Windows 7 beta 1 download snafus - but here's how to get it!

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Saturday, 10 January 2009 08:30

Opinion and Analysis

Microsoft is still sticking to its “official” line of 2010, although unofficially it has been saying it wants to ship Windows 7 this year, well in time for the Christmas/end-of-year shopping season.

Thus far, it looks like Microsoft will make a 2009 release a reality.

As for the price, no-one knows, but Microsoft needs to face up to the reality that the world is going through an economic crisis, and about the only thing that has never dropped in price over 30 years of modern computing is the cost of Microsoft software.

With netbooks, notebooks and desktops so cheap, Microsoft MUST face up to the reality that Linux is free, Windows is expensive, staying on an existing XP or Vista installation costs nothing, and Windows 7 MUST be sold at a reasonable price.

There have been calls for Microsoft to issue Windows 7 to Vista users free of charge. While I don’t see this happening, Microsoft must ask itself what it wants.

Does it want an expensive Windows 7 with few buyers and plenty of pirates, or does it want a cheap Windows 7 that people are willing to pay their hard-earned money for?

More sales at a cheaper price is better, in my opinion, than fewer sales at a higher price.

So, Microsoft – the ball is in your court. Keep Windows 7 pricing high, and you might find that all the goodwill you’re generating right now with Windows 7 evaporates, replaced instead by blind rage at pricing stupidity.

Microsoft: if you charge too high a price for Windows 7, it could well be the beginning of the end, with Linux, Mac OS X and even predicted Google Android computers being the future. 

Your decision on Windows 7 pricing will determine your fate, Microsoft. With Linux and Open Office available freely to all, and getting better with each new release, who will pay hundreds of dollars for Windows 7?

Microsoft: Don’t blow it and don’t be greedy!