Where is Windows heading?

An interesting comment from Microsoft at the end of an Australian Parliamentary enquiry into software/hardware pricing:

Microsoft: If our prices were unfair, people wouldn’t buy them

The last cab off the rank was Microsoft, fronted by Australian managing director Pip Marlow.

Marlow acknowledged that the company had not polled Australian customers about the fairness of its local pricing, but went on to argue that different markets require different prices and the sales figures speak for themselves:

We don’t set a global price for our products. We don’t believe that every market is the same. Emerging markets where the cost of living and the availability of technology is different has to be priced differently. At the end of the day, if we make a price too high in a particular market, customers will look elsewhere.​

The Committee then confronted Marlow with a pricing sample of 47 Microsoft products, of which nearly 66 per cent are more expensive in Australia than the US.

Again, Marlow cited Microsoft’s sales success in the country, claiming “if they don’t like it, they vote with their wallets”. Under repeated questioning, Marlow all but dismissed the main thrust of the inquiry, claiming: “You’re looking for one simple silver bullet. There isn’t one.”

The Committee then rattled off some Microsoft price comparisons between US and Australia. When lumped together, the evidence is pretty sobering:

Windows 7 Professional (US: $326, AU: $469)
Office 2010 (US: $356, AU: $499)
Word 2010 (US: $142, AU: $189)
Visio Pro (US: $570, AU: $900)
Visual Studio 2012 with MSDN membership (US: $12,000, AU: $21,000)​

As the questions drew to a close, Marlow claimed that the company would “consider” using different pricing strategies as the company moves deeper into the cloud.

IT Pricing Inquiry: A Recap Of Excuses | Lifehacker Australia

How much deeper into the cloud does Microsoft intend to go?

 

[whs]

I smell rats. Wherever they are heading, they want to get more money from us and a more even cash flow. And they want to make sure we are locked in with their stuff. Then they can really milk us.

As Jimbo says, it's time to get out the Linux text books. I am busy producing Linux tutorials to help make us more independent.

The Sky is Falling, the Sky is Falling.

The sky is not fallling. But we don't want to get dragged into a trap.

 

[Ray8]

It's sad to see how the ability to discuss things intelligently, completely eludes some people.

 

[BillWindows]

It's sad to see how the ability to discuss things intelligently, completely eludes some people.

Well considering this whole story is a joke, I agree, you made this about Where is windows heading, when in actual fact you were just rubbishing MS for trying to rip of Australians, when the story is about 3 companies.

EVERY company in Australia is trying to rip off Australians, had you ever been overseas you'd know that, but no you had to make it out to be just Microsoft.

 

[BillWindows]

I smell rats. Wherever they are heading, they want to get more money from us and a more even cash flow. And they want to make sure we are locked in with their stuff. Then they can really milk us.

As Jimbo says, it's time to get out the Linux text books. I am busy producing Linux tutorials to help make us more independent.

The Sky is Falling, the Sky is Falling.

The sky is not fallling. But we don't want to get dragged into a trap.

Look whs I think you get a bit carried away at times, I think you listen to Ray8 too much. If Microsoft was such a ripoff company surely 92% of the world wouldn't have fallen prey to it. On the other hand we have Apple with just 7% market share in PCs, a company that is beloved by the masses, why do you think that is.

I think before everyone starts panicking lets just see what evolves, but in the meantime keep a couple of copies of Mint under your bed just in case.

 

[whs]

I don't think I get carried away and I don't have to follow anybody. I have lived in these circles for a long time and know the game inside out. The successs of MS is due to the fact that PCs are bundled with Windows. Unbundle the hardware from the Operating Systems and the numbers would look very different.

 

[BillWindows]

I don't think I get carried away and I don't have to follow anybody. I have lived in these circles for a long time and know the game inside out. The successs of MS is due to the fact that PCs are bundled with Windows. Unbundle the hardware from the Operating Systems and the numbers would look very different.

No it wouldn't, they tried it with Linux, it didn't work, and that's a free operating system. If you unbundled the OS from the Hardware the only people buying computers would be people like me and you and other techies.

 

[whs]

I don't think I get carried away and I don't have to follow anybody. I have lived in these circles for a long time and know the game inside out. The successs of MS is due to the fact that PCs are bundled with Windows. Unbundle the hardware from the Operating Systems and the numbers would look very different.

No it wouldn't, they tried it with Linux, it didn't work, and that's a free operating system. If you unbundled the OS from the Hardware the only people buying computers would be people like me and you and other techies.

That would be a different scenario. The hardware companies deliver the boxes and the software guys the OS. Then you have system integrators that put the two together. I think a lot of people would opt for Linux if they could save a couple of hundred bucks. And it would give an incentive to the Linux crowd to get organized.

And people like you and me would buy the bare bone boxes and integrate ourselves.

 

[SIW2]

You are misunderstanding the point.

If all hardware came without an os bundled, the picture would be very different.

I don't think I get carried away and I don't have to follow anybody. I have lived in these circles for a long time and know the game inside out. The successs of MS is due to the fact that PCs are bundled with Windows. Unbundle the hardware from the Operating Systems and the numbers would look very different.

No it wouldn't, they tried it with Linux, it didn't work, and that's a free operating system. If you unbundled the OS from the Hardware the only people buying computers would be people like me and you and other techies.

 

[BillWindows]

I don't think I get carried away and I don't have to follow anybody. I have lived in these circles for a long time and know the game inside out. The successs of MS is due to the fact that PCs are bundled with Windows. Unbundle the hardware from the Operating Systems and the numbers would look very different.

No it wouldn't, they tried it with Linux, it didn't work, and that's a free operating system. If you unbundled the OS from the Hardware the only people buying computers would be people like me and you and other techies.

That would be a different scenario. The hardware companies deliver the boxes and the software guys the OS. Then you have system integrators that put the two together. I think a lot of people would opt for Linux if they could save a couple of hundred bucks. And it would give an incentive to the Linux crowd to get organized.

And people like you and me would buy the bare bone boxes and integrate ourselves.

I don't think you'd save a couple of hundred at the moment, PCs in Australia are dirt cheap(for Australia) at the moment. There are Windows 8 laptops at under $400 at the moment admittedly not the fastest lappies on the block but good enough for some.

 

[BillWindows]

You are misunderstanding the point.

If all hardware came without an os bundled, the picture would be very different.

I don't think I get carried away and I don't have to follow anybody. I have lived in these circles for a long time and know the game inside out. The successs of MS is due to the fact that PCs are bundled with Windows. Unbundle the hardware from the Operating Systems and the numbers would look very different.

No it wouldn't, they tried it with Linux, it didn't work, and that's a free operating system. If you unbundled the OS from the Hardware the only people buying computers would be people like me and you and other techies.

I'm not too sure about that, I think the way it is now is the best and its also why I want Microsoft to succeed. With computers you need some kind of similarity especially when networking it just makes the whole thing easier.

The problem with Linux is that they're all different forks and have different ways of working, not exactly what the masses are looking for.

 

[SIW2]

You might not be sure, but I am.

 

[whs]

No it wouldn't, they tried it with Linux, it didn't work, and that's a free operating system. If you unbundled the OS from the Hardware the only people buying computers would be people like me and you and other techies.

That would be a different scenario. The hardware companies deliver the boxes and the software guys the OS. Then you have system integrators that put the two together. I think a lot of people would opt for Linux if they could save a couple of hundred bucks. And it would give an incentive to the Linux crowd to get organized.

And people like you and me would buy the bare bone boxes and integrate ourselves.

I don't think you'd save a couple of hundred at the moment, PCs in Australia are dirt cheap(for Australia) at the moment. There are Windows 8 laptops at under $400 at the moment admittedly not the fastest lappies on the block but good enough for some.

Of course because the OEMs get the OS for a few bucks. But if a system integrator would have to buy it for the retail price, the hardware would be a few bucks cheaper but the OS would pile on top - or not in the case of Linux or Android.

 

[Coke Robot]

apple and Adobe were also mentioned in getting flack from the Australian government due to unfair pricing, not JUST Microsoft.

I wasn't posting about what the companies charge (Microsoft's pricing is often no where near as bad as the others, especially Adobe), the post was about the comment made by Microsoft as to where it appears to be heading. I posted the entire statement to put things into context. You must have been channelling Bill when you read my post and then wrote your comment.

Yeah, and I was posting about the article itself about the pricing issues, especially since the Australian government said that Microsoft really has no other competition in their space which is honestly moot. There are google docs, Libre/Open Office, Ubuntu, chrome OS, and even Microsoft's COMPETITOR that was in that room, apple.

 

[Ray8]

apple and Adobe were also mentioned in getting flack from the Australian government due to unfair pricing, not JUST Microsoft.

I wasn't posting about what the companies charge (Microsoft's pricing is often no where near as bad as the others, especially Adobe), the post was about the comment made by Microsoft as to where it appears to be heading. I posted the entire statement to put things into context. You must have been channelling Bill when you read my post and then wrote your comment.

Yeah, and I was posting about the article itself about the pricing issues, especially since the Australian government said that Microsoft really has no other competition in their space which is honestly moot. There are google docs, Libre/Open Office, Ubuntu, chrome OS, and even Microsoft's COMPETITOR that was in that room, apple.

Two points:

Firstly, you quite clearly emphasised ...'not JUST Microsoft...', which implies that you felt that I was singling out Microsoft. The issue of pricing had nothing to do with this thread, so why attempt to take the discussion off-track?

Secondly, I went through the article several times and cannot find any reference to '...the Australian government said that Microsoft really has no other competition...'. Where do you get this from?

 

[Coke Robot]

I wasn't posting about what the companies charge (Microsoft's pricing is often no where near as bad as the others, especially Adobe), the post was about the comment made by Microsoft as to where it appears to be heading. I posted the entire statement to put things into context. You must have been channelling Bill when you read my post and then wrote your comment.

Yeah, and I was posting about the article itself about the pricing issues, especially since the Australian government said that Microsoft really has no other competition in their space which is honestly moot. There are google docs, Libre/Open Office, Ubuntu, chrome OS, and even Microsoft's COMPETITOR that was in that room, apple.

Two points:

Firstly, you quite clearly emphasised ...'not JUST Microsoft...', which implies that you felt that I was singling out Microsoft. The issue of pricing had nothing to do with this thread, so why attempt to take the discussion off-track?

Secondly, I went through the article several times and cannot find any reference to '...the Australian government said that Microsoft really has no other competition...'. Where do you get this from?

Two rebuttals:

Do you not know how to forums? That's what happens, things will without doubt get off track. Have you not been here long enough to know that by now? Also, the point of the article is centered around Microsoft and the thread as well as it is.

Second...
Microsoft, Adobe, Apple poorly justify Australian price gouging - Neowin
This is the article I read today about this and the reference I used to that.

 

[Ray8]

Two rebuttals:

Do you not know how to forums? That's what happens, things will without doubt get off track. Have you not been here long enough to know that by now? Also, the point of the article is centered around Microsoft and the thread as well as it is.

Second...
Microsoft, Adobe, Apple poorly justify Australian price gouging - Neowin
This is the article I read today about this and the reference I used to that.

I'm well aware that forums regularly go off track, but that is usually the trait of individuals that have no interest in intelligent discussion. I'll note for future reference that this is something that you are predisposed to doing.

So you post a statement based on an article that no one else has seen and expect others to know that's where you are getting your information? Was it too difficult to post that reference upfront and even quote where you got your idea?

You'll also find some transcripts of the hearing here: Australia Tax Inquiry Live Blog: Unbelievable Testimony As It Happened | Gizmodo Australia, which puts additional context into the statement made by Jones:

[1:42]
Committee says that you’d be very surprised to walk into an Australian business and not find a copy of Microsoft Office on there. Trying to get Marlow to admit that the Lion’s share of small businesses use Microsoft’s products. She won’t be drawn because she doesn’t have the market share details in front of her.

[1:44]
Committee adds that small businesses are either too busy or too lazy to compare Microsoft Office to the freeware and open source alternatives. This feels very leading of the Committee.

While alternatives are available, it's often not so easy to move to an alternative, which is the context that I think Jones was talking about. But given the way Microsoft is heading, the incentive to seek out alternatives may well grow strong.

 

[whs]

While alternatives are available, it's often not so easy to move to an alternative, which is the context that I think Jones was talking about. But given the way Microsoft is heading, the incentive to seek out alternatives may well grow strong.

That is very true - and it is already happening since a while. Look at the growth rates of Android, iOS and Chrome OS will follow. The only near monopoly that MS still has is the PC - and that they seem to be determined to destroy. BAD strategy in my book.

 

[Lee]

Every one take five. . .need to take a bathroom break and get another cold one. . .

 

[Ray8]

Every one take five. . .need to take a bathroom break and get another cold one. . .

You should be drinking red, better for you and you don't have to 'skip to the loo, my darling' (as the song goes), as often.

 

[Lee]

Every one take five. . .need to take a bathroom break and get another cold one. . .

You should be drinking red, better for you and you don't have to 'skip to the loo, my darling' (as the song goes), as often.

Hi Ray,

A cold one for me is a Diet Pepsi. . .diabetic