Time for XP Free? An Open Letter To Microsoft.

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Andy

Time for XP Free? An Open Letter To Microsoft Corporation

Since the advent of the PC, the price of all components has dropped
substantially in real terms. The one exception to this rule is the
operating system. To be fair to Microsoft, in terms of value for
money, Vista offers a lot more features than DOS. Linux is an
excellent alternative, unfortunately it lags behind in the key areas
of compatibility and ease of use. Since Windows is used by the
majority of businesses and governments, children in particular need
access to this system to improve their chances of employment.
Consequently, a lot of the poorer people in the world, using second
hand PCs, resort to using counterfeit software, if they have a PC at
all.
What is needed is an affordable alternative to this which will run
well on second user hardware. I would suggest "XP Free", a free
commercial version of XP Home Edition. By restricting this version to
1GB or RAM and a single processor core, it would not compromise sales
of Vista, yet it would provide a legal license of Windows to those who
can only just afford to own a PC. An "add-lock" could also be fitted
to the software, so that a 30-second advertisement would be downloaded
and appear on the PC when first going on line, which would generate
revenue for Microsoft.
If the internet is to be a true forum for the advancement of mankind,
then it is crucial to get the developing world online as soon as
possible.
 
Andy said:
Time for XP Free? An Open Letter To Microsoft Corporation

Since the advent of the PC, the price of all components has dropped
substantially in real terms. The one exception to this rule is the
operating system. To be fair to Microsoft, in terms of value for
money, Vista offers a lot more features than DOS. Linux is an
excellent alternative, unfortunately it lags behind in the key areas
of compatibility and ease of use. Since Windows is used by the
majority of businesses and governments, children in particular need
access to this system to improve their chances of employment.
Consequently, a lot of the poorer people in the world, using second
hand PCs, resort to using counterfeit software, if they have a PC at
all.
What is needed is an affordable alternative to this which will run
well on second user hardware. I would suggest "XP Free", a free
commercial version of XP Home Edition. By restricting this version to
1GB or RAM and a single processor core, it would not compromise sales
of Vista, yet it would provide a legal license of Windows to those who
can only just afford to own a PC. An "add-lock" could also be fitted
to the software, so that a 30-second advertisement would be downloaded
and appear on the PC when first going on line, which would generate
revenue for Microsoft.
If the internet is to be a true forum for the advancement of mankind,
then it is crucial to get the developing world online as soon as
possible.
Click to expand...


First off, there is no such thing as a free, Microsoft OS.

Even Windows 95 has not become freeware.

As to a limited version of XP...
it already exists

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Fundamentals_for_Legacy_PCs


That said, if someone does want a free OS
Linux will generally do the job and using WINE...amazingly ...most Windows
applications will run
 
philo said:
First off, there is no such thing as a free, Microsoft OS.

Even Windows 95 has not become freeware.

As to a limited version of XP...
it already exists

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Fundamentals_for_Legacy_PCs

That said, if someone does want a free OS
Linux will generally do the job and using WINE...amazingly ...most Windows
applications will run
Click to expand...

And I'd like to know when those free prior-modelyear cars will begin
showing up. Surely having access to free cars that were manufactured a
year, or two, before would certainly have no effect on sales of the new
model, right, huh, sure, nod nod.

What Andy asks for is to provide Windows XP on the typical platform on
which it is used now, not on a lesser hardware platform. Apparently he
thinks Internet access should also be free. I think Andy is still
living with his parents.

$3 software bundle
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/pos...-extend-its-reach-with-3-software-bundle.html
This has a government distributing the PCs with the software bundle,
probably to enforce legitimacy that the recipient is a student. The
question that beckons me is whether any government could deliver a PC
(hardware only) as cheap as an individual could obtain the parts to
build one or to buy a pre-built.

Besides, computer expertise does not solely evolve from only using
Windows. Users of free Linux distros can equally become acquainted with
file systems, data handling, word processing, administration, etc.
Windows is not the only means of becoming computer literate.
 
VanguardLH said:
And I'd like to know when those free prior-modelyear cars will begin
showing up. Surely having access to free cars that were manufactured a
year, or two, before would certainly have no effect on sales of the new
model, right, huh, sure, nod nod.

What Andy asks for is to provide Windows XP on the typical platform on
which it is used now, not on a lesser hardware platform. Apparently he
thinks Internet access should also be free. I think Andy is still
living with his parents.

$3 software bundle
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/pos...-extend-its-reach-with-3-software-bundle.html
This has a government distributing the PCs with the software bundle,
probably to enforce legitimacy that the recipient is a student. The
question that beckons me is whether any government could deliver a PC
(hardware only) as cheap as an individual could obtain the parts to
build one or to buy a pre-built.

Besides, computer expertise does not solely evolve from only using
Windows. Users of free Linux distros can equally become acquainted with
file systems, data handling, word processing, administration, etc.
Windows is not the only means of becoming computer literate.
Click to expand...


I do volunteer work at an NPO and am an authorized Microsoft refurbisher. We
can purchase either XP or Win2k licenses at the rate of $100 for twenty of
them.

The computers I refurb are all donated.

The machines are sold to the members who are generally on low income for a
whopping $10 each. (including monitor)
(Since most of the donated machine are fairly low end...I have been using
Win2k)

So they get a P-II or P-III with Win2k all 100% legit.


Although I will occasionally setup a machine with Linux...the price of the
Win2k machines is so low ...they are essentially as good as being free.
 
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