Microsoft Christmas Day Patent Application

[Tony-S]

"Pay as you go" computing seems to be an interest of Microsoft's.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/12/29/microsoft.metered.computing/index.html

Not sure I would like this to occur. Thoughts?

[S.Horton]

This is PeoplePC on steroids......

[hawkeye60]

I would not like it.

This is a first step towards an internet that won't even resemble what we have now. First they get this, then next they'll start selling commercials. Then just like cable we'll be paying to watch ads before we get to use the services we are also paying for.

Then over time it will cost more and more and we'll get less and less.

[Naturalist]

First they get this, then next they'll start selling commercials. Then just like cable we'll be paying to watch ads before we get to use the services we are also paying for.



That's the plan - and I hate it, too!

[S.Horton]

I work for a global software company in the USA -- Here, because of the offshore trend in labor, pressure on up-front costs from customers and maturity of software in some markets, leases are becoming a preference all-around.

[neil_g]

right for starters just because theyve patented it doesnt mean theyll use it, more to stop others doing it. becides it would more likely to be of use to on the move users rather than desktop users.

[OdiN1701]

1 - It's just a patent.

2 - It's more of a way for "cheap" but powerful computer systems. It *shouldn't* affect us, but you never know.

If they want to force this type of thing on us, it will not go over well. I can run Vista and an i7 for a very long time and be quite happy.

Besides being a HUGE invasion of privacy IMO, enthusiasts will not accept a system like this forced down their throat.

[Jpatten]

They don't care about enthusiasts... 98% of the business world uses MS products and wont convert to risk losing the office suite so they get everyone in the end...

[OdiN1701]

I doubt businesses would go for this model either.

[stathunter]

They don't care about enthusiasts... 98% of the business world uses MS products and wont convert to risk losing the office suite so they get everyone in the end...

I personally was soo frustrated with my Vista system that I got a Mac -- bottom line with parallels you can have the best of MS on a stable platform - like Mac.

I find this article a little scary-- MS is looking to capitalize on generating revenue (huge revenue) and giving us less for what we pay.

[Jpatten]

Its not that different from what is already done in many business scenarios. The whole concept of having a virtual PC is very appealing to IT staff. No more running around to fix what a user screwed up. You have nothing on your desk but a d VERY dumb terminal that you can't do anything too. Every app and even the OS is centrally controlled.
Turn this around to the consumer side.... You get an appliance that is "instantly on" and pay for what you need, and if anything ever goes wrong, we send you a new box (free) and all your data is still safe. No more spyware, no more worrying about keeping your PC running. We take care of everything. And you only pay for what you need to use.

[Dan-o]

I personally was soo frustrated with my Vista system that I got a Mac -- bottom line with parallels you can have the best of MS on a stable platform - like Mac.

Wow I thought there is no way this thread could lead to Mac is better then pc.......:rolleyes:

[HankScorpio]

Given the very low price of entry level machines that will still be overkill for most users who simply want to surf the web and send emails then I can't see the need for this.

[Jpatten]

Entry level machine will of course have TONS of power, but with "Itanium" technology the full capabilities will only be unlocked by software with the proper codes. So you have a machine with Lots of processing power, but unless you shell out the money to subscribe to services or software that needs it it will be Unavailable. The hard part about all this is that it will render Hardware unusable if you dont have the licensed and paid for software. As I was reading one of the worries is that linux will not run because freeware software wont be given the "codes" to unlock the hardware.
The official purpose is to stop software piracy since pirated copies wont have the right codes either

[S.Horton]

They don't care about enthusiasts... 98% of the business world uses MS products and wont convert to risk losing the office suite so they get everyone in the end...

Don't be so sure of that.

Anyone remember IBM domination? The fall of Lotus 1-2-3? Borland who?

Anyone else notice that GOOGLE is really just Lotus Magellan for the web?

Have you SEEN the latest Office? MS Access has been drain-bammaged, XL they've just eliminated functions, the depth in the menus........

Everything will change.

It is only a matter of time.

I really think OpenOffice has a shot.

[monty28428]

Don't be so sure of that.

Anyone remember IBM domination? The fall of Lotus 1-2-3? Borland who?

I really think OpenOffice has a shot.

I miss Turbo Pascal :-(

[Jpatten]

I miss Turbo Pascal :-(

I remember running Turbo Pascal on Apple IIe. It had to hit the floppy drive to do ANYTHING... There was nothing Turbo about it... OR if it was the Turbo Id hate to see NON turbo

[neil_g]

I miss Turbo Pascal :-(

now i feel old.

at the end of the day dont get dizzy with the spin the media put on things these days. companys file for patents every day that they have no intention of using.

tbh i cant see this being used (if at all) for a long time, probably when we have mobile computer chips installed in our palms or something stupid.

[cdifoto]

I doubt Microsoft really wants to use something like that. They just patented it so that any time someone comes up with a mobile solution that falls under the patent, they can get a percentage.

[Tony-S]

Looks like Apple's starting it (http://9to5mac.com/iwork-going-cloud), too. This doesn't sit too well with me.