Microsoft experimenting with free version of Windows 8.1

[Brink]

Microsoft is currently experimenting with a free version of Windows 8.1 that could boost the number of people using the operating system. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans tell The Verge that the company is building "Windows 8.1 with Bing," a version that will bundle key Microsoft apps and services. While early versions of the software have leaked online, we understand that Windows 8.1 with Bing is an experimental project that aims to bring a low-cost version of Windows to consumers. ZDNet first reported some Windows 8.1 with Bing details earlier this week.

Read more at: Microsoft experimenting with free version of Windows 8.1 | The Verge

 

[Britton30]

but the experiment is part of a number of initiatives designed to push and monetize Microsoft’s cloud services and apps. Microsoft is increasingly betting on Bing as a platform it can monetize in the future.

Now I understand why Bing is re-offered in Windows Update after hiding it.

 

[ThrashZone]

I don't mind Bing as a search I use it often from my.msn homepage,
Bing desktop is the one I'm not going to mess with,
I suppose that's what Gary is Hiding
I just let it sit and collect dust in Optional updates along with many other optional updates I'm not interested in,
I don't knock win-8 or 8.1 but it was only like 20.00 bucks when it first came out so it was practically free as it was ?
Cheers.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

No surprise, Microsoft is hurting. Although they still dominate a majority of the PC around the world. The problem with that is, there not making money from everyone using those computers, because they are not selling Operating Systems or Microsoft Word, there two most primary (from my knowledge) money makers.

The more people stick with Windows7 and XP, in the long run it doesn't help Microsoft.

 

[Britton30]

Bing desktop is the one I'm not going to mess with,
I suppose that's what Gary is Hiding

Correct-a-mundo Mike.

 

[OvenMaster]

Bwahahahaha! I knew it. I just knew M$ would eventually be reduced to giving it away to get rid of it.

 

[jimbo45]

No surprise, Microsoft is hurting. Although they still dominate a majority of the PC around the world. The problem with that is, there not making money from everyone using those computers, because they are not selling Operating Systems or Microsoft Word, there two most primary (from my knowledge) money makers.

The more people stick with Windows7 and XP, in the long run it doesn't help Microsoft.

Hi there.

How many of the people on these Forums who regularly pontificate about how much Ms is hurting actually KNOW anything about how the Markets work or even what the current and projected earnings of Ms actually ARE.

If you look at the current stock price of Ms it's doing quite nicely so far - close on Friday was 38.31 -- that's only 60 cents off the 52 week HIGH !! (MSFT)

Contrast that with "The Fruit company" (AAPL) 526.84 ---about 300 USD off its high price with a downwards graph too.

People need to be very careful when saying "companies are hurting" without actually knowing what they really mean. Ms has HUGE activities going on in lots of things apart from Windows -- for example Robotics etc -- and it is of course HUGE in the corporate I.T sector both as a hardware and software service provider too.

By all means complain about W8 etc - but anybody predicting the early demise of Ms is going to be in for a rude shock -- I wouldn't base your investment strategies on people thinking Ms is going belly up any time soon.

AAPL can also BTW sustain downward stock prices since it is still sitting on an ENORMOUS pile of cash - however the market's view is that AAPL needs to come out with some fairly new innovative products soon - as that mountain of cash won't last indefinitely once their latest iPhone market has matured.

MSFT isn't so highly dependent on a single product so the projections at this point in time look rather more promising -- and given some time the Windows phone will actually morph into a decent product too -- provided the handsets themselves can be "tarted up" a bit.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[alphanumeric]

The corporate world generates mucho $ for Microsoft. Windows Server and what runs on it is big bucks. I would think retail sales of Windows and Office pale by comparison to the revenue they get from corporate customers.

 

[Britton30]

The corporate world generates mucho $ for Microsoft. Windows Server and what runs on it is big bucks. I would think retail sales of Windows and Office pale by comparison to the revenue they get from corporate customers.

I think so too. A lot of corporate sales involve renewable contracts and maintenance agreements too.

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Don't most computer companies make the bulk of their money from corporate sales, in the past month, I've been told "we make the most from corporations / governments & schools".

Individuals forking over hundreds or thousands for software is not common, it's not to say there are not, but it's far from a majority. Most people pay upwards of $200 for software. Software in the thousands are niche markets for individuals, phones are not ringing off the hook for $2000+ software.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I've seen a lot of expensive corporate Software that costs 1,000 USD a license or more and seen software also that could IMO do the same job for 50 USD !!!! But corporates pay for the knowledge that large well known organisations have the resources etc to fix stuff if it goes wrong (or at least they THINK they do !!!). Two people say selling a 50 USD package won't have the same resources etc to support a multitude of clients if stuff goes wrong or if OS'es are upgraded.

Apple doesn't have a huge presence in the corporate market unlike Ms or non Windows companies like Red Hat. That's why Apple needs to come out with something new and exciting really quickly whereas Ms can just potter along nicely and take its time fixing Windows and the Windows phone.

One of Apple's income streams the iPOD is essentially as dead as the dodo now -- even a cheap phone has a more than capable built in music player and with external micro 64GB sd cards available - that's more than enough music to take with you even on a LONG vacation.

(Schools don't generate a huge DIRECT income for corporates -- a lot of Software is actually given FREE or at very low cost to students -- I got my first W2K3 server license on a course - cost 0 USD. !!!
Of course they get free publicity and also they hope that these eventual students will end up purchasing software for their IT depts. or even individually after they've graduated.

Rather like the Jesuit order in the Catholic Church -- grab them YOUNG and then you've got them for life !!!!).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[JerometheGiraff]

Grab them Young and you've got them for Life. I wouldn't say that holds true so much today as it did yesterday, metaphorically speaking.