While your suggestion that Windows has been crapified by margin-deprived OEMs has its merits, I believe that the key motivation here is closer to what Google does with the flagship phone/tablet it releases now and then. By launching their own product they will promote the merits of their tablet, while at the same time they license the software to OEMs to make their own hardware.
All players need the volume, but the market is still in high growth stage, so it makes little sense to stop the OEMs from doing their thing. By having the "reference product", MS (and Google btw) show that if some random chinese OEM makes a crappy tablet with bad screens, poor wifi, slow SSDs, weird custom UI, bloatware, etc., they will be in a position to state that those are characteristics of that OEM's product and not a problem inherent to Windows tablets.
I hardly believe that MS would block the OEMs from this market and play the game like Apple does. These products are years behind iPad and iPhone, the catching up will be quicker if there's more respectable brands working on it.
The scammer may however benefit from confirming that your email is real and belongs to someone with time to spare. If you fill in some fake personal details to lead them on, they will have those to sell.
That last part of your comment might be the key. If Google were to neglect this kind of infringement, the music and film industries associations could find grounds to claim that Google is damaging their businesses.
I'm a standard Windows user and I'd be OK with a Windows Tango tablet. This Windows RT seems to be a few steps ahead of Windows Mobile, so it's probably got its space too. That's what happens is fast growth new markets. Some products will survive, some will fail. Folks needing Windows x86 on tablets will have them in the same way as they had Windows XP tablet and Vista tablet "editions", but with improved hardware. Exciting times.
That is a sensible advice that can be difficult to follow. In my experience with Sony laptops and Lenovo desktops, burning the DVDs can take more than 3 hours. This was in 2011, not with extremely slow drives from 1990.
One of the Sonys I was setting up had a recovery DVD process that was so weird and overprotective of Windows 7 ISOs (wtf) that it cancelled the whole thing when the 3rd of 3 DVDs crapped out. I think most people would be discouraged from going through that process.
In my view, what exists is a number of PC makers who release products to the market and find that they all have to have Windows (with whatever strings attached), have to improve the product very regularly and support a huge number of configurations for their end product, and have to compete on price with a number of equally "stressed" companies that live for this mature low-growth market.
On the other hand, these manufacturers can use their existing know-how to release tablet PCs, with less diversification in their product lines, with potential for higher margins and some flexibility in terms of picking the software partners. They have to deal with Apple's dominance and hope to find ways to grow their slice of a growing market.
While we're at it, are they closer to an explanation on why birds tweet and chirp,snakes and lizards hiss and their dinosaur ancestors are always shown in movies roaring like lions?
Clearly the solution for office workers' woes is to have a desk setup that *allows* standing, without forcing it for longer than is comfortable. Last time there was this kind of debate on Slashdot, people pointed out that draughtsman chairs, coupled with a properly sized desk will allow comfortable sitting when that is preferable.
This kind of threat does deserve permanent vigilance, probably even a permanent lobby to counter the media influence in governments. Just the other day Slashdot had an article on this subject: http://internetdefenseleague.org/
simply put, people need to get organised to defend their interests.
Our generation rescued the banking system on the verge of collapse at the end of the last decade. This feat allowed us to carry on business as usual rather than having to work around a new balance of power between East and West.
These guys should prove they think of the children by sponsoring the OpenDNS project or something similar. Then their members could set up their PCs to have restricted access to the stuf they find likely to offend without having to go through all the porn in the world befor emaking a decision.
China is the world's largest car market having recently overtaken the US
Largest potential market, surely? On a recent episode of Top Gear (2012), they said they have about 58M cars in total for the whole of China. Well in line with what's on Wikipedia for 2009: 40 motor vehicles per 1000 people.
Even if people are talking about market value (price x quantity) I don't think China's auto market is more valuable than that of the USA?
I don't know what you'd accept as "no features" but I can see on ebay (.co.uk) plenty of cars without power steering, electric windows and aircon. 10 year Ford Fiesta and the like. Is that barebones enough or is that engine too sophisticated?
Probably the answer is "some bloody insurance company doesn't allow it". Nevertheless, this place is begging to be occupied against the will of the owner. They should set an end date for the experiments and then sell the real estate for people who would commit to actually live there.
aye. If they priced their product assuming they would also sell advertising time/space and then find the customer is blocking the advertising, they can be sure to be annoyed and negotiate differently next time.
Like you say, accusing people of fraud is nasty... and I would add that if we think about it, it's also unnecessary. I don't know how things were over there in the USA, but in the UK during the boom years and until very recently people weren't committing fraud because they didn't even need to:
According to the Financial Services Authority, nearly half of new mortgages between 2007 and the first quarter of 2010 were provided without the customer having to verify his/her income.
Apart from what this chap has said... what's in it for them? why would this all be free forever? I got a Skydrive for free with MSN messenger/Windows phone without asking for it, iPhone buyers get an iCloud thrown in with the deal, Android phones need (?) a google account... where's the catch?
I am writing this on a HP EliteBook 8530w. It has a 15" screen with 1920x1200 resolution. Surely there are more manufacturers using this kind of screen for their "pro" line.
Slashdot Mirror
Hi,
While your suggestion that Windows has been crapified by margin-deprived OEMs has its merits, I believe that the key motivation here is closer to what Google does with the flagship phone/tablet it releases now and then. By launching their own product they will promote the merits of their tablet, while at the same time they license the software to OEMs to make their own hardware.
All players need the volume, but the market is still in high growth stage, so it makes little sense to stop the OEMs from doing their thing. By having the "reference product", MS (and Google btw) show that if some random chinese OEM makes a crappy tablet with bad screens, poor wifi, slow SSDs, weird custom UI, bloatware, etc., they will be in a position to state that those are characteristics of that OEM's product and not a problem inherent to Windows tablets.
I hardly believe that MS would block the OEMs from this market and play the game like Apple does. These products are years behind iPad and iPhone, the catching up will be quicker if there's more respectable brands working on it.
The scammer may however benefit from confirming that your email is real and belongs to someone with time to spare. If you fill in some fake personal details to lead them on, they will have those to sell.
That last part of your comment might be the key. If Google were to neglect this kind of infringement, the music and film industries associations could find grounds to claim that Google is damaging their businesses.
When you can't have everything your way, having some electricity is not a bad start.
I'm a standard Windows user and I'd be OK with a Windows Tango tablet. This Windows RT seems to be a few steps ahead of Windows Mobile, so it's probably got its space too. That's what happens is fast growth new markets. Some products will survive, some will fail. Folks needing Windows x86 on tablets will have them in the same way as they had Windows XP tablet and Vista tablet "editions", but with improved hardware. Exciting times.
That is a sensible advice that can be difficult to follow. In my experience with Sony laptops and Lenovo desktops, burning the DVDs can take more than 3 hours. This was in 2011, not with extremely slow drives from 1990.
One of the Sonys I was setting up had a recovery DVD process that was so weird and overprotective of Windows 7 ISOs (wtf) that it cancelled the whole thing when the 3rd of 3 DVDs crapped out. I think most people would be discouraged from going through that process.
In my view, what exists is a number of PC makers who release products to the market and find that they all have to have Windows (with whatever strings attached), have to improve the product very regularly and support a huge number of configurations for their end product, and have to compete on price with a number of equally "stressed" companies that live for this mature low-growth market.
On the other hand, these manufacturers can use their existing know-how to release tablet PCs, with less diversification in their product lines, with potential for higher margins and some flexibility in terms of picking the software partners. They have to deal with Apple's dominance and hope to find ways to grow their slice of a growing market.
While we're at it, are they closer to an explanation on why birds tweet and chirp,snakes and lizards hiss and their dinosaur ancestors are always shown in movies roaring like lions?
Lol - Noobs.
That's all.
Clearly the solution for office workers' woes is to have a desk setup that *allows* standing, without forcing it for longer than is comfortable. Last time there was this kind of debate on Slashdot, people pointed out that draughtsman chairs, coupled with a properly sized desk will allow comfortable sitting when that is preferable.
Turns out it was one of the best things that could have happened down there.
How so? (asking because I've never been there)
This kind of threat does deserve permanent vigilance, probably even a permanent lobby to counter the media influence in governments. Just the other day Slashdot had an article on this subject: http://internetdefenseleague.org/
simply put, people need to get organised to defend their interests.
Our generation rescued the banking system on the verge of collapse at the end of the last decade. This feat allowed us to carry on business as usual rather than having to work around a new balance of power between East and West.
He'is quite right, except if he wants to retain customers.
These guys should prove they think of the children by sponsoring the OpenDNS project or something similar. Then their members could set up their PCs to have restricted access to the stuf they find likely to offend without having to go through all the porn in the world befor emaking a decision.
China is the world's largest car market having recently overtaken the US
Largest potential market, surely? On a recent episode of Top Gear (2012), they said they have about 58M cars in total for the whole of China. Well in line with what's on Wikipedia for 2009: 40 motor vehicles per 1000 people.
Even if people are talking about market value (price x quantity) I don't think China's auto market is more valuable than that of the USA?
I don't know what you'd accept as "no features" but I can see on ebay (.co.uk) plenty of cars without power steering, electric windows and aircon. 10 year Ford Fiesta and the like. Is that barebones enough or is that engine too sophisticated?
Probably the answer is "some bloody insurance company doesn't allow it". Nevertheless, this place is begging to be occupied against the will of the owner. They should set an end date for the experiments and then sell the real estate for people who would commit to actually live there.
aye. If they priced their product assuming they would also sell advertising time/space and then find the customer is blocking the advertising, they can be sure to be annoyed and negotiate differently next time.
For the European market, Microsoft is headquartered in Ireland and is a company that trades in Euro.
Like you say, accusing people of fraud is nasty... and I would add that if we think about it, it's also unnecessary. I don't know how things were over there in the USA, but in the UK during the boom years and until very recently people weren't committing fraud because they didn't even need to:
According to the Financial Services Authority, nearly half of new mortgages between 2007 and the first quarter of 2010 were provided without the customer having to verify his/her income.
Source
So, it's a lot like GP poster said: more credit => higher house prices => more money for those who joined the game earlier.
What do you suggest? Pwnatious Platypus?
Apart from what this chap has said... what's in it for them? why would this all be free forever? I got a Skydrive for free with MSN messenger/Windows phone without asking for it, iPhone buyers get an iCloud thrown in with the deal, Android phones need (?) a google account... where's the catch?
what's the difference between being a genius tech visionary and being the guy in the right place, at the right time, doing the right things?
I am writing this on a HP EliteBook 8530w. It has a 15" screen with 1920x1200 resolution. Surely there are more manufacturers using this kind of screen for their "pro" line.