Oh, I agree... the way that they have it now is insane. In fact, I use Windows 2000 at home still simply because I have never seen a reason to upgrade. There is no feature of XP that was "must-have", the same is true of Vista, from what I have read. Oh... security enhancements? That is like saying that they have put a thin mesh over the holes in swiss cheese. Sorry, I never bought into that too seriously. In fact, since I have typically stayed 1 version behind with Windows, I don't know that I have ever bought it... why? When friends upgrade, ask them if they still want their old one. <shrugs> Not like there was ever really a 'killer app' with the OS. Oh... it looks pretty? I actually never liked the XP 'enhancements', because it looked cartoonish and everything took up FAR more space. I mean, I am not mentally retarded... I don't need big shiny buttons with fonts in huge text telling me every little thing. The thin, compact 2K design was good enough for me.
But anyway, that is why I think that MS should move to an evolutionary software design process, instead of a revolutionary one.
I mean... picture it. Windows comes on a CD and installs. No protection, none of that. You just enter the CD key that came with it and it will work, end of story. All drivers, the OS, everything... but maybe it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, such as the anti-virus, firewall, games, and some other things. Basically crippled, but crippled in a way that doesn't prevent the OS from working.
So, you don't have to activate it, but as with all Windows CDs, what is on the CD is missing some (or a bunch) of updates. So you connect to the internet. If it is the first time, then you have to make an account on Windows Update. Basically, they combine the Windows Store and Windows Update. Now, if this is the first time that CD key has been used, then great. No money needed, you have 4 years of updates. You just have to create your account and register your CD key with the account. Every CD key must be registered with Windows Update before you can download ANY updates.
In other words, everyone will want to make sure they can access windows update in order to get security updates, if nothing else.
Then, for the next 4 years, you dan download and update your OS. Oh, what happens if you want a new game or some other product that MS has made? Well, then you can just connect to Windows Update, pay throug hthe store for the product, and blammo, you have it.
No new 'versions' of Windows, instead the OS is just evolutionary. Components are re-developed and updated on an ongoing basis. You just connect to Windows Update once a week and great. Heck, they might include a new shell in one of the updates, you can pick and choose what you want and what you don't... and you just take what you want.
$100 for the OS up front (I think they would DEFINITELY make up the cost difference since I believe that piracy would effectively go away, to a LARGE extent), and $25 a year for every year after the first. Maybe, for each CD Key registered to an account after the first, it is only $15 a year after the first 4 years, that way they even get the group discount thing going.
This gives them their ongoing revenue stream that they want, but without all the restrictive GARBAGE that many people seem to HATE about Windows.
Oh, and don't have an internet connection, or don't have a fast one? Then you can choose to pay an extra $5 or so a year and have CDs mailed to you every 3 months containing the updates. No problem, everyone is happy.
I mean, it could work... and then Windows Update would work much more like the Linux update process. You just have a Linux copy, and you update your copy. Sometimes those updates are just routine updates, and sometimes they are some REALLY cool updates. Heck, there are all sorts of games on the update service that aren't usually included in a distro, but with Linux, if you want them, you just connect and update.
It just seems like a much better solution to me. You would pay less for Windows (well not me, but then again I am using ancient copies, so I am actually arguing for me paying something... go figure), get much better service, and not have the upgrade headaches.
But anyway, that is why I think that MS should move to an evolutionary software design process, instead of a revolutionary one.
I mean... picture it. Windows comes on a CD and installs. No protection, none of that. You just enter the CD key that came with it and it will work, end of story. All drivers, the OS, everything... but maybe it doesn't have all the bells and whistles, such as the anti-virus, firewall, games, and some other things. Basically crippled, but crippled in a way that doesn't prevent the OS from working.
So, you don't have to activate it, but as with all Windows CDs, what is on the CD is missing some (or a bunch) of updates. So you connect to the internet. If it is the first time, then you have to make an account on Windows Update. Basically, they combine the Windows Store and Windows Update. Now, if this is the first time that CD key has been used, then great. No money needed, you have 4 years of updates. You just have to create your account and register your CD key with the account. Every CD key must be registered with Windows Update before you can download ANY updates.
In other words, everyone will want to make sure they can access windows update in order to get security updates, if nothing else.
Then, for the next 4 years, you dan download and update your OS. Oh, what happens if you want a new game or some other product that MS has made? Well, then you can just connect to Windows Update, pay throug hthe store for the product, and blammo, you have it.
No new 'versions' of Windows, instead the OS is just evolutionary. Components are re-developed and updated on an ongoing basis. You just connect to Windows Update once a week and great. Heck, they might include a new shell in one of the updates, you can pick and choose what you want and what you don't... and you just take what you want.
$100 for the OS up front (I think they would DEFINITELY make up the cost difference since I believe that piracy would effectively go away, to a LARGE extent), and $25 a year for every year after the first. Maybe, for each CD Key registered to an account after the first, it is only $15 a year after the first 4 years, that way they even get the group discount thing going.
This gives them their ongoing revenue stream that they want, but without all the restrictive GARBAGE that many people seem to HATE about Windows.
Oh, and don't have an internet connection, or don't have a fast one? Then you can choose to pay an extra $5 or so a year and have CDs mailed to you every 3 months containing the updates. No problem, everyone is happy.
I mean, it could work... and then Windows Update would work much more like the Linux update process. You just have a Linux copy, and you update your copy. Sometimes those updates are just routine updates, and sometimes they are some REALLY cool updates. Heck, there are all sorts of games on the update service that aren't usually included in a distro, but with Linux, if you want them, you just connect and update.
It just seems like a much better solution to me. You would pay less for Windows (well not me, but then again I am using ancient copies, so I am actually arguing for me paying something... go figure), get much better service, and not have the upgrade headaches.