ACT I: MegaTech Solutions, Inc.
The picture unfold at MegaTech Solutions , a local reseller of Microsoft Windows- and Vista - compatible computers and computer software , include the Windows and Vista OSes . Join us now as we listen in on a conversation between a customer and a MegaTech sales rep …
“ Hi , and thank you for visiting MegaTech today ; how may I assist you ? ”
Hi . I ’m concerned in promote my home PCs to Windows Vista .
“ Ah , an excellent decision . Which reading of Vista do you require ? ”
What do you mean , which version ? I just need Vista .
“ Well , Microsoft has created a number of different versions of Vista , so you could get the system that exactly equal your motivation . After answer a few questions , I ’ll be able to recommend the perfect version for you . ”
That sound great ; thanks !
“ Now , say me , what variation of Windows do you have on your computers ? ”
I ’m running Windows XP on one of them , and Windows 98 on the other two .
“ That mean you may buy one Vista climb for your XP simple machine , but you ’ll call for two additional full copy of Vista for the other two . Windows 98 machines are n’t eligible for upgrade pricing . ”
OK , I guess I understand that . So I ’ll buy two full transcript and one upgrade . How much do I owe you ?
“ I ’m afraid I did n’t make myself clear — we’ve only just fancy out what kind of Vista purchase you ’re eligible for ; we have n’t yet figured out exactly which Vista version you should buy . Although there are technically eight different versions of … ”
Eight!?!?!
“ Yes , eight — Windows Vista comes in Starter , Home Basic , Home Basic N , Home Premium , Business , Business N , Enterprise , and Ultimate editions . ”
Wow . That ’s a lot of choice .
“ Do n’t vex ; it ’s not as regretful as it seems . Starter is a region - limited offering , the two ‘ N ’ version are only available in Europe , and the endeavor variation is only available to large site - licensing customers . So really , you only have to choose among four choice . ”
Well , that ’s an gentle choice than eight , at least .
“ OK , so on to how you apply your electronic computer … ”
I ’ve get fairly dim-witted needs , so perhaps Home Basic is what I ’m after ?
“ No , you do n’t want that ! I block to talk about Home Basic . You see , Microsoft has give out so many of the nicer features of Vista in Home Basic that there ’s not any safe reason to purchase it . For instance , you know that nice - lookingWindows Aerouser port ? It ’s not in Home Basic . Really , you ’ll be happier staying on XP than you will ‘ upgrading ’ to Home Basic . So in reality , there are only three options to discourse : Home Premium , Business , and Ultimate . Now , back to how you use your auto . Do you want the ability to go through parental controls for your kids ? ”
Yes , that ’s quite crucial !
“ OK , then that exact Vista Business out of the picture — it does n’t admit maternal control features . So now we just have to prefer between Home Premium and Ultimate . Do you require your machine to include facsimile and scan capabilities , or do you require to possibly cipher your hard drive , login remotely to your home automobile via the GUI , or run a local web waiter ? ”
Wow , that ’s a mountain to think about . Well , I would care to try out with host some family - related Web pages some twenty-four hour period , and I do keep a deal of fiscal datum on the machines , so perhaps World Wide Web swear out and encryption selection would be good to have .
“ okay , perfect — that settles it ! You ’ll demand Windows Vista Ultimate , as that ’s the only version that includes all of the feature film you require . See , that was n’t too hard , was it ? We just had to fancy out your needs , and now you ’ll be able to allow for with the version of Vista that exactly matches your requirements . ”
fantabulous — so how much do I owe you ?
“ Well , let ’s see — we price match with newegg.com , so as of today , that ’s $ 378.99 each for the two full versions of Ultimate , and $ 249.99 for the upgrade , for a total of $ 1,007.97 . ”
Ouch ! That ’s like $ 336 per machine ! Well , itisthe Ultimate Windows , right ? skilful thing Microsoft only kick upstairs their OS every five years or so !
ACT II: The Apple Store at Three Streams Crossing
This act open at the local Apple dealer , where we ’re listening in on a conversation between the Apple Store ’s sales representative and a customer …
“ Hi , and give thanks you for visiting The Apple Store today ; how may I help you ? ”
Hi . I ’d like to elevate my home Macs to the later version of OS X.
“ That would be operating system X v10.4 Tiger , and I can aid you with that . First , though , I need to ask you one question : You ’re not using these machines as professional - grad file servers and/or Web server , right ? They ’re not being used to power a Web 2.0 party from your cellar or anything , are they ? ”
No , not at all . I ’m just your typical home user with a few car in the house . We ’ve got a PowerMac G5 , an iMac , and a PowerBook deal amongst the four of us . vane surfing , netmail , printing , that variety of affair .
“ Perfect . That means you do n’t take OS X Server , just the received OS X v10.4 . And with three motorcar , you ’ll want the five - license OS X Family Pack , which is $ 199 . ”
Why would n’t I just buy three copies of OS X ?
“ Well , at $ 129 a copy for OS X , if you take more than one in your home , you save money with the Family Pack . The Family Pack lets you install OS X on up to five machines within the same family , including bookman who may shortly be living away on campus . ”
Wow , that ’s a not bad deal — that ’s about $ 66 per machine . Thanks !
Simple doesn’t mean bad
Hopefully by now it ’s obvious that there are many more versions of Vista than there are of OS X — eight really is the number , according tothis clause on Paul Thurrott ’s SuperSite for Windows(which is what I used for the feature comparing in Act I ) . And that ’s eight variant without even considering Windows Vista Server , aka Longhorn , whichjust recently entered genus Beta . Who knows how many versions that will have upon release . ( I do n’t think we ’ll see a Vista Home Server Basic , though ! ) The reality is that there are more than eight interpretation — some ( or peradventure all , I ’m not sure ) of those eight versions are useable as either rising slope or full retail packages . So that ’s potentially 16 different versions of Vista for the consumer to choose between . Yikes !
As mark above , a lot of those are “ extra ” versions that you wo n’t run into in the normal computer reseller . So we ’re left with four versions , each available as an acclivity or standalone purchase . That ’s still eight unlike choices to consider .
Contrast that with OS X , which has a totality of four versions — but that include OS X Server . Really , there ’s just one consumer adaptation of OS X , usable for either one drug user or five users . That ’s it . No upgrade pricing . No different feature sets for home users and business users and ‘ power ’ users . No strip - down starter version for really basic abode user . No Ultimate King of the Hill variant with enhancer swathe paper , titanium videodisc , a sign up letter from Steve Jobs , and add up profit gross profit for the parent companionship — all just to gain features that should have been there in the first post ! Just OS X , for either one or five exploiter .
As a party , Apple seems to understand substantially than most that simplicity sells . Instead of coming up with a contrived upgrade damage , it just makes the price of the end product reasonable enough that there ’s no need for upgrade pricing — this is true not just for OS X , but also iWork , iLife , and so on . rather of make reading of OS X that remove features while dropping the price , the company lets everyone have everything at a fair Mary Leontyne Price , and then the user can decide which have they will and will not put to use . This is not only easier for the consumer , but it ’s light ( mucheasier ) for Apple . It only call for to build a distich of variant of OS X. It only needs to stock a couple version of bone X. It only needs to make two type of boxes .
It ’s also gentle for resellers — they do n’t take to stock and grapple eight different inventory item , each of which need storage warehouse quad , stock direction , and shelf infinite . They also do n’t have to trail their gross revenue reps on the various versions of the system , nor extend “ upsell ” incentives to advertise sales of the higher - price versions . Instead , the reps just need to realize one interlingual rendition of OS X with two price points ( again , turn out OS X Server ) . From top to bottom , Apple ’s nidus on simpleness helps the companionship , its resellers , and the consumer .
Microsoft ’s licensing scheme for Vista , on the other hand , is overly complex with no benefit for the end exploiter . Sure , the consumer can lower their price of ownership of Vista , but only by giving up on features that they either need or find compelling . Even then , Vista ’s no steal . Vista Home Basic , which Paul Thurrott and our mythical sales rep at MegaTech both strongly commend against , trade ( on newegg.com ) for $ 170 ( although you could promote for $ 94 ) . The much more open Home Premium is $ 220 for the full version , and $ 150 for the upgrade — the full ( one drug user ) translation of Home Premium typeset you back $ 20 more than does a five - user Family Pack of OS X !
verbalise of Family Packs , Microsoft does — sort of — volunteer a multi - machine deduction . However , asdetailed here , it ’s a limited time offer ( it expire June 30 ) , and only those who purchase Vista Ultimate are eligible . If you do buy Ultimate , you could spend another $ 49.95 to licence up to two more machines . While that sounds pretty adept , there ’s one big job that I see : you do n’t get two more licence for Vista Ultimate ! Instead , you get Home Premium . So now your three machines will be run two different interlingual rendition of Vista , and only one auto will have all of Vista ’s bells and whistles . In my family , I recognize this would be a formula for a support nightmare : Remember , if you want to fax or store encrypted files , you need to use that machine in the corner . These other two ca n’t do those things . The clock time limit is obviously intended to force an former upgrade to Vista — so if you ’re the type who wish to wait a mo before upgrading , you ’re punished by being forced to pay full cost for all of your Vista licenses . Microsoft just does n’t seem interested in offering a childlike and monetary value - efficacious solution for its client who bid to promote multiple motorcar to Vista .
The licensing of Vista is even more cumbersome than I ’ve detail here . If , like some Intel Mac OS disco biscuit user , you intend to run Vista in a virtual environment ( i.e. under Parallels Desktop or Fusion ) , you need to do it that Microsoft ’s license forbids you from using Vista Home Basic or Home Premium . This limitation is not for any technical ground , as Chris Breen demo . In my opinion , and despite what Microsoft ’s public relations kinfolk say , licensing restrictions such as this one exist for one grounds , and one reason only : to drive more money into Microsoft ’s pocket . If the product go in a virtual environment , then lease me expend it that way , regardless of which rendering I ’ve buy . If you ’re afraid of sustenance costs , then fine , exclude musical accompaniment for Vista when function in practical environments . But do n’t tell me I have to spend more money to earn the right to use your ware as I wish , when it already does what I want it to do .
Conclusion
I believe Microsoft could easily have pared down the number of Vista variation without lose any tax revenue : just keep things as they were with Windows XP , which get ( basically ) in Home and Professional versions . I ’m still against paring out feature of speech to create pretended product differentiation , but if Microsoft feels it has to do so , I see no intellect to overly complicate things with four unlike adaptation . By offering just two versions , Microsoft would lose a snatch of money from the potential Ultimate purchasers , but it would make up for that from those who might otherwise see one of the stripped - down versions . The company would also greatly lower many other expense — packaging excogitation , inventory management , etc . But the point is moot — Microsoft did its depth psychology , and felt it best to loose a horde of Vista version into the natural state . Obviously , I mean its decision - making was flawed .
When I first saw a chart showing the many dissimilar Vista version , I thought it must be some sorting of mistake . After all , it was people within Microsoft who produced the now - infamousMicrosoft designs the iPod parcel video recording , which was created to remind Microsoft of whatnotto do when design a consumer mathematical product . set out with a clean , graceful iPod boxwood , the video recording demo how well-to-do it is to completely obscure a well - delivered message by adding too many gratuitous details . And that video was produced long before Vista was even cheeseparing to free . base on the identification number of Vista versions available , though , I can only reach this conclusion : the TV never made it outside the Zune figure and marketing team within Microsoft , and Microsoft employees do n’t have access to YouTube . If either of those thing were n’t true , I think we would have a simpler selection of Vista reading .
While we ’re still five or so months away from the spillage of OS X 10.5 ( aka Leopard ) , I have a high-pitched floor of confidence that we ’ll see a versioning program that basically couple what we have with OS X 10.4 today — a simple plan with fairly - price undivided and multiple user choice .
