Would You Use Ad-Supported Windows?

An anonymous reader writes "ZDNet reported earlier this week that Microsoft was thinking of offering an Ad-Supported version of Windows. A blog post by John Carroll offers some reasons why Ad-Supported Windows makes sense. From the article: '4. More revenue through targeted marketing: The holy grail of marketing is to target an audience with the sort of ads that most appeal to them. Sending a bunch of male programmers advertisements for breast enlargement isn't terribly useful. Sending a bunch of male programmers advertisements for a four hour extended version of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan is useful.' Is there any situation where you can see yourself open to the possibility of using an Ad-Supported operating system?"

Comments

Two good uses

[waynegoode]

A good use of an ad-supported version of an operating system would be as a file server or an embedded controller.

I've done this with Windows, although not with an ad-supported version, for my church. I wrote a simple VBA program to show announcements by displaying PowerPoint slides (using the free viewer). It also ring bells on a schedule to signal the beginning and end of classes. It is still running on a 166 MHz clunker.

Re:Two good uses

[Karzz1]

I am gonna go out on a limb here. Isnt this the ideal way for MS to get consumers to adopt Palladium (or whatever they are calling it this week)? I mean, isnt it much easier to avoid liability for product performance, restrictions, etc... if there is no charge? This sounds like the MS of old -- give it away for free.. keep em / get em hooked, then unleash the dogs (in the form of DRM etc...). Just my 2cents.

No Thanks

[Zobeid]

No. There is no situation where I would be open to using an ad-supported OS.

My philosophy about an OS is that it's merely a functional component of my computer, like the processor, or the RAM, or the hard drive, or the keyboard, etc. Would you be open to using ad-supported RAM?

Anyhow. . . I'm sick of ads. Even my tolerance for ad-supported TV has almost run out. The only thing that keeps me watching TV is the ability to record shows on my DVR and skip over commercials when I watch later.

Re:Free Windows?

[xtracto]

Believe it or not, I remember once I saw there was an experiment in which a company (I do not remember if it was Dell) gave away free computers to the users which where add suported (this was more than 8 years ago).

The thing worked this way, they gave you a PC with a 17 inches monitor with a resolution of 1024x768 pixels, but you only used 800x600 pixels , the rest was used for advertisment.

Back then, I remember wanting one of those (unfortunately, the offer was just for USA, and I am from outside) as I didnt had money for a new computer and I was frustrated with the my 200mhz compile times (djgpp). At that time I thought I didnt care for the ads, anyway, I was used to see ads in TV, and the computer they were offering was the the best technology available back then.

I do not know what happened with the experiment, did it worked? I think the problem back then was how to update the ads.

Now that I think, it may be a nice way for renting computers here at my undeveloped country (may be a nice buisness).

1. Offer ad space for computers
2. Rent (or even just offer for free) computers at a low cost to people.
3. Cash in ad money
4. Profit!

sounds good (I guess)

"Free or Low Cost..." I'm suspicious...

[edashofy]

While an alternative "free or low cost" version of Windows supported by ads might be attractive for some users, I have a really big feeling that if this actually gets implemented, the normal versions of Windows are going to start having ads too.

Right now, I can buy a Dell Dimension with XP home preinstalled, spend a half-hour uninstalling all the useless crap they load on there, and get the machine into a relatively professional state. If I want a machine that comes in a professional state, I have to pay a significant premium for an OptiPlex or something.

How much you want to bet that as soon as this gets implemented the next "home" version of Windows will have ads all over the place with no option to turn them off?

"My Documents...sponsored by Coca-Cola!"

Uh, no

[ShadyG]

Realistically speaking, Windows is free of charge as I'm sure everyone here realizes. I can get a free copy of Windows any time I want, and I still choose not to. So by introducing advertisements to it, is Microsoft making it more attractive to me? Is it finally worth nothing?

Insightful on the Piss Ads

[Anonym1ty]

(Score:5, Insightful)

I would pay NOT to see ads.

I can't leak into the urinal, without looking down and seeing someone selling me something, printed on the drain-cover.

Exactly! you're right. I find that with each waking moment advertising is getting more invasive and more offensive. It needs to stop. But I don't think I should have to pay to make it stop.