bytesandsuch.com » Microsoft

Dawn Of The Post PC Era

don — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 02:18:43 +0000

I am starting to see ads for the forthcoming Microsoft tablet that will run a version of Windows 7. Of course this is no surprise to anyone. What does surprise me is the price! It will sell, at least initially, for a measly $1099 , and that price even includes a stylus! What a deal! I can see the lines forming now.

All kidding aside how in the world can Microsoft justify this? Yes, there are some folks who insist on using Windows but is this niche large enough to support the product? Does Microsoft need to charge that much to recoup their development and production costs?

The Wi-Fi Motorola XOOM will launch next week with a price tag of $599 (32GB). Although a bit heavier then the iPad 2, it offers Google’s Android OS and a huge selection of apps from the Android AppStore. It will be a strong competitor to Apple. Hewlett-Packard has projected June to include the launch of their WebOS tablet, I don’t know what the price of that device will be bur you can bet that the Motorola team will be closely watching XOOM and Microsoft.

Another concern I have about a Windows tablet is Windows malware. A Windows desktop user is just about forced to simultaneously run antivirus and antispyware products. These consume processor power. Tablet computers have less processor power than their desktop counterparts by design. What will a user do when the tablet’s OS is trashed? Will there be a way to “flash” a clean OS image to the device? Even at a more reasonable price these would be questions that I would want answers to before I made an investment. Yes, I have some gripes about iTunes and my iPad 1, but in the unlikely event that I trash its OS, iTunes will restore it.

Historically, Apple products are innovative and generally priced higher than competitive products that followed. The iPad was an exception being priced competitively with laptops and netbooks. Whether this was intentional or unintentional it did set a price point that competition would have to meet. At $1099 the Microsoft tablet will fail. Intelligent buyers will quickly recognize a lack of value.

Microsoft Launches Anti-Linux Campaign

don — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 19:41:46 +0000

In October we will see the official releases of both Windows 7 and Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) within days of each other. Microsoft’s Vista was a disaster. Analysts and critics seem to agree that Microsoft “just has to get it right” this time. As usual we should expect advertising from Microsoft claiming that the new version of Windows is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Unsurprisingly, an anonymous Best Buy employee has leaked information that Best Buy “experts” are receiving training slides with anti-Linux content. Amongst other claims the slides indicate that Linux lacks support for much hardware including camera and audio devices and similar support for software. Of course this is pure nonsense.

There is a Best Buy store in my town and occasionally I do make a purchase there. I am hoping that their “experts” (the Geek Squad?) are really smart and will not pass along the Microsoft propaganda. I am also preparing myself on how I will respond to an employee who decides to unload some anti-Linux FUD on me.

I will tell that person that they should not misrepresent a product until they have proven the facts to themselves which they clearly have not. I will ask them why millions of computer owners worldwide (including myself) have replaced legal copies of Windows with some variety of Linux. Then I will offer them my business card informing them that the card was made with easy-to-use Linux software and pointing out that one of my services is Windows virus removal.

I do not expect to see Best Buy passing out free Ubuntu or Fedora live CD’s. I do expect truthful information from a clerk assisting in my purchase. An “I really don’t know” response from a clerk might be acceptable. A “Windows is better because Microsoft told us so” response would be unacceptable and would motivate me to shop elsewhere. Best Buy take notice!

A FOSS “Dollar” Store

don — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:53:36 +0000

It seems that Microsoft is planning to open some retail stores in “upscale” shopping malls this fall. They will be located within a few hundred feet of existing Apple stores. They will feature Microsoft flagship products such as Windows 7 and Microsoft Office, branded hardware products like the Zune media player and presumably some computers running the Windows OS. Shopping mall stores are not necessarily profitable by themselves but they do stimulate brand recognition and generate sales for the companies in some way. I saw my first iPod Touch in a Tampa area Apple store and eventually bought one in a Wal~Mart.

On the other hand, “dollar” stores are profitable. Consumers buy basic commodities at these stores and pay minimal prices. Some of these stores are in shopping malls and many are in strip malls.

How do you buy your FOSS software? Of course you simply download some of it and pay your ISP for the privilege. Or you might buy a magazine at a bookstore with a DVD insert containing the software you desire. The fact is that although the FOSS software is free, there is truly no cost-free way of getting it. The FOSS GPL license does not prohibit you from selling the software!!

And so I envision a free software shop. It might not be located in the “upscale” mall with the Apple and Microsoft stores but it would be within walking distance in a nearby strip mall. Inside the store the consumer will find numerous live CDs with recent Linux distros priced at about $2.99 to cover the cost of making the disc and sticking a label on it. There would be some magazines featuring free software like Linux Format and PC Format. There could be some generic mp3 players configurable by “drag and drop” or open source music managers. Other possibilities are apparent but there would not be any products trademarked by either Microsoft or Apple.

Would such a store be profitable? Would you shop there? I would!!