Read the rest of the article on the Windows Experience Blog.
Whoa. What's with Microsoft being this aggressive towards Apple and the 'Apple Tax' lately? And: When and how will Apple respond?
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Windows Team Blog: 'Avoid the Apple Tax Cash in on the value of Windows'
- Thread starter fpbecker
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Read the rest of the article on the Windows Experience Blog.
Whoa. What's with Microsoft being this aggressive towards Apple and the 'Apple Tax' lately? And: When and how will Apple respond?
Why does it factor in the cost of software to put on a mac (office amongst others) but doesn't say a damn thing on the cost of software to put on a pc?
Because the paper was sponsored by MS.
I love how you MUST get One to One and 5 years of MobileMe.
Why is an iLife upgrade on there?
^^ I noticed that, and that the option for sony blu-ray drive is more expensive for the Mac. ... and what about equivalent options for Mobileme for the PC
Sigh, I for one wouldn't mind a non-biased evaluation, but I'm not going to hold my breath for it.
Sigh, I for one wouldn't mind a non-biased evaluation, but I'm not going to hold my breath for it.
What I have so far
What Price Mainstream?
Users may know they pay less for PC hardware, but much of the Microsoft Tax is hidden.
By David Hsu
Sponsor: None
Introduction: I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference
Two major competitors have emerged from the pack: Mac and PC. They are radically different, and diverge in profound and philosophical ways.
With respect to operating systems, the question of price has to be looked at. Microsoft and Apple have taken significantly different approaches to building a Platform. Microsoft worked with partners to provide a greater range of choice, while Apple took care of the whole Platform, providing a significantly more integrated, albeit less flexible Platform.
An outgrowth of Apples strategy is Apples pricing, and luxurious Platform experiences. For Microsoft, it is flexibility, at the cost of malicious software.
What Price Mainstream?
Users may know they pay less for PC hardware, but much of the Microsoft Tax is hidden.
By David Hsu
Sponsor: None
Introduction: I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference
Two major competitors have emerged from the pack: Mac and PC. They are radically different, and diverge in profound and philosophical ways.
With respect to operating systems, the question of price has to be looked at. Microsoft and Apple have taken significantly different approaches to building a Platform. Microsoft worked with partners to provide a greater range of choice, while Apple took care of the whole Platform, providing a significantly more integrated, albeit less flexible Platform.
An outgrowth of Apples strategy is Apples pricing, and luxurious Platform experiences. For Microsoft, it is flexibility, at the cost of malicious software.
The value of Windows? What value??
Is it the value of:
Running antivirus software
Slowdowns over time
Regular maintenance
A slipshod UI
Poorly integrated software
Messy interface
Badly designed software
A massive target for virus writers
Conficker (which is now awake, have fun Winblows zombies! (Again))
Hardware/software compatibility issues
The worst browser in history, fully integrated into the OS (Bonus!)
HIG guidelines that are hardly ever followed
An OS that so obviously tries to be an ass-backwards, upside down clone of OS X
Running Crysis faster than the other basement shut-in living next door
And . . .
The happy knowledge that you come off looking cheap, and worse, a loser that secretly lusts after OS X . . . mostly because MS said so in their ads.
Lots of value there. I'd pay extra (a lot extra) just to avoid all of that.
Is it the value of:
Running antivirus software
Slowdowns over time
Regular maintenance
A slipshod UI
Poorly integrated software
Messy interface
Badly designed software
A massive target for virus writers
Conficker (which is now awake, have fun Winblows zombies! (Again))
Hardware/software compatibility issues
The worst browser in history, fully integrated into the OS (Bonus!)
HIG guidelines that are hardly ever followed
An OS that so obviously tries to be an ass-backwards, upside down clone of OS X
Running Crysis faster than the other basement shut-in living next door
And . . .
The happy knowledge that you come off looking cheap, and worse, a loser that secretly lusts after OS X . . . mostly because MS said so in their ads.
Lots of value there. I'd pay extra (a lot extra) just to avoid all of that.
And people seriously wonder why you where banned from Neowin posting rubbish like that. Apart from having to install A/V software I have never ran into any of those other problems, and I have been using Windows for years. Is my PC magic or something?
You assume every user wants to use OSX? Funny, looking at OSX personally makes me feel like vomiting.
You assume every user wants to use OSX? Funny, looking at OSX personally makes me feel like vomiting.
That's actually a very good question.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB999ZM/A
http://www.amazon.com/Sapphire-Radeon-HD4870-PCI-Express-Graphics/dp/B001J6FS3I/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1239310578&sr=8-1
...why IS the same GPU different prices. Guess you'll have to ask Apple.
In recessions, people eat out just about as often as during better times, but they tend to eat fast food instead of going to good restaurants -- not necessarily because they can't afford the better restaurant, but because they're afraid for their own futures and at least pretend to spend a little less. So here is Microsoft trying desperately to capitalize on the fear consumers typically experience in recessions. It's a completely negative strategy, which even if it succeeds marginally, will look ridiculous when the economy improves.
This is a classic Microsoft tactic. They've always been better at motivating people through fear than desire. Old habits are hard to break.
This is a classic Microsoft tactic. They've always been better at motivating people through fear than desire. Old habits are hard to break.
You'd think that given how easy it is to discredit the MS-sponsored white paper, it won't take long to do the same to ZDNet. After all, fair is fair.
First of all, it should be pointed out that while Microsoft are making a higher margin, it isn't respective of a higher per unit cost - as the article states, profit margins are simply revenue less costs...Microsoft's vastly higher gross margins is respective of lower costs and higher revenue (volume as much as per-unit price). It doesn't mean these costs are at all passed on to consumers as 'tax' -besides reduced costs and increase volume, Microsoft make some dizzyingly expensive enterprise software.
The ZDNet article also makes an interesting notion that the Zune is crushed by Apple...it wouldn't be fair to say Apple is crushed by Microsoft (just outperformed in sales)...it occupies a smaller, but steady volume of sales. Again, the Xbox 360 isn't crushed by the Wii, and similarly, Vista isn't crushed by XP (and even if it did, the money ends up in the same pocket, so it isn't really a major concern for Microsoft's financial health).
Equally, the resale numbers are mis-represented - Apple products cost more in the first place, and have a smaller volume, so when it comes to resale, their resale is in line with their original retail price. Whilst the percentages may favour Apple for retaining value, in the example given, a $1200 Macbook losing 50% value is then worth $600...the $600 Dell losing 80% value is then worth $120...losing $480 in value. The loss is higher with the Apple product, and the lower cost of the Dell makes it more easily replaced.
The finishing comment is flawed...it makes the assumption that Ballmer is suggesting consumers settle for an inferior product due to cost...cost does not represent value.
Really? Then your keyboard and desk (and perhaps your screen) must be just utterly disgusting, since you bothered to come here, register, and post. OS X is all over the place here - it's a Mac site after all.
Hope you have a coherent explanation to your mommy and daddy for why you became anorexic.
good point, maybe everybody is pirating on windows......Why does it factor in the cost of software to put on a mac (office amongst others) but doesn't say a damn thing on the cost of software to put on a pc?
I have to say that the value of Windows is the choice of your hardware. It lacks polish in the UI and layout environment otherwise.
I think Vista and windows 7 is polished enough, as far as UI is concerned. "Polish" in this regard is such a subjective "feelings", which has no standard to measure comprehensively.
What about the Microsoft Tax? - a clear 50% wastage of ALL YOUR FREE TIME trying to get stuff done with their products.
The only apple tax is on the hardware. Apple's update cycle is much slower, so right after each update the hardware costs roughly the same as a dell, but months later it's the same cost after the dell's price has fallen or it's been updated.
The rest is just MS BS. iLife upgrade? .Mac for 5 years? One-on-One care? Why does a mac user need quicken and office, but a PC user doesn't need anything? No video software, no AV software, nothing?
This "whitepaper" is called a white paper because it's printed on white paper. That's it's most credible feature.
The rest is just MS BS. iLife upgrade? .Mac for 5 years? One-on-One care? Why does a mac user need quicken and office, but a PC user doesn't need anything? No video software, no AV software, nothing?
This "whitepaper" is called a white paper because it's printed on white paper. That's it's most credible feature.
You'll spend the money either way you go. Chances are with Apple you'll be giving them the money instead of a third party, but having experience with both over long periods of time, and you are spending pretty much the same.
Apple has a good business model that GETS us to continue spending with Apple. For instance the iTMS. Using Apples applications to purchase stuff from Apple, that is genius. MS has somewhat tried with that, but the store is just the face of what Apple has down, and all of what MS has done.
Apple has a good business model that GETS us to continue spending with Apple. For instance the iTMS. Using Apples applications to purchase stuff from Apple, that is genius. MS has somewhat tried with that, but the store is just the face of what Apple has down, and all of what MS has done.
I can't believe he even registered just to post something like this...
The term whitepaper is very subjective. It's supposed to mean a fact-based document that proves a point or otherwise makes a logical statement based on points of reasoning or comparisons.
That said, I don't understand how a company expects to pass off something like this as factual, when they are one of the parties involved - talk about bias.
What's even more amazing is that there are shallow-minded people who read that and then believe it. Microsoft fills their customers' minds with garbage like this, it's no wonder the PC users I've personally discussed things like this with are clueless and uninformed.
The term whitepaper is very subjective. It's supposed to mean a fact-based document that proves a point or otherwise makes a logical statement based on points of reasoning or comparisons.
That said, I don't understand how a company expects to pass off something like this as factual, when they are one of the parties involved - talk about bias.
What's even more amazing is that there are shallow-minded people who read that and then believe it. Microsoft fills their customers' minds with garbage like this, it's no wonder the PC users I've personally discussed things like this with are clueless and uninformed.
My big problem is that within Vista itself you'll have applications with wildly differing layouts and button schemes. I had a picture at one point that pointed out all the different schemes with the bundled applications alone. It seemed like they didn't even try to stick with one predefined usability outline.
Menus or nonexistent menus. Help buttons or accessing help from the menu.