Comments on: Microsoft is Leaving Money on the Table http://www.elharo.com/blog/windows/2010/02/05/microsoft-is-leaving-money-on-the-table/ Ranting and Raving Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:01:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: John http://www.elharo.com/blog/windows/2010/02/05/microsoft-is-leaving-money-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-865294 John Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:30:12 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/?p=1003053#comment-865294 Having both Macs and Windows machines I have to say that I totally agree with Elliotte. I have upgraded my 3 iMacs to Snow Leopard. My Windows machines are on a mixture of XP and Vista and probably won't get upgraded until I get new machines. I don't really need new machines anymore, the ones I have are now fast enough for anything I throw at them. In the past I upgraded every 18 months or so and got latest OS versions included. Having both Macs and Windows machines I have to say that I totally agree with Elliotte.

I have upgraded my 3 iMacs to Snow Leopard. My Windows machines are on a mixture of XP and Vista and probably won’t get upgraded until I get new machines. I don’t really need new machines anymore, the ones I have are now fast enough for anything I throw at them. In the past I upgraded every 18 months or so and got latest OS versions included.

]]> By: Andrzej http://www.elharo.com/blog/windows/2010/02/05/microsoft-is-leaving-money-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-865174 Andrzej Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:15:23 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/?p=1003053#comment-865174 Which is why I am migrating the bulk of my machines to Ubuntu. Ubuntu is cheaper than all of them. Long live open source! Which is why I am migrating the bulk of my machines to Ubuntu. Ubuntu is cheaper than all of them.

Long live open source!

]]> By: Elliotte Rusty Harold http://www.elharo.com/blog/windows/2010/02/05/microsoft-is-leaving-money-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-864757 Elliotte Rusty Harold Sun, 07 Feb 2010 11:24:18 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/?p=1003053#comment-864757 When equivalent machines are compared (same processors, hard drive, RAM, component quality, warranty, etc.) are compared Macs have been the same price as or a little cheaper than PCs for years. Admittedly Apple doesn't play in the ultra-cheap segment of the market. For instance, they don't make seven and eight pound notebooks that cost less than the 3-5 pound notebooks they do make. At current margins, I expect Microsoft makes more on many hardware sales--especially at the low end--than the hardware manufacturer does. Microsoft may not make the hardware, but they still make money when a PC goes out the door bundled with Windows. When equivalent machines are compared (same processors, hard drive, RAM, component quality, warranty, etc.) are compared Macs have been the same price as or a little cheaper than PCs for years. Admittedly Apple doesn’t play in the ultra-cheap segment of the market. For instance, they don’t make seven and eight pound notebooks that cost less than the 3-5 pound notebooks they do make.

At current margins, I expect Microsoft makes more on many hardware sales–especially at the low end–than the hardware manufacturer does. Microsoft may not make the hardware, but they still make money when a PC goes out the door bundled with Windows.

]]> By: Gordon Weakliem http://www.elharo.com/blog/windows/2010/02/05/microsoft-is-leaving-money-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-864749 Gordon Weakliem Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:32:04 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/?p=1003053#comment-864749 Another way to look at is is that Apple owns a monopoly on the hardware that runs OSX. Apple makes their money on hardware, Microsoft doesn't have that option and has to make their margins on software. Even with the higher OS cost, Wintel machines still end up with the cheaper sticker price. If desktop Linux is a failed project, it's only because most people take what comes with the PC and never upgrade it, let alone wipe the drive and install something totally different. I don't have actual statistics, but I'd venture that at least half the copies of Windows sold are never upgraded. Another way to look at is is that Apple owns a monopoly on the hardware that runs OSX. Apple makes their money on hardware, Microsoft doesn’t have that option and has to make their margins on software. Even with the higher OS cost, Wintel machines still end up with the cheaper sticker price.
If desktop Linux is a failed project, it’s only because most people take what comes with the PC and never upgrade it, let alone wipe the drive and install something totally different. I don’t have actual statistics, but I’d venture that at least half the copies of Windows sold are never upgraded.

]]> By: Sven Peters http://www.elharo.com/blog/windows/2010/02/05/microsoft-is-leaving-money-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-864701 Sven Peters Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:47:03 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/?p=1003053#comment-864701 Well, I guess I can when the time comes. I just noted the prices on amazon.com are insanly high versus amazon.de (note, this one even includes vat) for windows Also there seems to a licensing difference between an US OEM Version of Windows 7 and an EU Systembuilder of Windows 7. Bad luck. Well, I guess I can when the time comes.
I just noted the prices on amazon.com are insanly high versus amazon.de (note, this one even includes vat) for windows
Also there seems to a licensing difference between an US OEM Version of Windows 7 and an EU Systembuilder of Windows 7.
Bad luck.

]]> By: Elliotte Rusty Harold http://www.elharo.com/blog/windows/2010/02/05/microsoft-is-leaving-money-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-864621 Elliotte Rusty Harold Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:18:50 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/?p=1003053#comment-864621 OEM versions can't be installed on a new computer when you upgrade. I'm not sure how well they work with virtualization either. OEM versions can’t be installed on a new computer when you upgrade. I’m not sure how well they work with virtualization either.

]]> By: Sven Peters http://www.elharo.com/blog/windows/2010/02/05/microsoft-is-leaving-money-on-the-table/comment-page-1/#comment-864620 Sven Peters Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:16:37 +0000 http://www.elharo.com/blog/?p=1003053#comment-864620 Just buy OEM-Versions, they're almost affordable. The only thing you'll miss is that shiny box :) Just buy OEM-Versions, they’re almost affordable.
The only thing you’ll miss is that shiny box :)

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