While it makes sense why they're doing this, I have to question just how effective this is going to be without disallowing/not including the actual code for these features in the ACTUAL install disc.
If it's anything like Vista, essentially all versions will be on the install DVD, and what you get depends on what key you enter or something along those lines. What's your efficacy question?
If it's anything like Vista, essentially all versions will be on the install DVD, and what you get depends on what key you enter or something along those lines. What's your efficacy question?
Why they bother locking out options like that. It just confuses me. I mean, is it an attempt at some form of DRM? Or is it just...an attempt to confuse and make more money?
Neither. It's an attempt to give people only what they need, and not extra useless crap they'll never use. You and I will only ever see three operating systems - Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate. Professional has RDP options and other networking and admin options that Premium doesn't. Ultimate has encryption and other high-level stuff that Pro and Premium don't. If you need those items, you buy that version. Otherwise, why buy Ultimate for $400 when the $200 Pro will do everything you need to do in the foreseeable future?
And even if you do eventually need whatever's in Ultimate, you can upgrade in place online. It's just about as usefully granular as they can make it, really.
Hmm. I guess that's my confusion...
They're charging less for something that's ALREADY on the install media and just saying "k not for u". I'd much prefer something that allows you to choose on install than have to worry about buying the proper edition.
You'd rather every single version of Windows was Ultimate and cost $600?
Putting it all on the disc is a way to make supply simpler, that's all. I imagine there will be copious numbers of charts delineating the differences between Premium and Pro, and if there's not... buy the Premium, see what it does, and pay the difference to upgrade to Pro if you need it.
The manufactured outrage over the fact that 7 will have 6 or 7 SKUs (if you count the EU's N version) amuses me to no end. Who else could get lambasted so violently for giving you options but MS? Never mind the fact that standard consumers will never see more than two versions...
I guess my problem is that the features are already there and invested in, I'd prefer ONE version of Windows that costs what it should cost (even if it is $350 or whatever) and allows me to pick what I'd like installed.
They'll only have two choices. Premium or Pro. There will be charts galore. There will be salespeople galore. If they can't make that decision, I have no doubt they should be using Premium.
While it would be cool if you got to pick what you wanted, I'm a fan of not paying for things I don't want, which is why I got a 360 before I got a PS3, why I build computers instead of ordering from OEMs, and why a la carte pricing exists in many facets of life today. There are 6 SKUs for Creative Suite/Photoshop/whateverthenuts, and you don't hear a tenth of the PURE OUTRAGE that results from this. Of course, that could be because nobody pays for CS/Photoshop, but...
I think the comparison to photoshop etc is a bit specious. An operating system is a REQUIREMENT to run a modern computer for 99% of individual users.
Given the fact that most people want something that "just works" (Hi Apple) and nothing complicated, I don't see why we can't do the whole "typical install" thing and just go with advanced options like some programs do.
Why can't I have BitLocker and not Direct Access? Why do I have to include all that stuff?
I know this is leaving out the open source alternatives like Linux, but even THEY allow you the ability to customize to your heart's desire fairly easily.
LeonardoWake up and smell the glaciersEagle River, AlaskaIcrontian
edited February 2009
Given the fact that most people want something that "just works" (Hi Apple) and nothing complicated,
Except for very old hardware that is probably marginal even on XP, I would bet that both Win7 Premium and Pro will 'just work,' right out of the box.
I know this is leaving out the open source alternatives like Linux, but even THEY allow you the ability to customize to your heart's desire fairly easily.
Most consumers don't give a whit about the customization. If they did, and if the customization were as easy as you make it out to be, Linux would have a consumer uptake of more than the less than 1% that it now occupies.
I think the comparison to photoshop etc is a bit specious. An operating system is a REQUIREMENT to run a modern computer for 99% of individual users.
Kind of why I appreciate the fact that they're giving us the granularity. You only HAVE TO HAVE an operating system - not Aero, not bitlocker, not domains, not virtual drive mounting. All your programs will run just fine without those things.
They're just extras, and they're grouped in what appear to me to be logical tiers. You get Aero and media capabilities in Premium, advanced options with networking in Pro, and higher level security stuff (that I've never seen anybody ever use, like BitLocker) and supertools in Ultimate. It's hard to assign an $x value to a component of an OS like BitLocker, especially because it might require the infrastructure that's below it in Pro. That makes it hard to offer even finer a la carte pricing than they're already offering (and pissing everybody off about).
If you REALLY THINK you're going to need just one of the features in Ultimate, I suggest rethinking it or finding an OSS alternative - something like TrueCrypt for encryption or other tools for their counterparts.
I'd like to know which versions of 7 will be 64 bit. If I did change from XP Home to 7, I'd want 64 bit so I could install more than 4 GB of memory.
And hopefully some hackers will find out how to unlock the install CD so that you can get whatever version you want, if indeed all the versions are on al the discs.
Thrax
🐌Austin, TX Icrontian
Comments
If it's anything like Vista, essentially all versions will be on the install DVD, and what you get depends on what key you enter or something along those lines. What's your efficacy question?
Why they bother locking out options like that. It just confuses me. I mean, is it an attempt at some form of DRM? Or is it just...an attempt to confuse and make more money?
And even if you do eventually need whatever's in Ultimate, you can upgrade in place online. It's just about as usefully granular as they can make it, really.
They're charging less for something that's ALREADY on the install media and just saying "k not for u". I'd much prefer something that allows you to choose on install than have to worry about buying the proper edition.
Putting it all on the disc is a way to make supply simpler, that's all. I imagine there will be copious numbers of charts delineating the differences between Premium and Pro, and if there's not... buy the Premium, see what it does, and pay the difference to upgrade to Pro if you need it.
The manufactured outrage over the fact that 7 will have 6 or 7 SKUs (if you count the EU's N version) amuses me to no end. Who else could get lambasted so violently for giving you options but MS? Never mind the fact that standard consumers will never see more than two versions...
While it would be cool if you got to pick what you wanted, I'm a fan of not paying for things I don't want, which is why I got a 360 before I got a PS3, why I build computers instead of ordering from OEMs, and why a la carte pricing exists in many facets of life today. There are 6 SKUs for Creative Suite/Photoshop/whateverthenuts, and you don't hear a tenth of the PURE OUTRAGE that results from this. Of course, that could be because nobody pays for CS/Photoshop, but...
Given the fact that most people want something that "just works" (Hi Apple) and nothing complicated, I don't see why we can't do the whole "typical install" thing and just go with advanced options like some programs do.
Why can't I have BitLocker and not Direct Access? Why do I have to include all that stuff?
I know this is leaving out the open source alternatives like Linux, but even THEY allow you the ability to customize to your heart's desire fairly easily.
Most consumers don't give a whit about the customization. If they did, and if the customization were as easy as you make it out to be, Linux would have a consumer uptake of more than the less than 1% that it now occupies.
Kind of why I appreciate the fact that they're giving us the granularity. You only HAVE TO HAVE an operating system - not Aero, not bitlocker, not domains, not virtual drive mounting. All your programs will run just fine without those things.
They're just extras, and they're grouped in what appear to me to be logical tiers. You get Aero and media capabilities in Premium, advanced options with networking in Pro, and higher level security stuff (that I've never seen anybody ever use, like BitLocker) and supertools in Ultimate. It's hard to assign an $x value to a component of an OS like BitLocker, especially because it might require the infrastructure that's below it in Pro. That makes it hard to offer even finer a la carte pricing than they're already offering (and pissing everybody off about).
If you REALLY THINK you're going to need just one of the features in Ultimate, I suggest rethinking it or finding an OSS alternative - something like TrueCrypt for encryption or other tools for their counterparts.
And hopefully some hackers will find out how to unlock the install CD so that you can get whatever version you want, if indeed all the versions are on al the discs.
2) They will, but that would be illegal.