Comments on: Windows 7 will come in many flavors

The software maker plans to focus on two editions--Home Premium and Professional--but will offer at least four more versions in some parts of the world.

MS is making a mistake by offering multiple versions of Win7. However, as Microsoft's premium customers are big enterprises and small/ medium businesses, there should be two versions of Win7. One targetting Business and other for rest of all. The intension of microsoft offering multiple version has no sense but one that it wants all the XP owner to upgrade to Win7 as many have not done so with Vista and hence they have to offer basic and starter versions as XP computer owner might have a problem with their graphic card or installed RAM. And what about Windows Home Premium? Does anybody use that regularley? I don't think so. There are so many alternative to watch video and play music that i thing WMC is actually useless. I would have appriciated it they merge their Zune with Windows Media Player and provide a single solution for all the multimedia play as if you are a Zune or iPod owner you altemately land up having Windows Media Player + Windows Media Center + Zune software + VLC or iTunes. Hope they read and get the idea. The point i am making is that even if I am a MAC owner with iPod you just need iTunes and you are done. On the other hand if you are a PC owner you need to have at least 4 media software to play your media.

[mdb17]

we should all call Microsoft and beg them not to do all 6 releases.

[magusat999]

Evidently, the selling of different versions has nothing to do with recovering costs of development - otherwise they wouldn't sell you a dvd with ALL VERSIONS included. Selling dvds with all versions means that it costs MicroShark the same to deliver every version to it's customer - the only difference being which key you will get to unlock it. If they can sell you a dvd with every different version - then how do they justify charging more or less for each version???

It's that same old "desire based pricing" that's been in force since about the 1980's. It's the same pricing model that has driven prices up to nosebleed levels for things that really do not cost that much to produce - based purely on market WANT, ignoring the financial state of affairs. It's the same model that has burned and crashed every industry it was allowed to run rampant in (look at the housing market, for example). There is no sustainability a in pricing model that ignores the viability of the customer base, and if you can deliver the top of the line product without it costing you any more than your lowest model - why not just let your customers have that top version and cut out the gouge-games?

I'm sure that people will buy into this anyway, and make excuses for getting the shaft - but to the enlightened, we see what a scam this is. just don't let a more suitable competitor come along...