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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?"
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.
There's a 4-hour version of Wrath of Khan?
> Sending a bunch of male programmers advertisements for breast enlargement isn't terribly useful.
Breast reduction, on the other hand...
... oh hell no
don't we have spyware blockers to stop annoying ads popping up on our desktop already? and now we want to make it part of the OS?
... Redhat buy ads?
Sigs are so 1990s. No way would I be seen dead with one.
If there is an ad-supported version of Windows, the ads would be intergrated on the level of the operating system (like a rootkit). Doesn't this sound like a bad idea? What will happen when a less-than-well-intending firm finds out how to use the ad system and hijack it? It would be almost, if not impossible, to remove.
The American computer-using public is used to "ad-supported" meaning "free to me." We're also used to "ad-supported" meaning "not going to last very long."
Would the OS be crippled? Could a purchase un-cripple it (and remove advertisements)?
And how intrusive are these ads? Is this a thirty second video commercial while the OS loads, or am I going to be receiving pop-ups every 30-45 seconds? Am I sacrificing monitor space to keep a banner ad on the screen at all times?
x = x + ++x;
It's not that I would use it given any choice in the matter. At issue is if M$ will be able to sell it to the PHBs of the world. And I'm afraid that the answer is "yes".
#include "humorous_pop_culture_reference.h"
If a business like an internet cafe could get a break on liscensing and initial payout they would probably jump all over it.
Windows is not yet ad-supported??? Does that mean that all these porn and viagra ads popping around when I use winodws are not normal?
I gave up with the idea of an useful sig...
Isn't it already ad supported within like 10 minutes of being connected to the internet ???
Is there any situation where you can see yourself open to the possibility of using an Ad-Supported operating system?
No
Not that an ad supported browser wasn't bad enough, now we can get an OS that spams us constantly no matter what. Imagine writting an email then a big popup comes up the same time you hit space so the popup thinks you want to goto the site and opens IE to take you there...wow, that would be sweet if the OS could take over my life!
"Some things have to be believed to be seen." - Ralph Hodgson
If anyone knows where to get this, let me know. :)
WHY? Ads have been tried by the free pc people and how many of those are around now? I am convinced that we must be in the beginnings of another nutty web bubble. 2 million to Revision3 and another 2 million to podshow. VC money going to REALLY wacky ideas.....crazy ideas like AD supported OS's? Stupid. A OS is supposed to allow you to run programs and manage the hard stuff that programmers used to have to do when writing for bare hardware. It should not have anothe rlayer of crud on it.
Gorkman
A non-intrusive Google-Ads-like system I could live with. A bar containing seizure inducing banners and annoying "Catch the monkey and win a gazillion iPods" flash ads would be intolerable. It depends on how it is implemented. Of course, why not just use a prexisting free OS?
the adware riddled Windows most folks currently use?
Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome. - Isaac Asimov
This should be a slashdot poll, and these could be the response:
No
No!!!
Hell No!!!
OH FUCK THAT!!!
Wait, that adware isn't suppose to be their?
Hey, look! It's Bono's brother.
"No."
Now that that's out of the way, I wonder how well "Windows Defender" (the Microsoft "anti"-spyware offering) would work on an ad-supported version of Windows. I wonder if this has anything to do with the fact that Microsoft purchased Gator^H^H^H^H^HClaria.
I wonder about these things, and I change my original opinion.
"Fuck, no. Not if you managed to throw a chair through Brin's head. Not if you manage suffocate Torvalds by stuffing his head up a penguin's ass. Not if you travelled back in time and shot the parents of Ada Lovelace, Alan Turing, and Steve Wozniak before any of them were born."
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.
More like Ad-Supported Windows + Hosts file entry = Ad-Less Windows!
...no matter how "targeted" it is.
Gotta hand it to the Redmond Empire. They've come up with some whack-job ideas in times past (anyone remember 'Bob?'), but this one gives new meaning to 'whack-job.' I can't believe that M$ thinks people would actually be dumb enough to fall for this, even if the OS was offered at no cost (which would, most likely, be the counter-factor to get people to try it).
I suppose the ads will feature characters like Clippy and Bonzi Buddy, doing a song-and-dance for each product. Brrr.....
Bruce Lane, KC7GR,
Blue Feather Technologies
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)
Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'I can't configure Debian'
four hour extended version of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (sucks in air) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (sucks in air) AAAAAAAAAAANNNNN!
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!"
Sending a bunch of male programmers advertisements for breast enlargement isn't terribly useful.
You'd be surprised.
This sig rocks the casbah.
It really depends on how microsoft does it. If they have you pay for a copy of windows then and absolutly NO. If I payed for it I want an AddFree version. But if it free or near free $5.00 and under, then I might consider it if it first doesn't contain reduced functionality that the non-add version gives. I don't want to see any "This version of windows will not run this applaction please upgrade to Comerical Windows." Secondly the Adds should not be annoying, Things like popups or chewing up more space then the difference in screen resolutions. Also It should not ever give personal information to the advertisers, the processing for selective adds should be on my system and then they just get the add from the catagory, not posting my preferences to a site to choose and possible be colleted by data miners. Third there will need to be a way to control what it tracks and not tracks as for your habbits. There are some adds you don't want to see for example if you use your system at work and you have done some job searching you don't want your computer to show all these adds for job search sites when your boss is considering promotions. Thirdly it should not effect perfomance of the system to a noticable degree. Adds should be small in size with pictures no bigger then 64x64 and NO SOUND, or flashing or animations.
I am not opposed to Add Delivered comerical OS's to offer the OS at no charge to help the company profit. But if it drasticly hurts my experience or makes me afraid to use it then it won't be useful.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
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).
It was FreePC.com, IIRC. They were a separate startup that thought they would make it big by offering a PC with a real resolution of 1024x768, but an effective resolution of 800x600. (The rest was ad space.) They also provided the dial up service. Many people (myself included) signed up for the offer. Unsurprisingly, the company went under long before most people (again, including myself) actually received their PCs.
BTW, they had a monthly charge if you didn't watch enough ads. I think the problem they had was that they couldn't line up enough advertisers to make a profit, and they couldn't charge the users for actually looking at their placeholders.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
This goes on for almost three hours of it...
I think the director was right to "tighten that up" a bit.
A goal is a dream with a deadline
Hell no Windows must go! Hell no Windows must go!
Has anybody seen the film Coyote Ugly, set in a bar where the hot female staff dance on the bar-top? It's pretty shit, but one thing I remember was them chanting 'Hell no h20' and going crazy whenever somebody asked for water.
Reading the parent's comment, I instantly pictured him working in a computer shop, where whenever somebody asks for a copy of Windows, he and the technicians get up on the counter and start chanting 'hell no Windows must go' while gyrating and swinging their black Metallica t-shirts above their heads.
An amusing, yet utterly revolting, picture.
Mother, do you think they'll like this sig?
It's not so bad. They keep shifting to different camera angle, shots of the moon, shots of Khan gloating, more angles of Kirk, more shots of the moon, more shots of Khan gloating, Spock raising an eyebrow, more angles on Kirk, a few shots of Dr. Marcus and Dr. Marcus looking at each other, more shots of Khan gloating, Spock shifting in his chair, more shots of the moon, Scotty with a horrified look on his face, more angles of Kirk...
You get the idea.
Just consider it the new "WAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZZUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPPPP!" craze.
Javascript + Nintendo DSi = DSiCade
show announcements by displaying PowerPoint slides (using the free viewer)
That'd be fantastic with ad-supported windows.
[PowerPoint slide transitions in]
Church Potluck, 2pm
Last Name A-J, Salad
Last Name....
[popup]
ENLARG3 Y0UR P3N1S N0W!!!!111
Sony ha
OK, so should we put you down in the "not sure" column?
Reality is defined by the maddest person in the room
I actually received one of these and gave it to my parents. They didn't seem to mind the ads although they didn't use it that often. After the company went under they ended up letting everyone keep the computers.
If I remember right, it was a compaq badged machine with horrible internals (these things couldn't have cost much to begin with) -- cyrix CPUs, onboard everything, etc. But hey, free computer and dialup access.
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?
Nerd Rock In Progress
...the version i'm using now ISN'T ad-supported?
how do i turn off these ads?
I have enough problems trying to keep spyware/adware ads from displaying on my Windows desktop. Now you want the OS itself to support the displaying of ads?! I can see a lot of users not realizing they have spyware then. Oh that ad? it's just Windows advertising.
Having a smoking section in a public restaurant is like having a peeing section in a public swimming pool.
Free Wndows with ads would increase the popularity of our favorite free without ads OS.
Not a bad thing.
A problem has been detected and Windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer. IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL If this is the first time you've seen this stop error screen, restart your computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps: 1) Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed. 2) Buy a delicious Coca-Cola beverage at your Neighborhood Mc Donalds. 3) Enlarge your penis with safe, 100% natural pills.
I guess it was just a matter of time.
(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.
See the Pictures of the Flood of '08
There already a fair few bits of advertising hook ins.
-the sign up to MSN/AOL stuff on an XP home system
-default search through MSN; pre XP SP2 that would even bring in popups
-the 'buy more music like this' hint when you browse a folder full of MP3s.
-the 'print your photos right now' option when you upload photos
-the 'get a digital ID' button on the Outlook security panel
So its there, its there, just no blatantly in your face.
And it is (was) called NetZero/Juno.
Altho Juno was useful back in the days when mailing lists were "big", I was a former CRFFL (cruffler)list follower & the "throw away" Juno address was very useful.
Folks who don't have much of a "need" for net access, like my mother-in-law, still use NetZero. She's the only one of my supported "family users" that's still using dial-up in an area w/all the DSL flavors & cable.
And it's folks like these who have no bandwidth that'll fall for this scheme.(and then wonder loudly & often "Why is the computer so slow?" when you're trying to update something.
"Today's episode of WindowsTV is brought to you by Tos-Sony-Dell-HP Corporation, the people who bought the Internet."
(Max Headroom reruns anyone?)
Instead of Shatner crying out KHAAAAAN [khaaan.com], does he go on a rampage for an hour in the Genesis cave?
It's two hours of Kirk gettin' busy with Carol Marcus. I hear he screams "KHAAAAANNN!" a few times during that bit also.
Downmodding is the refuge of the weak. Don't downmod, make a better argument!
What if it is fed to you from a central and unblockable IP?
Then add an entry to your routing table for that subnet, pointing to 127.0.0.1, with a daemon listening on the right port and responding with the equivalent of a blank page.
God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
Yes, Microsoft does gather big revenues probably from their ads, but from people like you who don't take the time to read while configuring/installing stuff.
MSN Messenger's installer offers you the choice to setup MSN as your home page with the MSN toolbar and all the other crap. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO UNCHECK THOSE. Therefore, it's your fault if you complain about those because they give you a choice. Same for WMP. Bookmarks with IE? Delete them or don't use IE. Products sold through Windows Catalogue? Who's pointing a gun to your head telling you to look at it?
Are you telling me, with a straight face, that you aren't a lazy geek who complains about MS-Related ads/services that can be turned off/disabled? Get that poker face out because you'll need it.