6 ms·

This is an iterative improvement. Not a revolution. Microsoft has some serious catching up to do here and I would like to see a little more innovation coming

by tpatke 15y ago

This is an iterative improvement. Not a revolution. Microsoft has some serious catching up to do here and I would like to see a little more innovation coming from MSFT's camp. "Hey, nobody is really using our platform, but you can save fifty-bucks" isn't really going to cut it. How about - MSFT covers all costs for the first 2 years (keep 100% of what you make)? Heck, even a contest with some real prizes would be something...

barranger 15y ago
You do realize that this is in regards to the store for Windows 8 that runs on the desktop (as well as tablets)?
- throwaway64 15y ago
  as the windows desktop store is going to be metro only, i dont see it being a roaring success
  - freehunter 15y ago
    Yup, no one uses Windows. The half-a-billion Windows 7 users will all stop buying Microsoft and their 95% marketshare momentum will come to a complete halt overnight. I believe Microsoft will be bankrupt this time next year. Or do you think it's more likely that your average user (the same market that is abandoning the desktop in favor of the iPad) doesn't share your fear of a new, more friendly (to them) interface? Remember, the Internet pooh-poohed the iPad as just an oversized iPhone. That really hurt its sales.
    - chc 15y ago
      What a bizarre false dichotomy. "Either 500 million people will upgrade to Windows 8 and prefer the new interface style or nobody will use Windows anymore." Most likely scenario in my mind: Most people stay on older versions of Windows for quite some time to come, those who do use Windows 8 prefer to stick with the Windows interface they've used for the past 16 years.
      - freehunter 15y ago
        If everyone sticks to older versions of Windows, Microsoft will stop making money. It does Microsoft no good to keep people on a legacy system. Either people upgrade to Windows 8 or Microsoft goes out of business. Have you not thought "hmm, wonder why people are buying tablets in droves, while Windows sales are declining"? People _like_ the interface. The only people who don't like it are the people most notorious for hating change of any kind, and the people who they tell to hate it. It's gotta be tiring hating things that you've never used.
        chc 15y ago
        Windows isn't even Microsoft's biggest moneymaker at the moment, much less its only one. MS didn't go out of business when Vista or ME were released, and I don't think anywhere close to 50% of users upgraded to either of those platforms. Also, people are buying iPads in droves. Other tablet sales are pretty anemic. And Metro looks nothing like the iPad, or even any of the iPad's closest competitors, so I don't know how you can conclude that "people like the interface" when people aren't using the interface.
      - MatthewPhillips 15y ago
        > Most likely scenario in my mind: Most people stay on older versions of Windows for quite some time to come Remember that Vista, a major flop, was the fastest selling version of Windows at one point. The enterprise skipped Vista but consumers did not because most consumers upgrade their OS when they upgrade their computers. > those who do use Windows 8 prefer to stick with the Windows interface they've used for the past 16 years. I assume you mean they will spend most of their time in Desktop. That's fine, but that's still a potential sale. The Metro start screen can't be avoided; the old start menu doesn't exist any more. So the "Windows Store" logo will be staring at users every time they go to launch an app (whether Metro or desktop). You can do the numbers and gather that there are going to be a lot of people at least exploring the Store at some point.
mcantelon 15y ago
It's hard to believe they charge any fee for devs when they're attempting to compete against Android, which charges $0/year for tools.
- qeorge 15y ago
  True, but you have to pay to publish on Android Market. IIRC its $100/year.
  - jc4p 15y ago
    It might have changed, but when I paid for it during the first month the Android Market existed it was $25 for life. It's more of an anti-spam filter than actually getting users to pay.
  - king_jester 15y ago
    This is incorrect. There is a one time payment of $25 to publish for the Android Market. The iTunes store has a $100/year fee to publish to the iTunes store. http://www.google.com/support/androidmarket/developer/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=113468 http://www.google.com/support/androidmarket/developer/bin/an...

by tpatke 15y ago

barranger 15y ago

You do realize that this is in regards to the store for Windows 8 that runs on the desktop (as well as tablets)?

throwaway64 15y ago
as the windows desktop store is going to be metro only, i dont see it being a roaring success
- freehunter 15y ago
  Yup, no one uses Windows. The half-a-billion Windows 7 users will all stop buying Microsoft and their 95% marketshare momentum will come to a complete halt overnight. I believe Microsoft will be bankrupt this time next year. Or do you think it's more likely that your average user (the same market that is abandoning the desktop in favor of the iPad) doesn't share your fear of a new, more friendly (to them) interface? Remember, the Internet pooh-poohed the iPad as just an oversized iPhone. That really hurt its sales.
  - chc 15y ago
    What a bizarre false dichotomy. "Either 500 million people will upgrade to Windows 8 and prefer the new interface style or nobody will use Windows anymore." Most likely scenario in my mind: Most people stay on older versions of Windows for quite some time to come, those who do use Windows 8 prefer to stick with the Windows interface they've used for the past 16 years.
    - freehunter 15y ago
      If everyone sticks to older versions of Windows, Microsoft will stop making money. It does Microsoft no good to keep people on a legacy system. Either people upgrade to Windows 8 or Microsoft goes out of business. Have you not thought "hmm, wonder why people are buying tablets in droves, while Windows sales are declining"? People _like_ the interface. The only people who don't like it are the people most notorious for hating change of any kind, and the people who they tell to hate it. It's gotta be tiring hating things that you've never used.
      - chc 15y ago
        Windows isn't even Microsoft's biggest moneymaker at the moment, much less its only one. MS didn't go out of business when Vista or ME were released, and I don't think anywhere close to 50% of users upgraded to either of those platforms. Also, people are buying iPads in droves. Other tablet sales are pretty anemic. And Metro looks nothing like the iPad, or even any of the iPad's closest competitors, so I don't know how you can conclude that "people like the interface" when people aren't using the interface.
    - MatthewPhillips 15y ago
      > Most likely scenario in my mind: Most people stay on older versions of Windows for quite some time to come Remember that Vista, a major flop, was the fastest selling version of Windows at one point. The enterprise skipped Vista but consumers did not because most consumers upgrade their OS when they upgrade their computers. > those who do use Windows 8 prefer to stick with the Windows interface they've used for the past 16 years. I assume you mean they will spend most of their time in Desktop. That's fine, but that's still a potential sale. The Metro start screen can't be avoided; the old start menu doesn't exist any more. So the "Windows Store" logo will be staring at users every time they go to launch an app (whether Metro or desktop). You can do the numbers and gather that there are going to be a lot of people at least exploring the Store at some point.

mcantelon 15y ago

It's hard to believe they charge any fee for devs when they're attempting to compete against Android, which charges $0/year for tools.

qeorge 15y ago
True, but you have to pay to publish on Android Market. IIRC its $100/year.
- jc4p 15y ago
  It might have changed, but when I paid for it during the first month the Android Market existed it was $25 for life. It's more of an anti-spam filter than actually getting users to pay.
- king_jester 15y ago
  This is incorrect. There is a one time payment of $25 to publish for the Android Market. The iTunes store has a $100/year fee to publish to the iTunes store. http://www.google.com/support/androidmarket/developer/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=113468 http://www.google.com/support/androidmarket/developer/bin/an...