Microsoft plans cheap XP package - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 19th Apr 2007, 13:11

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/04...ap_XP_package/

DougEdey · 19th Apr 2007, 13:18

So they're stopping XP standard in 2008 but making a new edition untill 2009?

CardJoe · 19th Apr 2007, 13:27

Seems like.

DougEdey · 19th Apr 2007, 13:30

Is it just me or does that seem like a waste?

Fod · 19th Apr 2007, 13:37

nah starter edition has been aroound for a good while now. what's new is the licensing package and the low price.

tbh i dont see this displacing piracy or open source, especially in east asian countries.

quack · 19th Apr 2007, 13:39

Well Microsoft wouldn't exactly be making a fortune out of the countries this programme is for, and they'll still be supporting XP until 2014 anyway. When SP3 gets released, that'll be extended another 5 years.

steveo_mcg · 19th Apr 2007, 13:56

$3 is still a lot more than a pirated version when you live on only a few dollars a week. Barely seems worth it, would free not be a more suitable way of getting people ~~hooked~~ licensed. From there try and change the mind set which says better to pirate than bother with a license.

inflatable · 19th Apr 2007, 14:29

If you you live on only a few dollars a week I doubt you can afford a PC or even have any need for it.. So what's the point?

DXR_13KE · 19th Apr 2007, 14:32

i think this is good in the way it is cheap for us, but it is still expensive for some countries and linux would be a better bet.

Dr. Strangelove · 19th Apr 2007, 14:33

Quote:

It should be noted though that Microsoft is not seen as completely altruistic and it has been accused of simply trying to find clever ways into these markets in order to undermine the presence of Open Source software such as Linux and Open Office, which are free to distribute.

hehe ofcource it's an attempt to get into growing markets, just like apple used to sell their mac's cheap to education institutions (don't know if they still do). But considering the fact that say half the people here on Bit-tech (who are ofcource tech savy

) still can't be bothered to console hack their way through Linux, how are you going to expect people who have never touched a computer to know how. (yes yes I know I'm going to get flamed about how easy Linux is to install now, but I'm sorry it just does not beat windows).

All in all i think this is a great initiative sure MS might be fishing for new markets but in the mean time they will at least help people who might otherwise not get helped.

Lazarus Dark · 19th Apr 2007, 14:36

y'know, Bill, there are low income areas in your own country. The public schools here in my city are so poor that I hear the home schooling rate is approaching 25% for the high schools, because the public schools just aren't teaching anything. Maybe Bill should start in his backyard if he wants to save the world; there are plenty of stupid americans.

CardJoe · 19th Apr 2007, 14:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

...considering the fact that say half the people here on Bit-tech (who are ofcource tech savy

) still can't be bothered to console hack their way through Linux...

Pfft, we can't even be bothered to upgrade to Vista!

jezmck · 19th Apr 2007, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazarus Dark

there are plenty of stupid americans.

QFT.

also, giving people computers doesn't make them any less stupid.

Dr. Strangelove · 19th Apr 2007, 15:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by CardJoe

Pfft, we can't even be bothered to upgrade to Vista!

LOL true true

Swafeman · 19th Apr 2007, 15:19

Im going to import a copy

hehe

BioSniper · 19th Apr 2007, 16:49

So, if they can do this for other people, why not do it for everyone?
The reason people generally pirate is high costs, lower the cost across the board and more people will purchase it. Of course there will still be those which are cheap buggers and do it anyway.

Tyinsar · 19th Apr 2007, 17:02

If these nations grow up on Linux then, when they become major economic powers (and that time is coming), MS dies. This is only available through MS selected channels - NOT to individuals. Therefore:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Article

... Microsoft ... trying ... to undermine the presence of Open Source software such as Linux and Open Office, ...

That is all.

<A88> · 19th Apr 2007, 17:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by inflatable

If you you live on only a few dollars a week I doubt you can afford a PC or even have any need for it.. So what's the point?

If you'd read the article you'd note that it's for governments who purchase computers for educational environments and so it would be the countries as a whole buying the software, not its individual citizens.
Seems like a fair enough plan to me...the open source software out there is pretty good but having a slimline XP instead trains the users to the Windows environment which they're more likely to encounter in employment. It's good to see projects like this and the OLPC initiative gaining more steam. I can see the ethical question of this over Open Source alternatives, but at £1.50 it's incredibly cheap for Windows and Office, and to be honest I'm not one of those who thinks that everything should be Open Source...it just doesn't work.

<A88>

Ramble · 19th Apr 2007, 17:35

Who cares about the emerging nations, I want Office for £1.50.

eddtox · 20th Apr 2007, 10:12

So, this shows that MS could give away XP for £1.50 now. Why do we still have to pay through the nose for it? TBH if i could get genuine XP for £30 I would... Instead i still have to fork out ~£150 for retail. I wonder why people pirate!

19th Apr 2007, 13:11	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Microsoft plans cheap XP package http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/04...ap_XP_package/ __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

19th Apr 2007, 13:18	#2
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	So they're stopping XP standard in 2008 but making a new edition untill 2009? __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

19th Apr 2007, 13:27	#3
CardJoe Player Character bit-tech Staff Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,975	Seems like. __________________ this is joe's non-bit-tech blog

19th Apr 2007, 13:30	#4
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	Is it just me or does that seem like a waste? __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

19th Apr 2007, 13:37	#5
Fod what is the cheesecake? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: London Posts: 4,904	nah starter edition has been aroound for a good while now. what's new is the licensing package and the low price. tbh i dont see this displacing piracy or open source, especially in east asian countries. __________________ "Sesame Street is brought to you by the letters P, W, N, the number 3, and the letter D." I'm a pretentious git with a camera. ISPs want to spy on you. Join the fight against phorm XBL/PSN/Steam ID: FodT

19th Apr 2007, 13:39	#6
quack \o/ Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: England Posts: 5,221	Well Microsoft wouldn't exactly be making a fortune out of the countries this programme is for, and they'll still be supporting XP until 2014 anyway. When SP3 gets released, that'll be extended another 5 years. __________________ Denying Rights to Music lovers. Denying Rights to Movie lovers.

19th Apr 2007, 13:56	#7
steveo_mcg What owl? Join Date: May 2005 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 3,983	$3 is still a lot more than a pirated version when you live on only a few dollars a week. Barely seems worth it, would free not be a more suitable way of getting people ~~hooked~~ licensed. From there try and change the mind set which says better to pirate than bother with a license. __________________ No boom today, boom tomorrow... there's always a boom tomorrow.

19th Apr 2007, 14:29	#8
inflatable Minimodder Join Date: May 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 49	If you you live on only a few dollars a week I doubt you can afford a PC or even have any need for it.. So what's the point? __________________ Asus P5B, Intel Core 2 Duo E6600, 2GB OCZ DDR2 800Mhz, Asus 8800GTS 640MB

19th Apr 2007, 14:32	#9
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,473	i think this is good in the way it is cheap for us, but it is still expensive for some countries and linux would be a better bet. __________________ *Renegade X - 0.40 Release!* <---- CLICK!

19th Apr 2007, 14:36	#11
Lazarus Dark Supermodder Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: US Memphis, TN Posts: 292	y'know, Bill, there are low income areas in your own country. The public schools here in my city are so poor that I hear the home schooling rate is approaching 25% for the high schools, because the public schools just aren't teaching anything. Maybe Bill should start in his backyard if he wants to save the world; there are plenty of stupid americans. __________________ My gun kata is greater than your kung fu.

19th Apr 2007, 15:19	#15
Swafeman Ultramodder Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: B'ham Posts: 1,465	Im going to import a copy hehe __________________ I am Roger, that is me0

19th Apr 2007, 16:49	#16
BioSniper I Mod, Therefore I Own Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere in the south Posts: 3,460	So, if they can do this for other people, why not do it for everyone? The reason people generally pirate is high costs, lower the cost across the board and more people will purchase it. Of course there will still be those which are cheap buggers and do it anyway. __________________ My Flickr :: Bit-tech Flickr Wii: 1792 1527 2926 7945 :: Xbox Live: BioSnipr :: PSN: Biosnipr

19th Apr 2007, 17:35	#19
Ramble Ginger Nut Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Exeter, Devon/Wantage, Oxfordshire Posts: 5,235	Who cares about the emerging nations, I want Office for £1.50. __________________ Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Ensign Ricky are beaming down to the planet. Guess who's not coming back.

20th Apr 2007, 10:12	#20
eddtox Supermodder Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Medway Posts: 345	So, this shows that MS could give away XP for £1.50 now. Why do we still have to pay through the nose for it? TBH if i could get genuine XP for £30 I would... Instead i still have to fork out ~£150 for retail. I wonder why people pirate!