Mike Brannigan said:
I assume you have actually used a previous version of Windows ?
If not maybe some research for you is in order to see the advancements in
Windows functionality since Windows in 1983
Don't know why you replied to yourself, or changed how you reply now, but anyway:
Yes, I have used everything from Windows 3.1 up unto now. But you don't make sense, Profits were made enormously on all the previous distros of Windows, which then should in turn resulted in cheaper prices, as well as refining development costs (which I know has happened) through trial and error through those distros. We all know the reason why it is so expensive, it is that MS controls over 95% of the market, so they feel no obligation to lower profits, since that % can give them so much more. You'd think the consumer break might fall into this now that they control so much, but apparently that is still not enough.
I cannot comment on your specific case on Word.
Of course not, you feel no obligation other than to defend the MS Reich, whether it screws up or not. These are the very reasons why I use two installations of my OS on the same PC, because it is the only way to get certain functionality. I can tell you the initial support was horrendous, and the tech was obviously scripting, he couldn't follow what I was saying (this was an online chat for SP2). If you want to review that conversation, I still have it, it is kind of funny too.
After that, I was told that a rep from MS would contact me by email. I waited almost 7 weeks before I wrote to see what was up. A woman called me personally to apologize, and I reviewed the errors with her. I then got an email that said they would work on it. I check back a month later, and they stated the case closed because I didn't check my mail and reply within 3 days (note they had the gall to never reply intitially)! I reopened the case, and got this vicious cycle all over again, and then again. They stated that since I didn't reply within their timeframe, that the case was resolved! Hell, it never was resolved, and they even sent me a KB article that simply describes the error, without resolution, how is that resolved?!
I paid for something I am supposed to use, and they now don't even reply to reopening the case. Maybe this bullcrap limit on email support is used up, but it is telling of the kind of support I get though MS demands draconian usage of their products! I doubt they will ever reply, and I feel I should be compensated for something I cannot use with SP2, since I paid big money for the Office suite.
Why do you think we off shore some of our development work ? Because it is
incredible expensive. Hence my point.
We have already discussed that the real price of Windows has come down in
real terms and any cost saving we can make in development can then be spent
elsewhere.
It has not come down, no matter the semantics you place on it. Real money is still being paid for the product, regardless of how you put it. MS has made enormous profits through their development of their products, while reducing their costs through means that are saving them personel expenses. They sure were making big bucks before they offshored, and to say they are not making even more now, is wrong since development costs would go down off-shoring.
I think you speak from the heart of profit sharing!
