Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 9th Apr 2012 14:38 UTC
"Windows Phone is fighting an uphill battle. Microsoft still has work to do in terms of user experience and the big hardware partners like HTC and Samsung are starting to lose interest and putting in only token efforts. But Nokia is keeping the platform in the conversation. We're not willing to consign Windows Phone to the same level of hopelessness as the open-source webOS or the out-to-pasture BB OS precisely because Nokia is too big and too active a partner." Having a big partner is by no means a guarantee. Microsoft is doing whatever it can - both legal and should-not-be-legal - to get people to buy Windows Phone, and it isn't working. A brand only gets you so far - you need a compelling product, too, and as much as I like Windows Phone, it's just not there yet compared to iOS and Android.
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Member since:2012-01-13
@gonzo
Yes, people are forced to buy Windows. Microsoft uses it market power in an unhealthy way. For instance, it is hardly possible to buy a laptop with no OS installed. If vendors would sell Linux-preinstalled laptops, Microsoft punishes them by no longer giving them discounts. Only very few large vendors may, on a small scale, sell linux laptops. Such as Dell. Somewhere 12 levels deep in their website you might find a linux machine. This seems to serve as an excuse to the authorities "look, there is free competition!"
There is lots of documented proof of this. For instance, the first netbooks had often Linux, until MS killed that, with a combination of stick ("if the manufacturer would install Linux they would lose the Microsoft discounts) and carrot (extra discounts, money).
The analogy with Apple is flawed because of market shares. Having 90% marketshare means that that company must comply free competition laws. Apple is smaller and therefore is given more leeway.
I am not an Apple fan, I think Apple is a patent troll. Especially in the mobile market. But in the PC market, Apple never tries to limit the general public's choice. They only limit Apple users' choice by tying them to their iWorld.
If you look at the technical OS quality, I think it's fair to say that Linux, Windows and OSX are all fairly good. Of course, in my view Linux is the absolute leader in terms of innovation, speed & stability. Amazon has the same experience. If you look at cloud prices, you will see that linux machines have better uptime and lower costs. By a fair margin!
http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/
Member since:2005-11-10
Yes, people are forced to buy Windows.
No. You can buy Mac, can't you?
People don't want Linux, it's that simple. It sucks.
Microsoft uses it market power in an unhealthy way. For instance, it is hardly possible to buy a laptop with no OS installed. If vendors would sell Linux-preinstalled laptops, Microsoft punishes them by no longer giving them discounts.
Not so sure. Until 2000., maybe, but after DOJ took action against MS, I don't think that is longer the case.
Only very few large vendors may, on a small scale, sell linux laptops. Such as Dell. Somewhere 12 levels deep in their website you might find a linux machine. This seems to serve as an excuse to the authorities "look, there is free competition!"
Why can't you accept that there is no enough demand for Linux?
For example: piracy is high with Windows. So, those people DO have a choice: steal Windows or use free Linux. And what do they do?
Edited 2012-04-10 18:10 UTC
Member since:2005-11-10
Of course, in my view Linux is the absolute leader in terms of innovation, speed & stability. Amazon has the same experience. If you look at cloud prices, you will see that linux machines have better uptime and lower costs. By a fair margin!
http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/
http://aws.amazon.com/ec2/pricing/
I was discussing desktop systems mostly.
MS is not aiming for lower prices than Linux, same way Apple doesn't want to compete with PC vendors on price point.
Features
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/11/13 21:41 UTC
"Windows is indeed slower than other operating systems in many scenarios, and the gap is worsening." That's one way to start an insider explanation of why Windows' performance isn't up to snuff. Written by someone who actually contributes code to the Windows NT kernel, the comment on Hacker News, later deleted but reposted with permission on Marc Bevand's blog, paints a very dreary picture of the state of Windows development. The root issue? Think of how Linux is developed, and you'll know the answer.
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Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/24/13 22:24 UTC
They're here! Whether that excites you or not remains to be seen, but the Galaxy S4, which will most likely become the best selling Android smartphone of the year by a huge margin, has been reviewed by all the major sites, and there's lots of interesting conclusions in there - although I think most of you will get the gist.More Features »
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Member since:
2005-11-10
True.
However, what you said, is still invalid. Nobody is forcing people to buy Windows, they do have choice.