Comments on: Is Windows getting more expensive?

Microsoft has introduced pricier higher-end versions, as other PC components have fallen in price. So how does it all add up?

[wolivere]

You are running?

Hardware from a company that no longer exists. How is this an MS issue. If you need to or must run this hardware as part of a buissiness venture. You need to way out, what is the cost vs benefit to me. If your current set up run's fine then there is no need.

If you want to do a compelte technology refresh then yes it will be fine.

I myself would ask the question, what am I going to do with my hardware if I have a hardware issue and need a) tech support or b) parts.

That it self is not an MS issue or an MS upgrade issue. Its a buissiness decision that needs to be made.

If its a buissines, you can then use the justification for hardware changes and create a tax write down. (shrug)

[hcharger]

Is windows getting more expensive

The cost of the OS in general has not increased in price substantially, but the cost of upgrading your PC to accept the top line of Vista is beyond most people.
That's the reason why Mac is enjoying such a surge in its sales, because people are sick of Microsoft's consistant dominance of the software market.
Microsoft is boasting about their concerns of security and pirating, but here again the same old scenario. Keep your product reasonably priced and people will buy it, make it beyond their reach and they will find a cheaper alternative. In the USA and Canada there are many people who cannot afford an extra $99.00 for an upgrade copy let alone purchase an OS for 200 plus dollars and the expense of upgrading their computers.

[wolivere]

And?

Novell has always been a unix deritive core. Novell lost our to MS in the server OS war not due to bad software. But, due to arrogance and bad marketing.

Novell picked up Wordperfect to compete agains MS, and again shot themselves in the foot. They took the #1 desktop Wordprocessor and moved it into no mans land.

Corel then picked up the suite, and ported it to linux, even made it free for a while, but lack of user pick up killed it.

Now Novell is looking again to compete against MS so picked up on Susie. Its not like you are taking a leviathon, and having them compete. I hope Novell does well. But people need to stop worrying aboudirectly competeing with MS, and just doing what they do best, and making sure the whole world knows about it.

Now IBM sells 1.1 million servers per quarter. So 4.4 million per year on average. They reported 460,000 thousand servers have been shipped with Linux. (Since 1998) So out of 39 million servers 460,000 were linux box's. Most of those targeted as System 36 replacements. But most telling is the % number of shipments per year preloaded with linux has been in a decline since 2002.

Now HP has outshipped IBM with Linux over the same period, breaknig the 1 million mark. But there total server shipments are also higher.

For Novell, sadly there linux shipements are at the cost of the old true Novell install sites. So although the numbers show an increas the Novell Netware base is decreasing to support this.

I love Novell, I really really due, I just wish they had some marketing sense.

And Dell, well Dell is looking at a snap back this year.

[cashaww]

Unfortunetly..

ship rates may not tell the full story. Most to the IT people I know
are saying they are loading Linux on systems in house because it is
cheaper.

[coachgeorge]

How to keep Windows Cheap!

1-Hardware for windows is at an all time low. Better yet, build your own.
A-Best argument for not buying a Mac!
2-Use your existing version of XP or buy XP Pro. It can now be purchased very cheaply.
3-Update everything religiously
4-If you want an OSX look, download a free XP skin.
5-Have an itch for something new, download and burn a free copy of Linux. It can be dual booted, give you the tech challenge that Vista will, yet will not blow away your existing windows load.

My $0.02 worth

[itsmillertime4u]

Hardware for Mac is also at an all time low, actually lower

Mac's prices are also at an alltime low. YOu can build one, but look here: http://www.applematters.com/index.php/section/comments/is-the-mac-pro-really-cheaper-than-a-dell/

Even if buy Win XP cheaply and slappit on the Mac its cheaper then buying a new Windows system.

[VidPro]

Goody for you, but ...

"Better yet, build your own. A-Best argument for not buying a
Mac!"

I'm not sure what percentage of users couldn't build their own
computer, but the percentage of those who for whatever reason
don't WANT to do so is quite high.

"If you want an OSX look, download a free XP skin."

This is what many Windows users don't get: I don't want the OSX
look, I want the OSX functionality and security. I can't get that
with Windows, no matter how hard they try to emulate the OSX
look.

And no, I don't want to pay Microsoft another $60 for Windows
Live One/Care for the security that should have been built into
the OS, and then keep paying $60 a year to maintain that
"service", which of course should be counted in as a cost of
Windows.

"Have an itch for something new, download and burn a free copy
of Linux."

Again, something the techies and computer savvy users like you
can and will do, but the average user can't and won't.

Yes, it does seem easy to you, but even if you set it up for a
novice user, they can run it until something goes wrong, and
then they are stuck until you can come over to fix it.

I'm tired of troubleshooting Windows, much less Linux, for
people who would be better off using OSX.

[techned]

Why is CNet pro M$ ?

Whenever I see a CNet article about Vista, it appears very Pro M$ - like it is promoting Vista, in regards to features, value, and its place in the industry in the news section.

I can understand if CNet put something that said "editorial" or "opinion" but these type of articles are always presented as being news - articles that relay unbias information.

Take this article for instance about the comparitive value of Win 98 to basic Vista Home - I remember buying the retail boxed version of Win 98 and I didn't pay $199 for it but $75, and in terms of value, it never seemed to be worth that amount.

As to value, I can't see the reasoning about pricing Vista Home Basic at $200 (forget about the upgrade package - they never work or perform as expected).
Vista Basic is basically Vista with IE - according to M$, this version is not suited for laptops and only good for basic home networking. And if you look at it by how M$ describes it, except for the promise of a more secure internet environment for Ie (snicker), Vista Basic seems more like a downgrade from XP Home Edition.
It seems if you want to upgrade from XP Home Edition to a more complimentary upgrade then it would have to be Vista Home Premium at $239.

To be fair, I don't have Vista, I'm still using XP Pro but i don't see the need why a consumer needs to be saddled with Meeting Center, Movie Maker, or Windows Flip just to get a good environment to play games, attach to the Internet, and still have a PC environment that is compatible with my employment environment.
I don't see the value for the extras; in my POV, it would have been better if M$ stuck with the model that works for XP - a home edition and a Pro (business) edition, while putting the extras in an online catalog to purchase instead of bundeling them.

[Jess McLean]

You know

You know, PCWorld is a great place to bash M$

[oxtail01]

They're pro staying in business

CNET cannot survive as a viable business entity without all of the hardware and software that's driven by MS Windows (and now Vista). Thus, they are not likely to cut off the hands that feed them. Notice their ranking of Vista? They give it a high mark while at the same time saying it's not worth the upgrade. Anybody that reads reviews on CNet need to keep in mind that they need to pander to the industry and cannot be truely objective much as a car or a golf magazine can't be too negative on products that advertise in their magazines.

[disco-legend-zeke]

the Feature Flight Factor

certain features and accessories are being renamed or removed.

Netmeeting is a favorite example. This must be a very expensive product to provide, i believe microsoft provided a mirror.

does anyone even remember COMIC CHAT? IRC?

IMHO in constant dollars, Windows represents the best tool for the buck. Especially non-computer oriented people. The built in multimedia capabilities, especially DRM, which makes possible cascading media downloads in bittorrent, avalanche (microsoft,) GPS Content Location, and other swarming technologies.

The studios are already releasing TV shows with a forever license for two dollars. Movies are still a little overpriced at $4 for 24 hours. But the marketplace will quickly sort itself out.

It's the windows platform itself that makes this possible.

With XP Microsoft's marketing moved to a $99 price point to stay "pain free" to upgraders.

The photo management and video editing capabilities of the media center upgrade obviates the need for a couple hundred worth of add-ins for these tasks.

All in all, a super value for the consumer.

[Wiz Wildstar]

A really bad analogy

Comparing Vista to price of automobiles is a really bad comparison. Here's another way to look at, if you want to use the "car" analogy.

[Wiz Wildstar]

Bad Analogy

Comparing Vista to automobiles is a really bad analogy. Here's another comparison using the 'car' analogy.
What is today's price for a copy of Windows 3.1, and the price of a 1957 Thunderbird. Both were the best of the breed in their day. or How about a copy of Windows 95 and and 1970 'Cuda ? Seems to me that automobiles become "vintage" while windows becomes useless.

[aqvarivs]

DOS Cost

I don't care what Windows has added to it to defeat 2nd or 3rd party software developers. I've purchased every reissue of Windows since 98 and have paid for the same Windows core platform. Vista is no different. It isn't entirely new. And when I go to purchase Vista I will not be paying just for what makes Vista different but also for what it shares with XP Pro, 98, and Windows DOS.

[bunkey91405]

Vista Pricing, Poor Business Model

It is clear, that Vista pricing by MS is to acheive the shortest ROI (Return On Investment). MS has taken many years to market this OS and is using its market monopoly in arriving at pricing for high profits. It would serve its market far better by dropping the price and allowing a wider customer base to afford Vista. My personal point of view is, I will wait to the last minute, before paying for Vista. And this situation makes other alternatives Mac, Linux look for more attractive.

[DarkPhoenixFF4]

Take your astroturfing idiocy and begone

Comparing operating systems is NOT like
comparing a calculator and a computer...

And honestly, I fail to understand why anyone
would pay $400 for a crippled OS when you can
get better-working systems for FREE.

[DrKevorkian]

Because they are confused?

Maybe it's because they are confused by the 50,000 distros of the free OS and the zealots who champion each different one. Or maybe they simply enjoy playing games that aren't 10 years old on their PCs...

[wolivere]

Gamers tend to be tech geeks

Many run the newest. I also run the newest since its what we are deploying at work.

I use the analogy, since in any arguement why would you ever upgrade?

Part of my upgrade was for DX10.

[Dachi]

Vista Ultimate is $400

Yet you excluded it from your comparison.

[lumas976]

xp pro

They would have had to added xp pro to compare it to as well which would list some places for $399 for the 64 bit edition. I think their comparison proves their point just fine.

[nabilzariffa2]

Bill Gates knows it!

Feminism is MISANDRIST! Feminism is based on hatred of men. Learn about Misandry!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misandry

[t8]

All I want is the Internet

I don't care too much about the OS. I do everything through a browser (Firefox) and that included docs and spreadsheets using Google Docs.

I don't need a flash bug ridden OS, I just need a browser. Therefore Linux, MAC, Any version of Windows will do. I certainly do not need to go out and buy any OS, I would be wasting my money if I did.

I think that there are also many people like me.

Weblications are the future anyway.

[ezeze5000]

Live distro Linux might work for you.

I have been using Puppy linux for about 3 years.
Puppy is a live distro (boot from a CD and runs in ram) that doesn't need a hard drive. Can boot from a CD, DVD, Flashdrive, or a hard drive if you prefer.
The whole operating system is approx. 83 MB.
I cruise the net and check my e-mail every day with this distro. In fact i'm writing this to you right now using Puppy. Here is a link if you're interested.

http://www.puppylinux.com/

Enjoy.

[rturner2]

Action Pack

I have an Action Pack subscription and I still only get Business instead of the Ultimate version!

We should get more features for the same cost with time... we get more features with time in everything! Otherwise for the same cost, my computer would still come with a 40GB hard drive.

The reason is that we get more features with time is because Microsoft has already paid for the previous features selling XP, 98 etc. I should not have to pay for these features again!

[rturner2]

Macs are cheap

I am a PC Windows user. I am looking at a new PC and am seriously considering a Mac Pro desktop. This hardware is cheap compared with Dell for the same spec.

[rturner2]

this was surposed to be a reply...

to another users comments.

[Mergatroid Mania]

Huh?

And this has what to do with the article?

[technewsjunkie]

Tiered offerings of the OS allow (MS) to charge more

Even though Microsoft said a few years ago that too many versions
of Windows caused "consumer confusion" and made it hard for
Microsoft to manage technically, they have now reversed
themselves on that issue and are now $ELLING different versions of
Windows for a simple ECONOMIC fundamental.

THEY MAKE MORE MONEY. Damn the torpedos, to heck with
consumers(!), and complex versioning/support issues - we (MS)
we're gonna milk those suckers (err, I mean consumers)!

[technewsjunkie]

This is Microsoft's version of "Choice"

As long as you chose Microsoft products, that is.

Wasn't it Henry Ford that once said "You can have any color
automobile you want (as long as it's black) ;-)

[jscott418]

Windows is more expensive for upgraders

Those of us who just bought a computer a year or so ago. Will
feel upgrading is the cheaper route. The problem is that for
$500 you can buy a new web surfing machine with a copy of
Vista Premium.
So why do upgrades costs so much (almost half of a new
computer)? The deal really (if you don't mind not having all the
eye candy) is to buy Vista Basic. You get the real important stuff
and not all that eye candy that's just slowing your system down
or forcing you to upgrade hardware or buy a new
computer.Which is really want Microsoft wants you to do in the
first place! Buy a new computer. Then they help all those
hardware and computer manufactures who have been waiting for
a reason to get YOU the consumer to buy a new computer.

[Mergatroid Mania]

There is nothing in Vista I need.

I'm happy with XP.

There is nothing at all I need from the new o/s.

People can rant about security, 3d graphics or whatever. XP does everything I need, it's very stable, works great with my games, functions perfectly for internet use.

I cannot think of even 1 thing Vista offers that I need.

Next time I upgrade my computer, I still won't buy Vista. I'll use my current XP.

The only way I'll change is if software I want to use starts only working in Vista. And, if this happens, I'll look for other XP compatable software first.

One thing is for sure. If I'm looking at a new piece of software, maybe a game, and it says it will only work in Vista, I just won't buy that piece of software.

I'm sure eventually I'll be forced to upgrade because there will be too many peices of software which will only run in Vista, but that won't be for a long time.

So, asking is Vista worth the price? Is it worth it to pay $200 for something you don't need? If you're buying a new computer, maybe it's worth it (til you get it home and find some critical program you need won't run).
Is it worth buying and upgrading your computer? I'd have to say no. Not for another 2 years or so anyway.

[jd1023948]

Heck, there's not even anything in Vista that I want

I'd prefer to see them slim down the OS, make it faster, more secure and more reliable. And unbundle the application software.

[whizkid454]

Same with Apple's bogus software...

Who ever uses Garageband and all that other crap frequently? I could care less about that wasted space. I buy Windows because it gives me the stuff I need and not crap that I would never use. Macs would be cheaper with less bogus software on them.