Too expensive for an OS? The only thing expensive about it is that it is more expensive than any previous Microsoft OS.
Let's look at this from another angle. Without the OS you can't run your computer. You can't run Adobe Photoshop (~$699 - comes out yearly), Macromedia Studio (~$899), CAD software (starting around $1000), SoundForge, etc. etc. etc.
Software comes out yearly so you're saying, "I can buy upgrades though!" So, Adobe Photoshop upgrade: $160 x 5 years (the average life of an OS) equals $800 (if you buy it every year like most).
As I said, the OS is everything and without it you can't do much unless you know of some powerful DOS applications.
Furthermore, you likely don't need Ultimate. You buy it because you want it. Stick with Home or buy the Business offering (which will be available as an upgrade for current Professional owners).
Some people...
Matt,
You are missing the point altogether...
Bill Gates is a business Genious of that there is no question HOWEVER,
Lets keep in mind that a majority of what he had in his posession was either bought or stolen...
Look at the previous lawsuits, which Microsoft agreed to pay I might add.
Now look at Microsofts hold of the market... It is simply staggering, no one wants to be a developer for anyone unless they know it is going to work on Microsofts OS's because they hold such a large portion of the market...
Its a catch 22 for developers even if they dont want to, because common business shows you HAVE to build whatever you are developing to work on MS platforms or go the way of the dinosaurs and become extinct...
See
THIS newsweek article which clearly shows how much of the market MS holds even after losing ground to Linux... a miniscule 3.2% at the end of last year.
Its staggering... Microsoft holds 94% of the worlds market share and at last count the world was at 1.4 BILLION PC's...
Now lets take and double the amount of competitors market share to a whoping 12% (wont happen for several more years)
Leaving a rough estimate of 1.23 BILLION users... now lets go drastic... and say 25% of all those machines are pirated, Heck we know CHINA loves those pirated softwares...
Leaving 923 Million Legitimate windows users... even at the upgrade price of $299 that equals: 276 BILLION dollars
Im sorry call me skeptical but deviding that amount by a year, and say it took 4 years to develop, they still made over 7 BILLION a month, and that to me, sound like maybe too much...
I cant wait until google releases thier OS... I guess that shows where my loyalty lies...
do what you will with these stats, they arent made up, and I overexaggerated on every aspect which could reduce Microsofts over all profit...
Mike A!