From: not@this.address.com   
      
   Ghostrider wrote:   
      
   > On 11/23/2013 4:51 PM, Stef wrote:   
   >> Cash wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> Stef wrote:   
   >>>> Luvrsmel wrote:   
   >>   
   >>>>> I think they are killing it. By not supporting it, they are releasing   
   >>>>> grandma to take home from the hospital because there is nothing more   
   >>>>> they can do for her...so they say. And as far as shelf life goes,   
   >>>>> definitely OS have them. I have an opened can of Windows 98 SE   
   >>>>> sitting on my ledge and the flies are loving it. ;)   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Obsolence is a part of life.  At some point, it becomes uneconomical   
   >>>> (for Microsoft) to support out-of-date software that was designed to   
   >>>> run on now obsolete hardware, even if it still works.  Unfortuanate,   
   >>>> but that's the current world business model.  Microsoft didn't invent   
   >>>> it. They just have to conduct business under it.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Look at what Adobe is doing with their software:  They're LEASING it   
   >>>> like a car.  You have to pay monthly (or yearly) to use it. And If you   
   >>>> don't, it stops working. How long before Microsoft starts doing that   
   >>>> with their OS?   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Stef   
   >>>   
   >>> Microsoft have always 'leased' their operating and other software systems   
   >>> (read the ULAs that comes with the software) - but they only charge you a   
   >>> one-off fee for the lease.   
   >>>   
   >>   
   >> There are legal differences between a license and a true lease.  I was   
   >> being sarcastic.  Licenses are bad enough.   
   >>   
   >> What Adobe is doing is not really a lease, per se.  It's still a   
   >> license, but paid monthly. It's just that their software license has   
   >> gotten so expensive, people can no longer afford it, and so don't buy   
   >> the newer versions, just keep using the older ones. (I do.) So, sales   
   >> are down. And, the result is the monthly or yearly license payments,   
   >> ad infinitum, to generate a steady cash flow, which in business is   
   >> everything. Also, it is an inexpensive way to get people and   
   >> businesses to "buy" their new software. $10 per month instead of $1000   
   >> all at once. Looks good on the balance sheet. Less expense.   
   >>   
   >> I doubt Microsoft will follow Adobe's business strategy unless it's   
   >> really, really profitable.   
   >>   
   >>   
   >> Stef   
   >>   
   >   
   > Microsoft thinks leasing is the way to go. It has already started with   
   > Office 365 and Cloud Drive.   
      
   Then Microsoft must think it's going to be really, really profitable.   
   We'll see.  Microsoft thought Windows 8 and the Surface were going to be   
   big sellers.   
      
   Stef   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)