sell for a fraction of the Windows cost and they include other software such as office suite type software for no additional cost. You can set up a legal fully loaded linux computer for $500-$1000 less than an equivalent Microsoft setup. It is taking people a long time to see Microsoft for what they are but people are learning.