Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers   project integrator

I don't often "blog" about wild ideas that come by on a common channel that I hang out at, but this one seemed to be nice. With all the hassle around needing to purchase a Windows license if you just want a machine to run Linux, it is time that we face what the market really is about.

The market is about Windows. People don't want a computer -- they want Windows, and put up with the whirring monster that is required. Hardware vendors don't really recognise this, as they all blindly offer the same Windows and compete on often minute "advantages" and hardware prices. Windows is sneakily added to the computer's price, as if it were an afterthought.

How different is it in the phone world. Except for bare-bones deals, most attention goes to the network, and you get a phone (almost) for free when buying a network subscription. With Microsoft's efforts to move to a licence-per-year model instead of a purchase-once-use-forever model, it would not be strange to see PC shops offering a Windows license and throw in some hardware for free.

For quick-and-dirty internet browsing, you can purchase pre-paid PCs that come with a week of Windows at reasonable prices that you can plan for. When your Windows quota is used up, you can drop money in an online account and work on. Out of money before the end of the month means no more Windows, but hey, teenage gamer, you are used to this with your phone. Typically, you only get small PCs (netbook type) and the cheapest (older) versions of Windows in pre-paid deals.

Most people who use their PC more regularly will purchase a Windows subscription with a minimum duration of between two and three years. They will be offered upgrades for free, and receive a free PC to run Windows on. Every few years, they are entitled to drop by the PC shop and choose a new PC as long as they extend their Windows subscription. The more expensive your subscription, the prettier the PC you get, but you can always upgrade for money.

For people that happen to have access to hardware, you can also purchase sim-only Windows. Good for occasional Windows users that prefer other systems, but once in a while cannot avoid editing that single document somebody sent them.

Of course, switching network is possible: if you want OS-X instead of Windows, just unlock your PC (which may cost money) and purchase the sim-only version of the competition. And you can order ten free SUbuntu sims at ubuntu.com, to give away to friends and family.

It's all quite natural, now we're used to phones.

Jeroen

Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers is an independent consultant who sometimes has an opinion about something