Comments on: The New OS Landscape: Real Competition http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/02/29/the-new-os-landscape-real-competition/ Insight and Analysis from North of the Border Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:49:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: George Chase http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/02/29/the-new-os-landscape-real-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-56485 George Chase Mon, 21 Apr 2008 22:46:58 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/02/29/the-new-os-landscape-real-competition/#comment-56485 What is most interesting about the price cut is that few people actually buy their OS. When was the last time that you went out and shelled out a few hundred for an OS? Most people, like me, "buy" their OS when they buy their computer and stick with it until the next computer purchase. It's bundled in. What would really be interesting is if more vendors started bundling Linux with their hardware. Yes, I know it is an option in many cases, but look at the popularity of the Asus eeepc with it's bundled Linux OS pre-installed. What was really cool when I took delivery of mine was that Asus actually included a CD with Windows drivers if I wanted to install Windows (I didn't). I think the OS, as a separate software that you buy, is dead. Ironically, Microsoft guaranteed that, when they started bundling their OS with many hardware vendors' computers as a pre-installed OS. I remember trying to order computers that had no OS, for the college that I worked for. They wouldn't sell them to me. They said that I could erase the OS and add what I wanted but they would still charge me for the OS. What is most interesting about the price cut is that few people actually buy their OS. When was the last time that you went out and shelled out a few hundred for an OS? Most people, like me, “buy” their OS when they buy their computer and stick with it until the next computer purchase. It’s bundled in. What would really be interesting is if more vendors started bundling Linux with their hardware. Yes, I know it is an option in many cases, but look at the popularity of the Asus eeepc with it’s bundled Linux OS pre-installed. What was really cool when I took delivery of mine was that Asus actually included a CD with Windows drivers if I wanted to install Windows (I didn’t). I think the OS, as a separate software that you buy, is dead. Ironically, Microsoft guaranteed that, when they started bundling their OS with many hardware vendors’ computers as a pre-installed OS. I remember trying to order computers that had no OS, for the college that I worked for. They wouldn’t sell them to me. They said that I could erase the OS and add what I wanted but they would still charge me for the OS.

]]> By: E Guy http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/02/29/the-new-os-landscape-real-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-48515 E Guy Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:37:44 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/02/29/the-new-os-landscape-real-competition/#comment-48515 I am a recent Mac convert using Mac at home and Windows at work. Vista like the 2007 versions of Office software provide added complexity without value (in my opinion). Prices is not the problem for Microsoft...delivering value to the consumer is the issue and they are not with their recent releases. I am a recent Mac convert using Mac at home and Windows at work. Vista like the 2007 versions of Office software provide added complexity without value (in my opinion). Prices is not the problem for Microsoft…delivering value to the consumer is the issue and they are not with their recent releases.

]]> By: Ben Lucier http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/02/29/the-new-os-landscape-real-competition/comment-page-1/#comment-48496 Ben Lucier Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:22:40 +0000 http://www.markevanstech.com/2008/02/29/the-new-os-landscape-real-competition/#comment-48496 Yessir. Another problem is the fact that Microsoft has multiple versions of Vista. Do I want it for business? For home? For Home business? All too often the choice ends up being the Ultimate version because consumers don't want to lock themselves into an OS that might lack a feature they need/want in the future. In contrast, Apple has only one version of OS X, with all the features one could want. I wonder if Apple will ever make the move to support OS X on non Mac hardware (it's already being done by others). OS X is my full time OS on my MacBook Pro. I'm also running Windows XP inside Parallels so I get the best of both worlds, without so much as a second thought. Like you said Mark, lowered prices are a sign of competition. In fact, this is the first time I I've been witness to such a clear-cut case of the beginnings of what will surely be an all out OS war in 2008/2009. In the end, consumers that have been forced to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a piece of software required to run a computer will benefit. And while we're on the subject... shame on Microsoft for rolling out such a shameful piece of software. My parents run Vista and you know what? They don't call MS support when they have problems - they call me.... Yessir. Another problem is the fact that Microsoft has multiple versions of Vista. Do I want it for business? For home? For Home business? All too often the choice ends up being the Ultimate version because consumers don’t want to lock themselves into an OS that might lack a feature they need/want in the future.

In contrast, Apple has only one version of OS X, with all the features one could want.

I wonder if Apple will ever make the move to support OS X on non Mac hardware (it’s already being done by others).

OS X is my full time OS on my MacBook Pro. I’m also running Windows XP inside Parallels so I get the best of both worlds, without so much as a second thought.

Like you said Mark, lowered prices are a sign of competition. In fact, this is the first time I I’ve been witness to such a clear-cut case of the beginnings of what will surely be an all out OS war in 2008/2009.

In the end, consumers that have been forced to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a piece of software required to run a computer will benefit.

And while we’re on the subject… shame on Microsoft for rolling out such a shameful piece of software. My parents run Vista and you know what? They don’t call MS support when they have problems – they call me….

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