Re: thought police

Kerry Brown wrote:
> "kurttrail" <dontemailme@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
> message news:%23dZttUmUFHA.3716@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> <snip>
>
>>
>> "Because of the change in study methodology and coverage, one cannot
>> accurately compare last year?s piracy rates to this year?s rates.
>> However, anecdotal information from IDC analysts in the field around
>> the world would indicate that, in 2003, software piracy increased." -
>> http://www.bsa.org/globalstudy/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&pageid=16947&hitboxdone=yes
>>
>> MS came out with copy-protection in 2000 with Office 2Ksp1, so
>> compare all the years since then except for the last years study.
>>
>> In the US the percentage of pirated software:
>>
>> 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003*
>> 31 26 27 27 25 25 24 25 23 23
>>
>> Globally:
>>
>> 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003*
>> 49 46 43 40 38 36 37 40 39 36
>>
>> * - 1st year using IDC methodology.
>>
>> "Right now we feel that piracy rates are on the up," [Mike Newton,
>> campaigns relations manager for the BSA] said. -
>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3872843.stm
>>
>> The Global piracy rate was much worse when computers weren't an
>> every day part of peoples' lives. And much worse than in these days
>> of file sharing over the net!
>>
>
> We can argue statistics all day and get nowhere. They are only as
> valid as the method used to gather them and the skill of the person
> manipulating them. I stand by my assertion that activations has
> improved my sales. That's the only thing I can prove.

Of MS software. But what has what about new PC sales? And what has it
done the rest of the market, not just you personally.

See, I don't look at this just from my own personal point of view, but
with concern with all individual consumers.

>>>> And while I assume the casual copying has slowed, it probably has
>>>> turned many to more serious piracy. Probably part of the reason
>>>> that people are only buying new computers when they are totally
>>>> trashed, even though they can afford the cheap computers of today
>>>> that will leave their present computers in the dust.
>>>>
>>>
>>> I agree with you on this. I am seeing far more computers brought to
>>> me for repair that have counterfeit copies of Windows and/or Office.
>>> I also know that at least in Canada Microsoft is actively pursuing
>>> this as well. Every few months they send out a email to OEMs listing
>>> dealers they have taken to court for selling "loaded" systems. They
>>> have a program where they make "random" purchases and then
>>> test/check all the software that came on the computer. I'm hoping
>>> they target me. It's like a free sale if you are a legitimate
>>> reseller. No support calls :-)
>>
>> LOL! I believe that MS does sort of the same thing in the US. They
>> go around buying computers from random small OEM around the country.
>> And I've got no problem with that. It's when there methods start to
>> reach into peoples' homes that I've got a problem with it.
>>
>>>> And the paying customer is still covering the cost of piracy in the
>>>> price of software, plus pays for piracy again with all the hassles
>>>> & errors that copy-protection brings! Yeah MS is making more
>>>> money, both money that they deserve, and money they don't, and the
>>>> only real loser is the paying customer, not pirates.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>
>>> And we also pay for all the shoplifters at Walmart. That's the way
>>> our retail system is set up.
>>
>> Yep, but you don't pay for it again once you bring home most retail
>> products, by having some technology limiting your use in your home.
>> See the End User ends up paying twice for piracy. The second time
>> you pay in hassles, not in cash.
>>
>
> I wasn't commenting on needless purchases because of licencing.

Was wasn't entirely talking about licensing either! Part of the hassles
I meant were the hassles when the copy-protection doesn't work right and
the individual consumer has to pay in aggravation over that. They have
to pay with their time, activating and reactivating.

> I was
> pointing out that it is not unusual to have hidden costs built in to
> pricing.

No, you were pointing out that we have to pay for theft with all
products, and I was pointing out that with most products you only pay
for it once, at the cash register, you don't have to pay for theft yet
again in the privacy of your own home through aggravation and your time.

> Retail pricing is an art. Does it really cost twice as much
> to build a 32 inch TV as a 20 inch TV? It's all about perceived value
> and what the competition is charging.

Has nothing to do with the this conversation about the percieved value
of copy-protection.

> When I do a system quote I
> always list the hardware and software seperately. Most people are
> suprised when they see that the software can account for 30% of the
> price.

Yep, the corporate copyright elite have abused their limited statutory
monopoly. Name one corporate software manufacturer that has gone belly
up because of the piracy of its software products! I bet you can't!
And that should have happened if they were charging us a "fair price"
for their products and the piracy rate has been somewhere between 49%
and 36%.

>
>>> I don't like MS's pricing structure but I
>>> respect their right to sell their product for whatever the market
>>> will bare.
>>
>> The market is only naked since MS has a monopolistic stranglehold on
>> it. The market doesn't have much choice. And it is depressing new
>> PC sales when the MicroTax can be as high as 1/3 of the PCs piece,
>> though it probably is 1/5 on average.
>>
>>> If and when there is a viable alternative we will see MS
>>> drop their prices.
>>
>> And only then!
>>
>>> It is starting to happen with Office. They have
>>> extended the rebate program for OEM copies of 2003. An MS rep told
>>> me unofficially it was because they are competing with themselves
>>> with Costco and other large elctronics chains selling the academic
>>> SKUs.
>>
>> LOL! Quite frankly, MS is dumping those Academic copies of Office on
>> purpose. And I'm not the only one that believes that. MS is hoping
>> to make up in volume of sales what it used to make in fewer sales at
>> a steeper price. I mean who really needs the newest version of
>> Office anyway? Since MSO97, the only real reason to purchase a new
>> version for those using Office in their homes is to say they have
>> the newest version.
>
> They admitted "unofficially" that they are dumping the academic
> version to meet Costco's wanted price point. They are treading a fine
> line with large volume customers. It can't look like the volume
> licencees are paying more money than Joe Schmoe at Costco. Another
> difference is that the academic version is not eligable for upgrades.
> Like anybody buying Office at Costco cares :-)

Exactly, they don't. And I believe the academic version also allows for
3 installations concurrently on different computers.

MS better start applying that same principle when it comes to their OS,
or when Linux is ready to compete in the consumer desktop market it
might be too late to stop the mad rush out the MicroDoor.

>
>>> This tells me that the market wants a lower priced Office and they
>>> are looking for ways to do it. They are also starting to push the
>>> Works Suite package (which includes Word) to OEMs as a "consumer"
>>> Office.
>>
>> I'd rather use Open Office exclusively, than Works. And I'd have no
>> problem using WP if it came with a new computer.
>>
>
> I always offer my customers OO as an alternative. In the last month a
> couple of them have said yes and are experimenting. One of them deals
> with insurance claims in the auto industry and has to submit claims
> in Word format. So far it's working. One of the places Office 2003
> excels is when a sharepoint server is installed. I can see MS going
> to a stripped down cheaper consumer version that doesn't have the
> collaborative features enabled.

Actually I see the day when MS will only be selling MSO to businesses
almost exclusively. My Appalachian Trail photo site was mostly created
with PowerPoint, but recently I opened up the original PowerPoint files
in OO and it did a good job of creating a web slide show from those
PowerPoint files. Word files work pretty damned good, and while its
html editor is basic, it is more like what FrontPage Express was. And
that's enough for those just getting into simplified web design.

As our population gets more and more aware of what Open Source software
can really do, the less likely they are gonna want to be jerked around
by having to buy software.

>
>> MSO is only coming down in price because it is not a monopoly any
>> longer, especially in the home consumer market. MS would do well to
>> learn a lesson from this, as it is gonna happen (eventually) with
>> its stranglehold on the OS market. MS should start loosening up its
>> OS licensing for non-commercial use before it is in competition with
>> a OS that costs nothing!
>>
>>> I was in retail a long time. When things like this start to
>>> happen it means a market change is coming, don't carry a lot of
>>> inventory.
>>> Kerry
>>
>> And if you look in the stock rooms of the Best Buys and the Walmarts
>> around the country, they don't have much stock in either MSO03 or
>> WinXP. If MS isn't careful, the only way they'll have into people's
>> homes will be through the XBox!
>>
>
> Cheers, Kerry

To you too!

--
Peace!
Kurt
Self-anointed Moderator
microscum.pubic.windowsexp.gonorrhea
http://microscum.com/mscommunity
"Trustworthy Computing" is only another example of an Oxymoron!
"Produkt-Aktivierung macht frei"


.

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