Microsoft AntiSpyware post beta cost?

[Gary]

Will the Microsoft AntiSpyware product continue to be a
cost free solution after the beta has expired?

 

[Michael Jennings]

Well, that _is_ a topic for speculation.
Cost free as in they pay postage on the free CD,
which is what they did for Windows XP Service Pack 2?
Or do you think it would be better to be paid to use it?

How much is it sensible for Microsoft to charge for
RTM MSAS? The answer is an amalgam of marketing,
finance, security and platform direction. How much
would you be willing to pay?

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
Well, that _is_ a topic for speculation.
Cost free as in they pay postage on the free CD,
which is what they did for Windows XP Service Pack 2?
Or do you think it would be better to be paid to use it?

How much is it sensible for Microsoft to charge for
RTM MSAS? The answer is an amalgam of marketing,
finance, security and platform direction. How much
would you be willing to pay?




.

Like the 2004 Security CD, and the Service Pack 2 CD I
think it should definitely be free.
Microsoft has finally started to turn around the 'swiss
cheese' image of Windows and would be ill advised do
anything to hurt that image.

 

[john]

im guessing its not going to be free. microsoft bought
this company for a reason and its not to give it away for
free, to compete with antispyware product,money,fight
spyware/adware. in order to keep this software better it
need money and microsoft think they don't make enought
money for there popular software. lol plus they said they
would never give out free stuff when they gave out sp2
for free and its rare to give away thats something big
and cost a lot of money

 

[Gary UK]

I won't be using it if it isn't free, there are plenty of
free Spyware programs out there. I started using it
because it's got Microsofts name behind it!

 

[Paul L]

Dunno where you heared that MS will never give out stuff
for free. Just look at the microsoft download section how
many free programs they offer.

Regarding SP2, as far as I can remember Service Packs are
always free. Why should they want to charge for service
packs? MS goal is to have every Windows XP machine
upgraded to SP2 because it has many new security features,
not to make some fast bucks.

Actually if MS keeps AntiSpyware for free it will work to
their advantages. Less spyware problems = more satisfacted
customers = more people buy Windows (or keep people
switching to Lindows). A company like Microsoft has enough
money to continue develop AntiSpyware for free without
going bankrupt.

 

[Paul L]

MS hasn't decided yet whether they will keep AntiSpyware
for free.
I think the most likely scenario is that AntiSpyware will
be for free and MS will pull out the former PC
Satisfaction Trial (antivirus/firewall/antispyware
package) as a paid service.

 

[Andre Da Costa]

Pricing and distribution have not been determined yet.

Andre