The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

shark47 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:32:26 GMT

There's no doubt there are many more Windows versions than OS X versions. Again, that's not a fair comparison to make. Apple DOES NOT need to make too much money from software. It's a hardware company. OS X runs on Apple's hardware. Microsoft is a freaking software company. They make money by selling software. That's the reason for the number of versions, to cover as much of the market as possible. Is it confusing? Probably. I don't like the names and I wish Home Basic would go extinct like some of the Apple trolls here. It does now, however, affect most PC buyers. And having different versions might actually benefit consumers because people buying consumer OSs don't have to pay as much as people buying business OSs.

That's the reason you have so many different Office versions. Why doesn't Microsoft simply sell Office Ultimate to everyone at a higher price? Because most consumers don't care for 80% of the bundled software available in that suite.

Also, Mike's not lying when he says there are four retail versions of Windows. Split those four into upgrade/full versions, 32-bit/64-bit and that's where you have so many results coming up.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

chuckb84 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:01:28 GMT

On the amazon software link for Vista. I havent' had my OS X koolaid yet this AM, so I'm still a fair guy. Here's the similar link for OS X:

www.amazon.com/.../ref=sr_nr_i_1

There are a lot of hits, but only the top 2 say "Leopard" 10.5. The single user version and the family pack.

Just trying to be fair, something all too unusual from the Win-rhetoricians found here.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

chuckb84 — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:58:17 GMT

@Tayme,

"Could somebody please count the versions here? Amazon is a Retail outlet, right?

www.amazon.com/.../ref=nb_ss_gw"

Mike says there are 4, so it must be four! Who are you gonna believe, Mike or your own lying eyes?

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

johnpapola — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:56:27 GMT

On an unrelated side-note...

I watched a movie on netflix.com via Silverlight 2 on my mac... and wow. Awesome. I'm VERY impressed with Silverlight's video quality and responsiveness.

Microsoft makes plenty of impressive products. Windows just isn't one of them for me.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

gorath — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:34:43 GMT

and the upgrade V full versions, of course.

@ johnpapola. I realise that your experience with the windows marketplace was absolutely crap. I'm not trying to detract from that.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

DRWAM — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:29:08 GMT

It does confuse some that there are 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Vista as well. I often get asked about it. I have no problem with 4 versions which are kinda obvious which most people need, but when you throw in the 32 vs 64 bit version, many scratch their head.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

johnpapola — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:26:51 GMT

"And johnpapola, I thought you said you were leaving this site for good, didn't you. We thought you will never return to bless all us ignorants with The Truth?"

I only entered this thread because I wanted to share that horrible experience with Windows Marketplace. I hope the Microsoft Store is a dramatic improvement over that. The perpetual re-download deal looks great.

@Gorath,

You're point is reasonable, but I still contend that there is a big difference between a VAR that's bundling a collection of products from different vendors into a turnkey system and a PC maker like Dell or the Windows Marketplace.

In any event, have a great weekend everyone.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

gorath — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 12:20:23 GMT

@johnpapola

"What are you even talking about? You can buy OSX at Apple stores, Best Buys, thousands of independent retailers and of course a fine range of online outlets.

But unlike the Microsoft world, you don't get a choice of people to point the finger away from themselves for support. Apple provides the best in the business and takes responsibility for their products and retail experiences."

then

"With all due respect, the instances of support headaches you are referring to are entirely and truly third party issues. VARs that package together components from many manufacturers such as those in our business (entertainment) for content workstations are not an Apple issue or an Apple ecosystem issue."

Actually, the people responsible for these systems were designated something along the lines of apple-certified resellers, or similar. I can't remember the exact wording. Also, Logic was causing some headaches, which, as you should know, is now an Apple product.

However, my main point was that if you do buy from a third party, and not from apple themselves, you CAN find yourself in a situation where everyone's pointing fingers at each other.

The reseller is blaming apple (wrongly in my opinion), apple is blaming the reseller, and it goes round and round.

However, I will still admit that apple's support is on th whole, very very good. I just wanted to illustrate that things can and do go wrong sometimes.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

bettieblu — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 07:22:55 GMT

Wow its 1:15am where I am walked into my office to shut off my computers before going to bed after some good times with Call of Duty World at War....PS3 edition. Great game!!!

Anyhow I am simply amazed Mike you are still chomping at the bit ALL DAY LONG, over some trivial crap like how many versions of Vista there are.

I doubt very much some official is going to drop in on this blog and declare someone the winner. No one cares. 4, 5, 6 the exact number is not important. The very fact there is a dispute and you KEEP posting there is only 4, proves Paul's point.

"and this will lead to consumer and business confusion, which is never a good thing."

I will write Microsoft and see if they can create a special Xbox Live Achievement for you "500 points winsupersite blog lifer" :)

Try this on for a few days. Don't post here until Monday. It will do you a world of good. It will, I hope, make you realize how insignificant this blog is.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

mikegalos@msn.com — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:47:09 GMT

Two quick comments:

1) If I have my dates correct, Ed Bott is wrong. The 25th Anniversary of Microsoft announcing Windows 1 is on this coming Thursday.

2) There are 4 retail versions of Windows Vista. I know I've said that multiple times today but somehow it's hard for some people to realize that they either are supposed to be confused by that simple a choice or admit that their iCabal friends and Fearless Leader have been lying to them by telling them how confusing all those Windows choices are and they can't deal with the cognitive dissonance when reality conflicts so strongly with the party line.

(What seems to have confused tayme this time is thinking somehow that he's a System Builder - their versions require you to actually build systems for retail resale and aren't retail products - Waethorn can tell you all about that, I'm sure.)

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

robertsjoe — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:51:07 GMT

@raaj: Yeah, because from Windows 95, to Windows 98, to Windows 2000, to Windows XP it's really a big name change. And if you say just major, XP was major, there is no name change. Just XP. Then you got a name change with Vista. And look how badly that worked out.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

robertsjoe — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:49:36 GMT

@tayme: " Virus, spy-ware ridden piece of blue screens of death"

This is completely accurate.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

RaaJ — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:48:13 GMT

robertsjoe:

Do you even comprehend what you are typing? I doubt it. Let me reiterate it once again.

Microsoft changes the name of every major client OS. Like Windows Vista is being succeeded by Windows 7. Just like Windows XP was succeeded by Windows Vista.

I doubt you already knew that. If your only reason for being on this site is to flamebait Windows enthusiasts, you are doing a wonderful job, so typical of the rabid mob of iSuckups on the net these days. If this is the kind of 'style' and 'class' you keep harping Microsoft lacks, then I am better off for it.

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

tayme — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:48:00 GMT

@robertsjoe - I also get a kick out of the ignorant rants that you post, such as "25 years of the most vile piece of software ever created. Virus, spy-ware ridden piece of blue screens of death. www.edbott.com/weblog The world is certainly a worse place for it." You and mikegalos are perfect for eachother and should consider joining forces to become the greatest troll under any bridge.

--tayme

re: The Microsoft Store is really just the most recent Microsoft online store

robertsjoe — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:13:56 GMT

25 years of the most vile piece of software ever created. Virus, spy-ware ridden piece of blue screens of death. www.edbott.com/weblog The world is certainly a worse place for it.