Comments on: Ballmer: High-end Windows, Office coming

Microsoft's CEO tells analysts that higher-priced versions of its core products are on tap.

I can't wait for $500 Latehorn and $1200 Office

I can't wait to see the gremlins gobbling up $500 copies of
Latehorn at Best Buy because it's so amazing and wonderful and
"completely new". Then we will see Office for Enterprise at $1200.
The only difference? A business using Office now needs to
purchase an enterprise license to use the software. Muahahaha.

While the Mac people who purcahsed Tiger for $60 and Office:Mac
for $149 laugh all the way to the bank.

[Scott W]

free software

the biggest laugh is when you discover that us linux users paid £0 for our software which includes the OS AND the OpenOffice.org suite. :D

Raising prices can work

For ecample, Abercrombie and Fitch did that in the face of declining sales serveral years back, instead of discounting. Its credited with their growth and success. However, I'm not sure it will work with something a bit less faddish.

Raising prices can work

For ecample, Abercrombie and Fitch did that in the face of declining sales serveral years back, instead of discounting. Its credited with their growth and success. However, I'm not sure it will work with something a bit less faddish.

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Typical MS spin, inaccurate or all out lies.

Sure they will, take over the web that is. Look at the Web Server Survey at www.netcraft.com. Excuse me Mr Butthead....I mean Balmer...Why has MS been sliding in market share for the last few years. You only peaked at 34%, now you are about to drop below 20%. MS is insigificant.

[aabcdefghij987654321]

Typical MS spin, inaccurate or all out lies.

Sure they will, take over the web that is. Look at the Web Server Survey at www.netcraft.com. Excuse me Mr Butthead....I mean Balmer...Why has MS been sliding in market share for the last few years. You only peaked at 34%, now you are about to drop below 20%. MS is insigificant.

[heystoopid]

Hmm

More spin than most spindoctors offer, considering M$ has trouble weaning existing business customers off Windows 2000, plus ommissions on the large replacement costs for the current nexgen computers(multicore/multiprocessors) required to run this vision. But then again just how much more $$$ does M$ want users to pay for buggy weak insecure computer windows software. Perhaps M$ should pay all users for testing their existing beta software like windows xp pro(three service packs and more comming)

[heystoopid]

Hmm

More spin than most spindoctors offer, considering M$ has trouble weaning existing business customers off Windows 2000, plus ommissions on the large replacement costs for the current nexgen computers(multicore/multiprocessors) required to run this vision. But then again just how much more $$$ does M$ want users to pay for buggy weak insecure computer windows software. Perhaps M$ should pay all users for testing their existing beta software like windows xp pro(three service packs and more comming)

[Had_to_be_said]

I think Microsoft is banking on "Trusted Computing"...

Why would anybody willingly use the most expensive software, from the most abusive company in the industry, ...when vastly-superior alternatives ARE available?

They wouldnt. Unless they had no real choice. Or, thought they had no choice.

Either, Microsoft really is this incredibly-stupid, as a company, ...and really is, finally, on the way out (sell your stock now). Or, ...they hope that mandatory hardware, software, and DRM, specifications will, once again, make them the only viable-game in town.

Its frightening to watch this unfold, but I just cant seem to turn away.

[Had_to_be_said]

You MUST read this analysis...

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/003806.php#003806

(Thanks for the link)

Or do a search for "Trusted Computing", "copyright", "intellectual Property", "Trusted Servers", "Zombies", "X-Box Security", "SPAM", "Cyber Threats", "SAP", "RIAA", MPAA", or just general "DRM"...

It all leads to the same place.

[Had_to_be_said]

I think Microsoft is banking on "Trusted Computing"...

Why would anybody willingly use the most expensive software, from the most abusive company in the industry, ...when vastly-superior alternatives ARE available?

They wouldnt. Unless they had no real choice. Or, thought they had no choice.

Either, Microsoft really is this incredibly-stupid, as a company, ...and really is, finally, on the way out (sell your stock now). Or, ...they hope that mandatory hardware, software, and DRM, specifications will, once again, make them the only viable-game in town.

Its frightening to watch this unfold, but I just cant seem to turn away.

[Had_to_be_said]

You MUST read this analysis...

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/003806.php#003806

(Thanks for the link)

Or do a search for "Trusted Computing", "copyright", "intellectual Property", "Trusted Servers", "Zombies", "X-Box Security", "SPAM", "Cyber Threats", "SAP", "RIAA", MPAA", or just general "DRM"...

It all leads to the same place.

Windows makes me throw up a little in the back of my throat.

Seriously. Windows in high-performance computing?!? Ballmer is
being a wee bit unrealistic if he thinks M$ is going to make a big
dent in Linux/UNIX's market share in that area. The big reason for
Linux/UNIX in the datacenter is that they're multi-user OS'es, that
allow the Sys Admin/Engineer tune it to their heart's content.
Windows simply doesn't allow you that kind of access to the "guts"
of the OS.

[Jonathan]

Are you the same user on Macrumors?

Who keeps using the same tired line over and over and over again? If so get a new tag line.

Windows makes me throw up a little in the back of my throat.

Seriously. Windows in high-performance computing?!? Ballmer is
being a wee bit unrealistic if he thinks M$ is going to make a big
dent in Linux/UNIX's market share in that area. The big reason for
Linux/UNIX in the datacenter is that they're multi-user OS'es, that
allow the Sys Admin/Engineer tune it to their heart's content.
Windows simply doesn't allow you that kind of access to the "guts"
of the OS.

[Jonathan]

Are you the same user on Macrumors?

Who keeps using the same tired line over and over and over again? If so get a new tag line.

[t8]

Who will win the Net?

The Net and Web is an open foundation based on TCPIP. It also provides the ultimate freedom for expression for everyone and when MS say they are going to win the Web, what they are really saying is that they are going to compete against prosumers (consumers and creators).

Sorry Blahmer, but keep your greedy hands off what is open, free, and owned by all. Go back to selling software in a box. That is all you can do. Let the real innovators (the people) and the Internet alone. We don't want you and we don't need you.

Your a greedy old fart. Go away fatso. This new age of computing belongs to us, open source, and innovative companies like Google.

Cisco

MS controlling the net is laughable. The real powerhouse in that space is Cisco (at the TCP/IP layer), it will be Google and Adobe at the the application layers. And on the computing side, it will be Intel, Java, and Linux. MS, though it will still be a major player, will see market share decline. They are boxed into a corner of their own making.

[t8]

Who will win the Net?

The Net and Web is an open foundation based on TCPIP. It also provides the ultimate freedom for expression for everyone and when MS say they are going to win the Web, what they are really saying is that they are going to compete against prosumers (consumers and creators).

Sorry Blahmer, but keep your greedy hands off what is open, free, and owned by all. Go back to selling software in a box. That is all you can do. Let the real innovators (the people) and the Internet alone. We don't want you and we don't need you.

Your a greedy old fart. Go away fatso. This new age of computing belongs to us, open source, and innovative companies like Google.

Cisco

MS controlling the net is laughable. The real powerhouse in that space is Cisco (at the TCP/IP layer), it will be Google and Adobe at the the application layers. And on the computing side, it will be Intel, Java, and Linux. MS, though it will still be a major player, will see market share decline. They are boxed into a corner of their own making.

[Stating]

Paying More, Getting Less

Windows XP Pro is what the old WIN2K Workstation was. Office XP is what the old Office 2K Basic was. See a pattern? Take features out of a new rev that were in a previous rev, and then make customers pay more to get the features back. Change the name to "Pro, Advanced, Enterprise", whatever to confuse people. Sounds like the Orwellion Newspeak of "Less Is More."

The question that nobody seems to ask is why does a tech company like MS, using the very same tools that they sell, not achieve such stellar productivity gains that they are able to offer more for less? And this doesn't even take into account further cost savings by moving operations to low cost 3rd world countries. Are the tools they are using not really improving their own productivity? Or are they charging more because they are a monopoly? Either way, it casts them in a bad light.

K.
www.techcando.com

[Stating]

Paying More, Getting Less

Windows XP Pro is what the old WIN2K Workstation was. Office XP is what the old Office 2K Basic was. See a pattern? Take features out of a new rev that were in a previous rev, and then make customers pay more to get the features back. Change the name to "Pro, Advanced, Enterprise", whatever to confuse people. Sounds like the Orwellion Newspeak of "Less Is More."

The question that nobody seems to ask is why does a tech company like MS, using the very same tools that they sell, not achieve such stellar productivity gains that they are able to offer more for less? And this doesn't even take into account further cost savings by moving operations to low cost 3rd world countries. Are the tools they are using not really improving their own productivity? Or are they charging more because they are a monopoly? Either way, it casts them in a bad light.

K.
www.techcando.com

[ip_fresh]

XP Home

in the "Enterprise" version. I hope that the highest end version will have *new*, enterprise-only features (like some SQL server built in). Otherwise the approach apparently favored by Microsoft is to make higher end versions by releasing crippled lower end ones. Just like what differentiates XP Home and Pro - Home has NOTHING extra for the home user, it's just crippled Pro - same with Pro, it's basically 2K with a new look nothing specific for the professional market that isn't there for the home market.

Bill
http://www.my-credit-directory.co.uk/

[ip_fresh]

XP Home

in the "Enterprise" version. I hope that the highest end version will have *new*, enterprise-only features (like some SQL server built in). Otherwise the approach apparently favored by Microsoft is to make higher end versions by releasing crippled lower end ones. Just like what differentiates XP Home and Pro - Home has NOTHING extra for the home user, it's just crippled Pro - same with Pro, it's basically 2K with a new look nothing specific for the professional market that isn't there for the home market.

Bill
http://www.my-credit-directory.co.uk/

[Titos 2 Cents]

And Microsoft believes licensing is a problem now?

For a number of organizations Microsoft product lines are the only game in town, but for the rest of the world, particularly developing markets, how fast can you say counterfeit? Hacked versions are going to be the name of the game in much of the East, and Microsoft?s license validation will do little to counter that. Once a product update has been released, it?s reworked if needed and posted to mirrors around the globe.
Actually, it amazes me to think that Microsoft management is planning upscale pricing on ?higher-end? products when few know how to take full advantage of what comes with the basic suites. The basic Office packages probably offer more capabilities than 90% of organizations will ever use ? who needs more?

[Titos 2 Cents]

And Microsoft believes licensing is a problem now?

For a number of organizations Microsoft product lines are the only game in town, but for the rest of the world, particularly developing markets, how fast can you say counterfeit? Hacked versions are going to be the name of the game in much of the East, and Microsoft?s license validation will do little to counter that. Once a product update has been released, it?s reworked if needed and posted to mirrors around the globe.
Actually, it amazes me to think that Microsoft management is planning upscale pricing on ?higher-end? products when few know how to take full advantage of what comes with the basic suites. The basic Office packages probably offer more capabilities than 90% of organizations will ever use ? who needs more?

Basicall - We'll raise price but not sure what for yet!! Funny....

Basicall - We'll raise price but not sure what for yet!! Funny....

I think that's what we should do at my company. I'm announcing a price increase on everything next year. Not sure what for or what you'll get for it but we'll figure out something.

Now my next question: What are they drinking?