Microsoft Windows 7 Pricing Gimmicks

The supposed new pricing scheme Microsoft is considering is ridiculous. A Slashdot article today reports that they are thinking about putting a 3 application limit on the Home Basic version of Windows 7. This is based on research findings that show that basic users usually only run two applications at a time.

This is the biggest load of crazy talk I’ve ever seen. And it’s one of the best ways to drive users to Mac and Linux that Microsoft has ever come up with! When a company starts concentrating on ways to force users to upgrade rather than producing superior quality software, you should know they are in serious trouble. Microsoft has been fighting Google, and Mac now for a while and it’s taking a toll. With a terribly designed Windows Vista, consumers are looking for a glimmer of hope in the software giant.

If Microsoft goes ahead with this plan, they are sure to put a bad taste in just about every average consumers mouth. Why? Let’s say you are an average user. You check email (Outlook – 1), you surf Facebook (IE – 2), and you listen to music (Winamp – 3). Well, what happens when you have to open a word doc you just received in an email? Home Basic will tell you to make a choice I guess. Do you want to lose your music in favor of work (fail), disconnect from your social networks to do work (again, better for you, but fail on forced limitations), or save the document, close your email client, edit, close, reopen email, etc etc…

As a power user I won’t run into this in my own environment. I never run anything below Home Premium, and usually go with Professional versions for things like remote desktop. However, I do some consulting and I’m sure to hear about this as people buy new PCs with Home Basic on it. Overall, it’s a terrible move and one that will take a flagship Microsoft product and make it a driving force for users to find better alternatives.