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Subject: Re: Microsoft Unveils
Name:
 ludicrous
Date: 8/12/2004 9:10:45 PM (GMT-7)
IP Address: 4.227.198.120
In Reply to: Re: Microsoft Unveils posted by
Sledge
Message:
It's also limited to 800x600 resolution, apparently, and ships with a special version of Works suite.
There's been quite a discussion over this at Ace's, and FWIW, I think you overestimate the market conditions in non-Western countries. They need a low-cost option that can do the basics, as opposed to a workstation capable of fifteen application instances, while maintaining Windows compatibility. This might just be a way of ensuring that M$ can hang on to some market share in those regions without losing out to e.g. Linux, which is probably the greater threat.
Instead of switching to Linux, Large purchasers such as government agencies *might* be willing to spring some money in order to maintain Windows compatibility if the price is right (individuals may pirate with impunity but it's somewhat harder to do it flagrantly in an official agency, and still avoid offending some of the international clients/agencies with whom one must work), and their usage requirements aren't high...just get a word processor, browser window, and media player running at the same time.
This might even be a viable option for some users in these parts of the world. Ever get completely away from people who have at least a modicum of technical sense, and observe how everyone else actually uses a computer? Downright scary. And an "XP lite" might just work for them.
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