5 ms·

What's the disadvantage in giving something like Bitlocker and UNIX to regular professional users? Windows XP Starter Edition and MC edition came after their re

What's the disadvantage in giving something like Bitlocker and UNIX to regular professional users? Windows XP Starter Edition and MC edition came after their regular editions had launched. In the case of MC edition, it was launched almost a full two years later. Market segmentation to this degree is a 1990's model of doing business. The proof is in the pudding. MS's stock hasn't moved in the past decade. Meanwhile, Apple has taken over corporate phones. More and more phones are dumping their blackberries and moving to iPhones. Fortune 50 companies are moving their email systems to Gmail and Google Apps. If MS wants to compete around the edges, they certainly can, but they won't be the world's largest computing presence (and they're not anymore). MS needs to re-introduce people to their products. Why block off BitLocker? Everyone has a right to privacy! Why block off media streaming? If MS could stream easily, people woudn't be buying Roku boxes, Boxee boxes, PS3's. This same thing happens with MS Office. What exactly is the difference between Microsoft Home and Office and Microsoft Professional (it's access and publisher - but this is a common google query!)? Why does there have to be this confusion. Why not just give Access away! If MS had simply given away SQL server licenses, Apache would have never taken off. MS varies dramatically in caring about their whole ecosystem and stack vs. running different product lines. If MS wants to run each product as a separate entity with separate P&L statements, that's their right - but their revenue growth has slowed! Speciation is dying. To take a different example, look at how hard it is to order a computer off of Dell.com. It's impossible now. What's the different between a "vostro" and an "optiplex"and an "inspiron" and an "xps". Why am I shown different deals if i'm a home user, a small business user, a medium size business user, or a larger business user? Why are my computing needs different if I'm a small business user vs. a medium size business user? Why is it such a struggle for me to order a machine with an SSD and 16GB RAM? It's a complete design-by-committee mess, and a complete eyesore. It's become the used car salesman of computing.

freehunter 15y ago
>What's the disadvantage in giving something like Bitlocker and UNIX to regular professional users? The cost. These features cost money to develop and they cost money to support. Imagine if Microsoft was getting calls from everyone who enabled BitLocker and then forgot their password. Enterprise costs a lot more than Home Premium. >MS's stock hasn't moved in the past decade. That's a sign of a mature company. They rake in a lot of money. They're no longer "cool" but they're a steady source of a lot of income. And unlike Apple, they actually pay dividends on their stock. [1] >(and they're not anymore) I'd like to see some numbers on this, because every number I've seen shows Microsoft in the mid 90% range for computer install base. >If MS could stream easily, people woudn't be buying Roku boxes, Boxee boxes, PS3's. And where are people streaming from? Their PC, among other places. Because Vista and 7 have it built in, and XP has the feature as a download. >Why not just give Access away! You would make a great businessman. >If MS had simply given away SQL server licenses, Apache would have never taken off. Because if there's one thing Apache servers are known for, it's SQL (wtf is this?) >Why am I shown different deals if i'm a home user, a small business user, a medium size business user, or a larger business user? Because home users buy one computer. Businesses buy dozens or hundreds. >Why are my computing needs different if I'm a small business user vs. a medium size business user? Business machines need to be stable, supported, and perform well for the task they do. Home computers tend to be less stable, less supported, easier to break, but above all closer to bleeding edge and cheaper. >Why is it such a struggle for me to order a machine with an SSD and 16GB RAM? Because you can't figure out how to read? Your mouse is broken? Monitor is unplugged? I don't know, you tell me. Listen, complain all you want, but it makes sense from a business standpoint. If you can't wrap your head what Microsoft is doing, just take a step back and realize that there are really only two options for Windows 7: Home and Professional. That's all you need to know. And I don't want to hear you say "why do they even make semi trucks?! Now I can't figure out if I need an 18-wheeler or a scooter!" [1]https://www.microsoft.com/investor/Stock/StockSplit/default.aspx https://www.microsoft.com/investor/Stock/StockSplit/default....
- unexpected 15y ago
  MS's strategy hasn't produced a noticeable return on investment over the past decade. Argue with the business logic all you want, but all logic supports a theory that MS should be split up into various businesses. The big problem at MS seems to be an unwillingness to cannibalize existing products in favor of new ones. This has led to new products only when its too late. Microsoft had a virtual insurmountable lead in phones, and it took Apple and Google creating revolutionary devices for MS to come up with a decent offering. I own MS stock, and I have seen it pretty much stagnate. The company had tremendous potential. It is mature in its space, but its ever-looming shadow in its dominant space (windows) has prevented it from nurturing new products. Most of it's revenue generation comes from products developed in the early 1990's. It's track record over the past 15 years for new products is terrible (with the exception of the Xbox).
  - ghshephard 15y ago
    If you own MS Stock then you've had dividends, quarter after quarter. That "Stagnating" stock you talk of is as much a reflection of the dividends as it is anything else. How is it that everyone forgets that Microsoft has continued to be a massively profitable enterprise for the last 10+ years, and continues to dominate in the Desktop OS and Office Productive suite space in the same time period. Nobody even _tries_ to challenge Microsoft in those two sectors, they are so dominant. Plus, they've seen some good traction in the Game-Console environment as well. With all that said - I actually agree with you in principle, it would be nice if someone just said "We have two versions of Microsoft Windows, Professional and Home" - and call it a day. The seven versions result lots of angst for small IT managers visiting CDW - this thread, 2 years laters, (and freehunter's _excellent_ description) is the first time I've ever really understood the difference between all the versions. (BTW Freehunter - if you aren't already in it, you've got a great future in product management - great and succinct product descriptions)
    - freehunter 15y ago
      Thanks for the glowing recommendation. I'm quite happily employed in Information Security where I often have to give reports to people who likely aren't going to understand the exact magnitude of the risk. Communication is huge, and I'm sad to say I do have a patience problem which became evident the longer this thread continued.
el_presidente 15y ago
Apple also does this. The latest iPod Touch alone has three different models. It's just that they do it in a sane way while Dell is doing whatever they can to scare their customers away.
- unexpected 15y ago
  I can see differentiation based on features - iPhones are differentiated on space. A user can distinguish between an iPod Touch, a nano, a classic, and an iPhone. I do a big WTF when I look at the Dell website. It's literally insane. It used to be so easy to configure a computer, and now they've made it incredibly complicated.
  - freehunter 15y ago
    How is it hard? They tell you what the brand is designed around and let you pick options before you pick a brand. Need that 16GB of RAM and an SSD? You can pick that instead of picking a brand.

freehunter 15y ago

>What's the disadvantage in giving something like Bitlocker and UNIX to regular professional users? The cost. These features cost money to develop and they cost money to support. Imagine if Microsoft was getting calls from everyone who enabled BitLocker and then forgot their password. Enterprise costs a lot more than Home Premium. >MS's stock hasn't moved in the past decade. That's a sign of a mature company. They rake in a lot of money. They're no longer "cool" but they're a steady source of a lot of income. And unlike Apple, they actually pay dividends on their stock. [1] >(and they're not anymore) I'd like to see some numbers on this, because every number I've seen shows Microsoft in the mid 90% range for computer install base. >If MS could stream easily, people woudn't be buying Roku boxes, Boxee boxes, PS3's. And where are people streaming from? Their PC, among other places. Because Vista and 7 have it built in, and XP has the feature as a download. >Why not just give Access away! You would make a great businessman. >If MS had simply given away SQL server licenses, Apache would have never taken off. Because if there's one thing Apache servers are known for, it's SQL (wtf is this?) >Why am I shown different deals if i'm a home user, a small business user, a medium size business user, or a larger business user? Because home users buy one computer. Businesses buy dozens or hundreds. >Why are my computing needs different if I'm a small business user vs. a medium size business user? Business machines need to be stable, supported, and perform well for the task they do. Home computers tend to be less stable, less supported, easier to break, but above all closer to bleeding edge and cheaper. >Why is it such a struggle for me to order a machine with an SSD and 16GB RAM? Because you can't figure out how to read? Your mouse is broken? Monitor is unplugged? I don't know, you tell me. Listen, complain all you want, but it makes sense from a business standpoint. If you can't wrap your head what Microsoft is doing, just take a step back and realize that there are really only two options for Windows 7: Home and Professional. That's all you need to know. And I don't want to hear you say "why do they even make semi trucks?! Now I can't figure out if I need an 18-wheeler or a scooter!" [1]https://www.microsoft.com/investor/Stock/StockSplit/default.aspx https://www.microsoft.com/investor/Stock/StockSplit/default....

unexpected 15y ago
MS's strategy hasn't produced a noticeable return on investment over the past decade. Argue with the business logic all you want, but all logic supports a theory that MS should be split up into various businesses. The big problem at MS seems to be an unwillingness to cannibalize existing products in favor of new ones. This has led to new products only when its too late. Microsoft had a virtual insurmountable lead in phones, and it took Apple and Google creating revolutionary devices for MS to come up with a decent offering. I own MS stock, and I have seen it pretty much stagnate. The company had tremendous potential. It is mature in its space, but its ever-looming shadow in its dominant space (windows) has prevented it from nurturing new products. Most of it's revenue generation comes from products developed in the early 1990's. It's track record over the past 15 years for new products is terrible (with the exception of the Xbox).
- ghshephard 15y ago
  If you own MS Stock then you've had dividends, quarter after quarter. That "Stagnating" stock you talk of is as much a reflection of the dividends as it is anything else. How is it that everyone forgets that Microsoft has continued to be a massively profitable enterprise for the last 10+ years, and continues to dominate in the Desktop OS and Office Productive suite space in the same time period. Nobody even _tries_ to challenge Microsoft in those two sectors, they are so dominant. Plus, they've seen some good traction in the Game-Console environment as well. With all that said - I actually agree with you in principle, it would be nice if someone just said "We have two versions of Microsoft Windows, Professional and Home" - and call it a day. The seven versions result lots of angst for small IT managers visiting CDW - this thread, 2 years laters, (and freehunter's _excellent_ description) is the first time I've ever really understood the difference between all the versions. (BTW Freehunter - if you aren't already in it, you've got a great future in product management - great and succinct product descriptions)
  - freehunter 15y ago
    Thanks for the glowing recommendation. I'm quite happily employed in Information Security where I often have to give reports to people who likely aren't going to understand the exact magnitude of the risk. Communication is huge, and I'm sad to say I do have a patience problem which became evident the longer this thread continued.

el_presidente 15y ago

Apple also does this. The latest iPod Touch alone has three different models. It's just that they do it in a sane way while Dell is doing whatever they can to scare their customers away.

unexpected 15y ago
I can see differentiation based on features - iPhones are differentiated on space. A user can distinguish between an iPod Touch, a nano, a classic, and an iPhone. I do a big WTF when I look at the Dell website. It's literally insane. It used to be so easy to configure a computer, and now they've made it incredibly complicated.
- freehunter 15y ago
  How is it hard? They tell you what the brand is designed around and let you pick options before you pick a brand. Need that 16GB of RAM and an SSD? You can pick that instead of picking a brand.