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Microsoft needs to sell its software (including OS) and they’ve always done so through manufacturers.
The average user, in their mind, doesn’t care about/want/have a choice for Windows, they just went to a shop to buy a computer, Windows was just on it. So for Microsoft, a public company who’s graphs need to keep going up forever, “increasing revenue from Windows” equates to “making people buy more computers” - this, in my opinion, is why they went down the TPM route (which consumers didn’t care about), and now, the “Copilot compatible” PC (whixh users don’t care about) routes. For the shareholders, you need a new computer, not an update to your existing one.
So this is where it gets interesting - a catch 22 for Microsoft - the average user doesn’t want a new computer (the internet works fine right), but Microsoft need their graphs to go up and they don’t want to work for free… BUT they can’t afford to have “Windows” become synonymous with “viruses” again (they bothered to make Windows defender for free for this reason), so if people don’t pay up, there could be millions of virus ridden computers and everyone will look for a new laptop “but not windows again” because of the viruses…
Mac instead? Maybe, but most laptops are sold for €300, not €1000+…
Current known, “safe consumer choice” brands (OEMs) and big box retailers are and will continue to be influenced/controlled/blackmailed by Microsoft’s license pricing and legal teams to maintain the status quo on the shelves and we’ll see what plays out.
This subscription talk then is big news, not just because of the controversy surround subscriptions generally, but because this could change the shape of supply and demand in the PC market significantly.
As always there won’t be one answer for everyone, but these are some ways it could play out.
- Microsoft forgets the idea
- Microsoft offers a free version supported by ads
- Consumers pay up, even if it takes a generation
- Consumers move to Apple
- Major PC manufacturers and retailers spite Microsoft terms, and offer alternative OS’s
- Smaller/new PC manufacturers rise, and offer alternative OS’s
Will people pay up? Will Chromebooks take over?
Or…
(Removes sunglasses)
…will 2025 be the year of the Linux desktop?
Hyped for this.
Appreciate it’s not the same thing, but still feel like it will scratch the same itch that fallout does, without having to suffer that janky Bethesda engine (even its latest incarnation for starfield was annoying!).
Plus a nice looking colourful environment for a change instead of the standard post apocalyptic browngrey.
Haven’t played fifa but understand that loot boxes are basically gambling. Arguably worse than gambling because with gambling at least you might win something “real”.
Curious though - there was a screenshot in the article where you could preview a loot box before buying - does that not make it more like “buying” the players instead of “gambling” for them?
I’m out of the loop, care to elaborate?
Only thing I can say is that Carmack’s Wikipedia article reads like he wrote it himself before a job interview…
Not only does high intensity allow him to make progress more quickly, but long hours are also critical to maintaining a focused mindset over time. Despite working such a demanding schedule, he has never experienced burnout.
I was just about to query the context to see if this was in any way a “logical” answer and if so, to what extent the bot was baited as you put it, but yeah that doesn’t look great…