Is Windows Worth $45?

bgelb writes "This article from the Wall Street Journal questions whether Microsoft really innovates enough to justify the enormous amount of money (nearly 10% of the cost of every PC!) it takes from consumers each year. Hard drive and chip makers innovate constantly, but what about Microsoft?"

Comments

Re:Who actually pays?

[Prof.Phreak]

I believe once Bill G said that "we'd rather have them pirate our stuff than someone else's" (it was a LONG while ago).

Their stock price (and general public perception of them) depends heavily on market dominance. Whether they got that dominance via selling their product or someone installing 1000 illegal copies, the perception is the same: most computers run Windows.

Now, I'm sure they don't publicize this, and will actually go after someone for installing 1000 illegal copies of Windows (eventhough it's actually `good for them' that the person didn't install 1000 copies of Linux).