Microsoft
The cost of Windows looms ever larger
As I have often noted, over the years all the major components of PCs have gotten cheaper and cheaper with the exception of Windows. In fact, the dollar cost of Windows is greater than it used to be and is now a significant part of the cost of a PC. Last October, I wrote that [...]
Is “MinWin” the future of Windows?
If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I keep harping on the idea that consumers need simpler operating systems than Windows with its cumbersome one-size-fits-all approach. Periodically, rumors circulate that Microsoft is in fact working on a slimmer version of Windows. The talk revolves around “MinWin”, a [...]
Comparing apples and oranges- netbooks and notebooks
A recurrent theme on the Internet consists of articles and blogs comparing netbooks to larger notebooks and pushing the thesis that netbooks are inadequate systems. These complaints about netbooks are from groups who have an ax to grind or have special applications and ignore the fact that netbooks satisfy a real consumer need.
For example, a [...]
What if Microsoft had developed Twitter?
A cartoon from Geek & Poke speculates on what it would be like if Microsoft had invented Twitter:
Via the Windows Club.
Low cost alternatives to Windows and the $99 PC
It has been clear for some time that a simple, inexpensive computer box would have sufficient power to satisfy hundreds of millions of would-be Internet users. Nicholas Negroponte of MIT made the first serious effort in this direction with his One Laptop Per Child project. Unfortunately, heavy-handed tactics from Microsoft and Intel helped keep [...]
What does the Microsoft-EC agreement on browsers really mean?
As posted yesterday, in Europe Microsoft has agreed to allow an easier choice of different browsers in Windows. The question arises, will this make any difference? Naturally, there is a lot of commentary on the Web and opinions are quite varied. Here’s a selection of what is being said:
Ars Technica“Although the ballot will eventually ensure [...]
Europe gets a browser choice
Going all the way back to the crushing of Netscape by Microsoft, the fact that Internet Explorer is bundled with the Windows operating system has caused charges of monopolistic practices to be leveled at Microsoft. The Europeans have finally succeeded in forcing Microsoft to give a choice of browsers up front (in Europe only). The [...]
Microsoft and consumers
I have been saying for a long time that Microsoft doesn’t understand (or even want to understand) the average PC user. Others are beginning to say something similar. Last week, the New York Times Bits blog had a post by Steve Lohr, Microsoft Is Losing Fight for Consumers, Analyst Says. Lohr writes about some [...]
Microsoft vs. Google search
How is Microsoft’s concerted attack on Google in the search front going? Microsoft Bing has received some good commentary and has inched up slightly in market share. Also, the Microsoft-Yahoo deal on search is nearly closed, which will give Bing a big increment in market share. However, Google’s market share hasn’t really been affected and [...]
Microsoft cripples netbooks?
Monopolies are rarely good for the consumer and the Microsoft Windows hegemony is no exception. An example of Microsoft acting counter to the best interests of PC users is the company’s efforts to cripple netbooks so that consumers are forced to buy bigger machines with more expensive Windows. Nor are the OEMs and Intel averse [...]
Future Windows
Microsoft just held its annual Professional Developers Conference. As usual some hints about future developments in Windows were given.
You may not yet be using Windows 7 but there is already talk about Windows 8. As I mentioned last month, there is even a site about Windows 8. (It’s not an official Microsoft site, however.) [...]
