Re: Make older versions free

Come back in here right after March 31, 2007 when the B2TR version of the Office 2007 Beta expired. You will see a tons of people scream at Microsoft for crippling their "free" download of Office 2007. Want to know how many people will, after they have been told that they actually need to pay for it now, go out, find cracked copies and then post back that they stuck it to MS? I'd bet you that every one of them though could afford it, they just don't want to pay for it.
People think they should get Office for free, because after all, they got Windows for free. This has to do with the way pricing for hardware works, meaning users never see the price tag for the OEM copy of Windows that comes with their computer. So they get the impression that Windows was free with the hardware, although it wasn't, as the OEM had to pay Microsoft for it (but as every computer basically comes with Windows, it's not a cost that figures into the relative price difference between computers, hence consumers don't notice it).
Then if Microsoft were to offer a free version of Office, even an old one, there is the issue whether it would run on modern operating systems (e.g. Windows Vista). Not supported by Microsoft means not only that they don't offer phone support for it, but also that there are no patches, no updates and no work by MS to make sure it works with newer versions of Windows. Then what if someone discovers a security problem in that older version of Office? MS isn't going to fix it, which means that lots of users have an at-risk copy of Office, which only helps people who operate bot nets and other ***. And can you imagine the outcry if MS was to distribute Office for free, but no patches for security issues and zero effort to make it work on Vista? A lot of these users would end up just right here in the newsgroups, and I really don't think many volunteers are willing to help people who got something for free (a rather old version nonetheless) while they themselves had to pay for it. Especially if those users are agitated that MS cheated them by giving them a crappy version for free and demanding a newer one (which is their most likely behavior).
MS couldn't distribute it for free without it being supported therefore which will cost them a lot more than any ads could bring in.
And that is not to even think about the outcry from users who paid for Office and now have to watch other people get the software they paid hundreds of dollars for receive it for free, including support.

It's unrealistic, expensive and all of this just because some people don't want to pay for it? Sorry, but there are so many ways of getting Office for an affordable price (e.g. students, like you I presume, might be able to get it for free from their university, or can buy the cheap Home & student edition) that everyone should be able to buy it.
If they don't want to, then they can always get OpenOffice.

Patrick Schmid [OneNote MVP]
--------------
http://pschmid.net
***
Office 2007 RTM Issues: http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/11/13/80
Office 2007 Beta 2 Technical Refresh (B2TR): http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/09/18/43
***
Customize Office 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/customize
OneNote 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/onenote
***
Subscribe to my Office 2007 blog: http://pschmid.net/blog/feed

"thebigdintexas" <thebigdintexas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:B748F2F3-F3F8-42D8-9E81-1FC2016FFE18@xxxxxxxxxxxxx:

i just think that the people who would download and use the free,
ad-supported, older version, would not be the people who are going to buy the
new version anyway, so Microsoft would at least get the ad money off of these
people using it.




"Patrick Schmid [MVP]" wrote:

> > yes, i was thinking of making it available for download only, or
> partner with
> > some advertisers to include flyer advertisements in the mail along with a
> > disk maybe to cover the cost of the disk and shipping. i think many people
> > who pay for high speed internet such as myself would not pay the money for
> > it, but would use a free ad supported version of it. They need to do
> The point is that you have the money, but aren't willing to pay for it.
> It's not that you don't have the money.
>
> > something like this cause losing many to open office...which isn't even ad
> > supported!
> Many? You have a skewed world view. MS Office has more than 90% of the
> market and OpenOffice is barely making a dent into MS sales.
>
> Patrick Schmid [OneNote MVP]
> --------------
> http://pschmid.net
> ***
> Office 2007 RTM Issues: http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/11/13/80
> Office 2007 Beta 2 Technical Refresh (B2TR):
> http://pschmid.net/blog/2006/09/18/43
> ***
> Customize Office 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/customize
> OneNote 2007: http://pschmid.net/office2007/onenote
> ***
> Subscribe to my Office 2007 blog: http://pschmid.net/blog/feed
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > cyberTaz" wrote:
> >
> > > One consideration - among numerous others:
> > >
> > > How do you propose the distribution of these charitable donations be
> > > handled?
> > >
> > > Is MS supposed to ship free to anyone who asks? Perhaps UPS or FedEx would
> > > be willing to chip in - better yet, the USPS could be mandated to handle it
> > > gratis, after all it would only increase postal rates a modest 25-30%. Or
> > > would the product be stuffed into cereal boxes as a promotional item? And
> > > who bears the cost of this distribution? Perhaps you'd be willing to donate
> > > a few hours a week to making home deliveries?
> > >
> > > Even if you're now thinking "download" - which isn't practicable for a
> > > number of reasons, but even if it were - consider the likelihood that most
> > > anyone not able to pay the price for their software probably doesn't have a
> > > high speed connection in the first place. That basically leaves you with
> > > those who *can* afford it but aren't *willing* to pay for it. Ergo, any
> > > costs incurred by such a program have to be recouped from the sale of
> > > current product, which in itself would be curtailed by the freebie system,
> > > resulting in even higher prices for the rest of us.
> > >
> > > I'm not sure what your location is - despite your addy - but here in the
> > > good ol' US of A I'm just one of many who are getting tired of footing the
> > > bill for freeloaders.
> > >
> > > Regards |:>)
> > > Bob Jones
> > > [MVP] Office:Mac
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 11/19/06 11:47 AM, in article
> > > 394C0977-DC3E-473C-BBB3-E992A8EEB106@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, "thebigdintexas"
> > > <thebigdintexas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >
> > > > Good point.....would have to add "does not qualify for a discounted upgrade"
> > > > to my suggestion along with ad-supported. Thanks.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Opinicus" wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> "thebigdintexas" <thebigdintexas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
> > > >>
> > > >>> I have a suggestion regarding Microsoft Word. How about offering the older
> > > >>> version for free when the latest version, such as in Office 2007, is
> > > >>> released. Microsoft could switch the older version to ad supported or
> > > >>> something, then offer it for free. Comments?
> > > >>
> > > >> Would they qualify for upgrades? If so, I doubt MS would go along with the
> > > >> idea.
> > > >>
> > > >> --
> > > >> Bob
> > > >> http://www.kanyak.com
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > >
> > >
>
>

.

Loading