11 ms·

> You make it sound like Google is the one that needs a "credible alternative" to Windows With the new Windows licensing Windows is the better alternative to C

> You make it sound like Google is the one that needs a "credible alternative" to Windows With the new Windows licensing Windows is the better alternative to ChromeOS - you can do more at the same price and you can lock it down if you need to a la ChromeOS. In some ways Google is stepping up the game - with Android you can do more. Good point about Google Docs use case however that's very limited - If I carry the shared storage of my phone with me, if I can blow up the phone to use two monitors and still have my missed calls, SMSs etc in front of me - it enables a greater use case. There is definitely merit in that if continuum is done right.

bad_user 11y ago
What Windows licensing are you talking about? Windows 10 is licensed the same as ever. On missed calls and SMSs, with my iOS device I get both SMS messages and phone calls through iMessage and Facetime on my MacBook. With my Android device I do the same for SMS messages, plus all the notifications I'm interested in with PushBullet.
- blinkingled 11y ago
  http://winsupersite.com/mobile/power-people-low-end-tablets-and-pcs-reinvented-personal-computing-market-2014 http://winsupersite.com/mobile/power-people-low-end-tablets-... They have a very low cost license for OEMs that sell cheap devices - those get upgraded to Windows 10 for free. I can't find a source for Win 10 licensing but I'd be surprised if they aren't continuing the zero dollar licensing for a subset of devices.
- scholia 11y ago
  Windows 8.1 with Bing has been free on devices with smaller than 10-inch screens, and that gets a free upgrade to Windows 10. Windows 10 also seems to be available at low prices.... The US Justice Department forced Microsoft to stop offering special deals on Windows so all the top suppliers paid the same price (1). I assume that's lifted now that Microsoft is no longer closely monitored by the DoJ. Anyone know? (1) Which seemed to have the (presumably) unintended effect of pushing up the average price of Windows and increasing Microsoft's profits.
  - bad_user 11y ago
    Windows 10 is more expensive than Windiws 8. The price listed is $120 for Home and Pro at $200. But that's without taxes because in my country that's $148 for Home and $298 for Pro, after taxes. And I've seen this notion flying that Windows is cheap, but I want whatever you guys are smoking.
    - signal11 11y ago
      I think the parent poster meant, Windows (including 10, presumably, per Microsoft's 2014 announcement) is free to OEMs for devices with a screen size < 9 inches.
      - scholia 11y ago
        Yes, although I should correct my own statement: Windows 8.1 with Bing has been free on devices with smaller than 10-inch screens The actual deal was not free: you paid $10 for it, and then Microsoft gave you $10 for setting the default search engine to Bing. So, according to Microsoft, it was not "free" it was "zero paid".
    - scholia 11y ago
      Windows 10 retail includes Microsoft support and the right to transfer it from one PC to another. Almost nobody buys it, or if they do (like me) it's usually on a cheap launch offer. Most copies of Windows are configured, tested, pre-installed, locked to a single PC (not transferrable), and supported by PC manufacturers. They get it at discounted rates, which typically range from $0 to about $45. That's cheap if you think of it as $1 per month over 4 years. PC manufacturers typically add "crapware" to consumer PCs. These are programs that they get paid to distribute (much like websites that collect $1 if they foist Chrome or the Google Toolbar on you). With luck, they can get the cost of Windows down to $0. They can also get extra discounts or even cash support for advertising from Microsoft and/or Intel for making certain statements, eg recommending Windows or playing Intel's bongs in a TV advert. In some cases -- for example, if enough users subscribe to the bundled AV software -- the charge for Windows turns negative, ie they make a profit. With a really efficient OEM, the consumer may pay less than $0 for the pre-installed copy of Windows (other costs being hidden). Since you can buy Windows laptops for £150/$199, the suppliers are clearly not paying $120 or more for Windows.

bad_user 11y ago

What Windows licensing are you talking about? Windows 10 is licensed the same as ever. On missed calls and SMSs, with my iOS device I get both SMS messages and phone calls through iMessage and Facetime on my MacBook. With my Android device I do the same for SMS messages, plus all the notifications I'm interested in with PushBullet.

blinkingled 11y ago
http://winsupersite.com/mobile/power-people-low-end-tablets-and-pcs-reinvented-personal-computing-market-2014 http://winsupersite.com/mobile/power-people-low-end-tablets-... They have a very low cost license for OEMs that sell cheap devices - those get upgraded to Windows 10 for free. I can't find a source for Win 10 licensing but I'd be surprised if they aren't continuing the zero dollar licensing for a subset of devices.
scholia 11y ago
Windows 8.1 with Bing has been free on devices with smaller than 10-inch screens, and that gets a free upgrade to Windows 10. Windows 10 also seems to be available at low prices.... The US Justice Department forced Microsoft to stop offering special deals on Windows so all the top suppliers paid the same price (1). I assume that's lifted now that Microsoft is no longer closely monitored by the DoJ. Anyone know? (1) Which seemed to have the (presumably) unintended effect of pushing up the average price of Windows and increasing Microsoft's profits.
- bad_user 11y ago
  Windows 10 is more expensive than Windiws 8. The price listed is $120 for Home and Pro at $200. But that's without taxes because in my country that's $148 for Home and $298 for Pro, after taxes. And I've seen this notion flying that Windows is cheap, but I want whatever you guys are smoking.
  - signal11 11y ago
    I think the parent poster meant, Windows (including 10, presumably, per Microsoft's 2014 announcement) is free to OEMs for devices with a screen size < 9 inches.
    - scholia 11y ago
      Yes, although I should correct my own statement: Windows 8.1 with Bing has been free on devices with smaller than 10-inch screens The actual deal was not free: you paid $10 for it, and then Microsoft gave you $10 for setting the default search engine to Bing. So, according to Microsoft, it was not "free" it was "zero paid".
  - scholia 11y ago
    Windows 10 retail includes Microsoft support and the right to transfer it from one PC to another. Almost nobody buys it, or if they do (like me) it's usually on a cheap launch offer. Most copies of Windows are configured, tested, pre-installed, locked to a single PC (not transferrable), and supported by PC manufacturers. They get it at discounted rates, which typically range from $0 to about $45. That's cheap if you think of it as $1 per month over 4 years. PC manufacturers typically add "crapware" to consumer PCs. These are programs that they get paid to distribute (much like websites that collect $1 if they foist Chrome or the Google Toolbar on you). With luck, they can get the cost of Windows down to $0. They can also get extra discounts or even cash support for advertising from Microsoft and/or Intel for making certain statements, eg recommending Windows or playing Intel's bongs in a TV advert. In some cases -- for example, if enough users subscribe to the bundled AV software -- the charge for Windows turns negative, ie they make a profit. With a really efficient OEM, the consumer may pay less than $0 for the pre-installed copy of Windows (other costs being hidden). Since you can buy Windows laptops for £150/$199, the suppliers are clearly not paying $120 or more for Windows.