> There was no good mechanism to widely distribute updates, so if we wanted to get more money from a customer after that initial sale we had to do it by making

> There was no good mechanism to widely distribute updates, so if we wanted to get more money from a customer after that initial sale we had to do it by making the next version of the product compelling enough that they would go the store and buy another box. This is also something the article points out though... > The problem is that the tech companies have only one big tool to entice you to upgrade each year: piling on new features. More, more features. Microsoft Word was once a word processor. Today it's a database, and a Web-layout program, and a floor wax. > Eventually these companies have no choice but to add features that nobody asked for. Meanwhile bloated, overwhelming technology has a very real emotional effect on us; we feel like idiots when we can't master it. Though overall i agree with you that i prefer the way you mention. If nothing else i felt more in control on what goes into my PC.