‘Lining the pockets of Microsoft’
p2pnet.net News:- Are you "breathlessly awaiting the arrival of Windows Vista"? Maybe not. But that’s what, "Microsoft and its adherents would have us believe," says ITWire.
However, "many – perhaps most – of us Windows XP SP2 users are grumbling at the thought of once again being forced into lining the pockets of Microsoft and just about everybody else in the IT industry jumping on the Vista gravy train," says the story.
"Those of us who have been involved in this industry for a couple of decades or more can just about pinpoint the exact time this gravy train that came to be known as the Wintel Alliance started. It was around the time that Microsoft decided it no longer needed an alliance with IBM to sell its operating system."
But, "I don’t consider it a growth stock any more," The Seattle Times has Claude Foutch, who has a small stake in Microsoft, saying. "I’m hoping I’m dead wrong."
Microsoft’s leaders do, too, says the story, because they’re counting heavily on Windows Vista, "along with a parade of product launches beginning this month," to give Microsoft’s "long-stagnant stock" a boost.
For now, Vista is reportedly, "bigger, snazzier, more secure and more stable than its predecessor," says ITWire, " And of course, it is exceptionally resources hungry and will require a significant hardware upgrade.
"Intel (and AMD) lick your chops, you have a captive audience who have no choice but to buy your new hardware. Symantec and McAfee stop whining, you now have a whole suite of new products to sell to protect this "secure" new operating system. IT services providers get ready for an increase in the number of support calls as users come to terms with issues they have never encountered before.
"Welcome aboard the Vista gravy train, the ultimate user pays ride."
Also See:
ITWire – The great Vista gravy train, November 18, 2006
The Seattle Times – Microsoft counts on Vista to recharge stagnant stock, November 18, 2006
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November 20th, 2006 at 5:52 pm
I really don’t mind lining the pockets of Microsoft.
They do make a good product that many of us use every day.
A new version means new features and a new look.
Also for many of us techies it gives us something new to learn and play with.
If new OS’s didn’t come out technology would be at a stand still.
November 20th, 2006 at 9:54 pm
I do mind lining Microsoft’s pockets. I am no techie, but do try to keep up with the latest computer security issues, and am appalled that we are still seeing numerous “critical” security updates for XP (years after XP was originally released). When I bought my home computer 6 years ago, I had Windows ME as OS, and eventually had to ditch it due to BSOD, constant hanging, etc. I am not impressed with the quality of the products Microsoft sells.
I am currently looking at Linux (Ubuntu distro) and OpenOffice, but am not sure that my computer skills are up to installing Linux.
November 21st, 2006 at 1:28 am
Yes, and as evidence of the bloated software they write (to milk consumers $$), consider this: ms office 2003 suite was released on 6 cds, while office 2007 was released on 1 cd (<700mb). a single disc providing all/most of the functionality of the old office suite.
my point is this: that m$ is deliberately producing shoddy, bloated software in order to create a market for upgrades, addons, etc.
with vista,
#1 you can no longer make proper copies and/or watch protected vids due to drm restrictions (think zune)
#2 audio stack has been replaced, so there’s no more eax whatsoever. games relying on that sounds terrible
#3 vista takes up >700mb ram when booted up
#4 vista copied mac os tiger, why isn’t m$ getting sued?