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Microsoft To Sell Win XP Starter Edition In Russia
Garabito writes "Cnet reports that Microsoft plans to distribute in Russia the low-cost, stripped-down version of Windows XP, called 'Starter Edition.' This release of Windows is aimed at markets in developing nations, and is known for not allowing more than three applications to run at the same time and not being networking capable. This product will not be available on retail, but will be distributed by OEM vendors in new PCs, at an approximate price of US$36. On a side note, the article also states that the MS tax paid by vendors to Microsoft for Windows XP licenses is $70 or more."
Forgive me if I don't know much about the situation there, but what does $36 USD represent in proportion to the average income in Russia? Is it even a realistic price (how many people will possibly be able to buy it)?
If someone doesn't have the money for a nice computer with a legit copy of WinXP Pro and all the other goodies, they probably don't have the money to run their own home LAN or the RAM/CPU power to run lots of demanding apps at once. I don't see how this is a bad idea. Sure, it's MS being manipulative, but look at it this way - less features means less security holes!
Well, hopefully it does...
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Do MS really think Russians are going to stop pirating the fully featured version because they get a copy of this crippleware witht their PC?
When you can get a pirate copy of XP pro for next to nothing, your smply going to bring your new PC home, format it and install your full version.
I don't see this cutting piracy at all. In fact, it will probably encourage piracy.
"I realise this is not a very popular opinion but it's the truth, and there for needs to be said" -Bill Hicks
If you don't want to pay for a copy of Windows with your new PC, either buy one without an OS or with Linux pre-installed (there are plenty of people willing to sell you such things), or buy a bare-bones system and/or components and build your own.
Just do me a favour and stop referring to it as a tax, it just makes you look stupid. Income tax is a tax - you earn money, you pay it; you earn money but don't pay it, you're breaking the law. Windows licence fees a tax? Who's going to arrest yo for not paying for something you've not ordered or received?
It's official. Most of you are morons.
Introducing a crippled Microsoft eems like an insane advertisement for linux to me.
Hopefully, it has as much market research behind it as Microsoft Bob.
Well, the sad thing is that "Windows for Workgroups 3.11" which is a 1992 or so OS would indeed offer more functionality and be more practical than this "XP Starter Edition".
interesting, as far as I know internet explorer is very integrated into the OS, so I think opening internet explorer would't count as a task or it does? if so, isn't this also another dirty technique from Ms to attack Mozilla, Opera... (and think also about the messenger... etc etc). Well... just thought it while reading the article, that's my opinion! Cya!
Rimember: Jappi Pipol In Da Jaus
Microsoft loses NO money on this deal.
Why?
Because it costs almost the same to make 10 copies of WinXP as it does 1000000 copies.
Why?
THIS IS DIGITAL MEDIA. Not hardware. Xbox costs to produce, when your buying it you have a CPU, video card, hardddrive, assorted nicnaks and controllers.
These are physical products and cost money to produce.
HOWEVER the most WinXP SE cost to Microsoft is 1:
The cost of stripping out the functionality of WinXP + testing. Relatively minor cost.
The cost of setting up distribution channels to OEMS. Again almost nothing. The OEM build and test the machines and pay the workers to isntall the software and print the media. MS just has to make sure that the copies of installs are aviable.
And the highest cost of software would be the stupid cdrom blanks used to make the install/recover cdroms.
I'd bet all together it costs Microsoft less then a buck per 36 dollar liscence.
And that includes developement cost.
WinXP is already pure profit, and has been for a long time now. The only costs are support, and the profits go to subsidising other stuff like:
Xbox
MySQL server
developement software
MS's hardware line (keyboards and mice)
other various software and marketing costs.
After all MS only actually makes money on 2 products:
Windows and Office (or business software division, whatever it's called).
Every 36 dollar liscence that gets sold is pure 35 dollars (maybe 27 dollars after taxes) profit.
This is targeted for OEM market only. Most computers a selling with a pirated XP preinstalled. Microsoft found a simple way to stop it. This will not hammer prices on hardware and most vendors will use it.
Being from Canada, I can attest to the fact that piracy is very rampant too. But people don't buy software from street vendors, they get it for free by downloading it from Kazaa or eMule, or get copies from friends.
Personally, I like to stay legal, but my friends laughed and ridiculed me when I actually went to Staples and paid $150 for the WinXP upgrade. (These guys are well-paid, hi-tech professionals, by the way, not dark-alley street crooks or even poor students. They won't pay for *anything* software-related.)
I like Call Of Duty and was thinking about buying the new expansion pack, then a friend of mine brought a CD copy over to my house "here I thought you'd like this, keep it", and dropped it on my kitchen table.
I didn't even have a chance to go to a store before someone *gave* me an illegal copy. (For the record, I have not installed it, and I'm not yet sure I will.)
Sam