Windows 7 as free ad-supported operating system
First of all it should be clear that it’s very doubtful that Microsoft would provide Windows 7 for free, ad-supported or not. Even if not, it doesn’t hurt to think about.
Most consumers and IT professionals alike can agree that Vista is a failure. It would be bad for Microsoft if the same scenario was repeated with Windows 7. What would/could happen if the operating system was provided for free to consumers?
BussinessPundit points out that Windows runs on almost 90 percent of the worlds computers and an ad-supported version of Windows 7 using Microsoft’s Ad Center would keep the cash flowing to the company.
Everyone wins, Microsoft keeps making money, consumers get a shiny new operating system and IT departments deploy the latest and greatest operating system at no cost (except for the time it takes to do installations and set up).
So there is one caveat. The ads. Where would they reside? Pop-ups from the taskbar notification area, on the desktop from time to time, appearing in screensavers? Either way, ads are annoying on the Internet and those of you using Firefox are probably using AdBlock plus because they are so annoying.
It’s even possible to block ads using OpenDNS and just about everyone hates ads. Perhaps Internet ads are bad because they are not targeted. Windows 7 ads could be. For example, if you are a fan of electronics and gadgets you get the latest deals from Newegg, Tigerdirect and the Apple Store. That could be effective and if Microsoft considers this at all, that would be the way to do it.
As I began with, it’s not likely to happen and we’ll end up shelling out $250 for it or just wind up buying a new computer. Or maybe not with the economic situation being what it is.
Hopefully Windows 7 will come in, at most, three editions (Basic, Premium and just roll Ultimate and Business into one). If not, it could be the nightmare that Vista was/still is.
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November 22nd, 2008
What really really annoys me is that someone could think that an OS that spys your surfing habits to deliver costum ads to your desktop is a solution.
So you’re a spyware fan. Well Microsoft is already a trashware house so why not?
Maybe they will make an ad version, for a Home Basic style edition, because suiting that kind of stuff to products that will be used in professional enviroments is simply ridiculous.
And if they do such a thing believe me that the most part of ads would be for upgrading your version of windows.
I believe when you stop worrying so much of how great pixel shader 4.0 and directx 10 are you can start to talk about serious subjects.
Troll!!!
November 25th, 2008
“Most consumers and IT professionals alike can agree that Vista is a failure.”
True, and has been for a while now. Still, there appear to be some who can’t recognise the fact, or who can’t bring themselves to admit it (I wonder if Ken has read this article?).
“What would/could happen if the operating system was provided for free to consumers?”
I would imagine that providing a free windows encumbered with ads would do nothing to stem the loss of market share to Mac and Linux. If anything, ads would probably cast Windows in an even more unfavourable light than at present.
“Everyone wins [...] consumers get a shiny new operating system”
Not quite. Everyone gets a Microsoft operating system, which remains today what it always has been – a mediocre offering which brings numerous attendant problems. I suppose that you could argue that it is “shiny”, but the job of an OS it to allow applications to be run. As for “new”, Windows 7 is rehashed Vista, which was itself simply rehashed 2003.
“IT departments deploy the latest and greatest operating system at no cost (except for the time it takes to do installations and set up).”
Of course, they can already do this with Linux, and many are taking advantage of the opportunity to do so.
November 25th, 2008
No worries Hugh, I read it. You seem to be under the impression I’m pro-Vista or Microsoft. I’m not.
I run Linux most of the time.
I’m simply commenting on your delusions that OSX or Linux are going to get some major slice of the OS pie. They will not. Microsoft isn’t going away, they continue to haul in buckets full of money. They keep cranking out paper MCSEs and XP was pretty solid after SP2.
There is no Accounting or Financial software
available for OSX or Linux that wouldn’t require some serious tinkering. The number of support people familiar will those other OS’s remains tiny.
Microsoft’s revenue for the quarter ending September 30th was in excess of $15 billion US and was a 9% increase over the previous year. There is a license paid to Microsoft on almost computer sold, while Mac’s have shown robust increases percentage wise, actual numbers remain tiny.
Most of the numbers I’ve seen place Vista at about 18% of the market. The number comes from analysis of Web traffic, not licenses sold.
If you factor in Linux and OSX, the huge backlash of initial hatred and the lack of any compelling reason to upgrade XP on current hardware, not too bad in that context.
All the vehement foam flecked MS derangement syndrome ranting and drive by comments about chair throwing and the like won’t change the numbers. If they turn 7 into even a moderate success, and have revenue increases each quarter following the biggest revenue year in company history, how the hell is that failure? Those are objective facts.
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=11
November 28th, 2008
I think Microsoft should give 7 away free to all Vista adopter and make everyone else pay. But don’t make a spyware infested OS, thank you.
This, of course assume that 7 will be a vast improvement over Vista, and not merely Vista Mark 2.
November 28th, 2008
@mastcell, you said “This, of course assume[s] that 7 will be a vast improvement over Vista, and not merely Vista Mark 2.”
It has been said that Windows 7 will be a leaner, meaner OS than Vista, which would be a step in the right direction. (Then again, it has also been said that the hardware requirements will be the same for Windows 7 as they were for Vista, which seems to be contradictory).
At least some of the stability and performance problems that have plagued Vista have been attributable to DRM, so maybe that will be jettisoned in Windows 7. Windows 7 will use the Vista code base, so perhaps Microsoft are hoping that a few tweaks and the the wider availability of drivers will mollify the masses.
My guess is that Windows 7 will provide “some” improvement rather than a “vast” improvement. Given the fact that Vista has proved to be such an abysmal failure, and that Microsoft’s image and reputation have taken such a fearsome battering as a result, I don’t believe that a slightly better Windows is going to do the trick. It seems that Microsoft still thinks that they can bully, bluff and bluster their way to success (with a good example being those unbelievably hokey Vista ads – are they still out there?). Microsoft simply don’t seem to understand that the I.T. landscape has changed, and they need to compete on quality, rather than relying on abuse of their monopoly and vendor lock-in.
It’s going to be very interesting watching all this unfold…