Why You Shouldn't Run Out to Purchase Microsoft Windows 7

cori_west_321@hotmail.com (Johaan Hautala) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:19:54 PDT

Pssst. There's no need to purchase Microsoft's latest operating system that they're about to release, Windows 7. By strictly examining what seems to be a new internal policy at Microsoft of "let's change operating systems as often as we change our socks", it is no longer necessary to purchase a Microsoft O/S every time they release one.

Skip a release... or two.

If Microsoft (and other companies like Adobe, which also seems to have embraced this sort of policy) is going to release a new operating system for what seems like every three days, consumers need to stand up and declare that "enough is enough". I've still got that "brand new look" going on with my Vista: I don't need another O/S, I'm still getting used to this one!

Let's face facts. The only reason that companies like Microsoft (and Adobe) are pumping out new versions is because the bean counters have determined that increased profits can be had. The question remains, however, is this really what's best for consumers?

The answer, of course, is a resounding "no!". You see, word on the street has it that back when Microsoft was developing Vista, they drew up a wish list of everything they wanted to include in this future operating system. Well, research and development for all of these items began to take too long and the bean counters were beginning to get antsy because not enough money was coming in. So, a decision was made: release what you've made so far and scratch any features that you haven't been able to make off the list and we'll put them on the next version (Windows 7).

This, my friends, is unacceptable business practice. Microsoft is essentially charging us twice for what should have been one product. I have heard that as many as half of the features on that wish list were removed and forwarded to the design department for Windows 7.

But seriously, you can't expect us to turn around and buy new operating systems this often. This is getting out of hand.

Shhh... don't start typing... I'll type your response for you. Yes, you don't have to tell me that companies need to make money in order to continue the design and research of future products. Yadda, yadda, yadda. We all know, respect, and understand that. There are limits though. In my opinion, a new version release for an operating system should be limited to every five (5) years.

In my case, I'm kind of lucky because I swear by laptops (because I move around a lot) and, as such, I am sort of "forced" to adopt the most recent operating system every three years because I always buy a new laptop just before my extended warranty expires. My point here is that, as long as Microsoft maintains this policy of churning out operating systems faster than you can change your socks, there is no need to proactively go out and replace the O/S that is on your existing system with the most recent one. Firstly, they don't seem to be adding that many new features or making that much of a difference from one O/S to another. All they're doing is throwing a few crumbs into each new version. Secondly, you might as well wait until you "naturally" advance to a new O/S through the purchase of a new machine and save yourself a few bucks. Oh, that's another issue--the price, and the pricing structure, of these operating systems--but that's another blog.

PS: Oh, and in case you're wondering, I really do change my socks more often than once every two years.

;)

Have Fun - but not applicable to Quebec residents

cori_west_321@hotmail.com (Johaan Hautala) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 06:51:58 PDT

In today's news, people are upset because Research in Motion (RIM), the company responsible for marketing the Blackberry, excluded the Province of Quebec in its recent contest for software developpers. The contest encourages people to submit applications for its Blackberry products and, the application that is deemed to be the most useful, will receive a $70,000 prize.

If you read the fine print, however, you will see that this offer applies to all Canadians except for residents of Quebec. So why would this be?

Well, most national contests carry this identical caveat:

not valid in the Province of Quebec

The reason is that the Quebec gaming board has a unique law, compared to most other places (but then again, that's typical of Quebec to come up with 'unique' backwoods laws), that requires contest organizers to forward an additional 10% of the winnings to the Quebec government. This law applies to games and contests where it is pure chance that is involved.

All of the hooplah in the case of RIM is over the fact that, because this is a contest of skill and not of chance, they could have been exempt from this additional tax.

Really though, I'm quite happy to see Quebeckers get this little slap in the face. I'm so sick and tired of seeing contests where it's open to everyone, except residents of Quebec. The problem does not lie with contest organizers but rather with the Government of Quebec, continually attempting to create more bureaucracy through the invention of useless laws and offices. These laws, supposedly in place to "protect" the citizens of the province, may be doing more harm than good.

Isn't it about time that Quebec adopt a more progressivist attitude and stop trying to be so damn different from everywhere else? I take a look around at all of the other successful states and provinces and then I take a look at Quebec, mired in a continual state where it's wheels are turning in the mud without advancing us forward. Companies are taking their operations--and their employment opportunities--elsewhere because of our policies and ultra-mega-pro-unionist attitudes here.

Ultimately, Quebec got what it deserved and no one should be accusing RIM of being wrong in its decision to exclude Quebec residents from its contest. After all, who wouldn't? When the possibility of having to pay an additional $7000 (10% of the $70,000) comes up (even if that belief was unfounded), can you really blame them?

Come on, let's ditch this stupid law so that Quebec residents can benefit from all sorts of cool contests and prizes. What are you afraid of? That there are some unscrupulous contests out there? Well, they don't seem to be causing that big of a disturbance in the other states and provinces in North America. Time to change our ways and look for a better solution.

RainbowRiter

Why You Shouldn't Run Out to Purchase Microsoft Windows 7

Have Fun - but not applicable to Quebec residents