Page 1 of 1
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:18 pm
by GORDON
$250 Canadian home version, $450 Canadian for full functionality.
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/5434/983/
And on top of software and hardware DRM (less functionality for more money!) I heard that the next directx... and this is important for the gamers... isn't going to work on WinXP. Meaning if you want the best graphics from your new game, you have to play iton Vista.
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:31 pm
by TheCatt
Windows XP, the last OS you'll ever want.
Those prices are sucktarded.
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:33 pm
by Malcolm
$250 Canadian home version, $450 Canadian for full functionality.
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/5434/983/
And on top of software and hardware DRM (less functionality for more money!) I heard that the next directx... and this is important for the gamers... isn't going to work on WinXP. Meaning if you want the best graphics from your new game, you have to play iton Vista.
That is a fucking rape. I know the disparity betwixt Vista & something like 95 is such that total backwards compatibility is impractical, but for fuck's sake, the differences between Vista & XP can't be that great. If I were a corporate alarmist, I'd consider this damn near blackmail.
Edited By Malcolm on 1156872857
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:34 pm
by GORDON
Prices made it to amazon.com, apparently.
http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/3424
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:37 pm
by GORDON
You know, the windows license has long been the most expensive part of building a pC (only getting beaten by a video card, if it's a gaming rig).... but christ... the last server I built only cost $400. A windows vista license would double that cost. What the shit.
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 4:47 pm
by Leisher
I'm not sure where that link gets it's prices, but I've never seen Windows XP Home for more than $99.
These prices for Vista are criminal.
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 4:51 pm
by GORDON
If I were a betting man, I'd bet Steve Jobs is in a very good mood, today. Last I heard Apple OSX was still selling for $129, and a 5 user family license only cost $199. Now Apple has my attention.
Another thing, Vista still isn't fully functional without some DRM style hardware upgrades. How much does Vista cost, now?
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:10 pm
by TheCatt
Yeah, the sucktacularity just keeps rising on this product.
I'm guessing the scene will find some way around it... let's see what happens.
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:03 pm
by TPRJones
I trust the market. The more MS pushes the prices, the more Linux and other alternatives will move towards the mainstream.
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:41 pm
by thibodeaux
Yeah, but do you trust the government? I halfway recall some chit-chat about the Feds requiring hardware and software to be DRM aware. Or some such. It involved black helicoptores.
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:48 pm
by GORDON
Today: KeyGens for WinXP.
Tomorrow: Black market computer hardware from Canada.
Edited By GORDON on 1156898946
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:49 am
by TPRJones
My thoughts exactly.
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 1:49 am
by Malcolm
...the more Linux and other alternatives will move towards the mainstream.
Yeah, right.
Linux's learning curve is still way too fucking steep. What other alternatives do you wish to discuss?
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:31 am
by TheCatt
I was thinking of buying a new computer this Fall. I think I'm going to wait until Vista is standard issue instead. No point dropping an extra $150 for nothing.
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 9:59 am
by Leisher
I agree with Malcolm. Linux is not going to ever become mainstream. Look around at the technology available and see how much trouble people are having with the most basic stuff. You honestly think they'll want Linux?
Apple has a chance to steal some of the market here, but again, it's not what people are familiar with nor something they know how to use.
Microsoft has people by the short hairs.
Microsoft does have one advantage here in that most people don't see the cost of the OS. They just buy a package system, OS included.
Wouldn't it be fair to say they have a similar situation as the oil industry?
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:09 am
by GORDON
Microsoft does have one advantage here in that most people don't see the cost of the OS. They just buy a package system, OS included.
And it's even a little more insidious than that. A while back PC makers tries selling PC's without an OS installed... and Microsoft threatened to stop allowing them to sell Windows at all unless they stopped.
Here's what I think: Microsoft won't be dominant forever. Microsoft got big by reaping the fruits of other peoples' labors, being cheaper, easier to use, and, in a part, bundling their browser. Does anyone here remember when Netscape used to cost $50, and IE came out for free?
Now, Microsoft is the one that's expensive and bloated, and their next huge product is giving less functionality for more money. I think you can't stay on top like that without some laws being passed in your favor.
Edited By GORDON on 1156947198
Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 10:31 am
by Cakedaddy
So, if Vista is really really expensive, and it will have the latest DirectX. Game companies will want to use that new stuff in the new DX and will make games for it. But, many gamers aren't buying Vista cause it's so damn expensive, so they can't buy the latest games. So the game companies see their stuff not selling.
Will game companies stop writing for Vista's DX? Obviously many people will use this as a reason to buy a new, packaged system. But many won't. Perhaps most won't?
My only concern with this is games. It's going to be very hard to spend $500 to play the first latest game I want to play.
So much for MS trying to make the PC the better gaming system.