Comments on: Microsoft Launches Beta of Software Subscription Service http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5610 Independent Tech News and Product Reviews from former VP and head of CNET.com and Longtime Computer Shopper Columnist, Alice Hill author of the popular "Hard Edge" column. Originally named AliceandBill.com. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:28:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Jon Newman http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5610#comment-687283 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 09:49:41 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5610#comment-687283 Why would I want to rent access to software online? I already "rent" the software that I install on my computer as it is. And to rent from someone who can't even manage to get SP1 to install on my computer...why would I? Why would I want to rent access to software online? I already “rent” the software that I install on my computer as it is. And to rent from someone who can’t even manage to get SP1 to install on my computer…why would I?

]]> by: John Corliss http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5610#comment-684716 Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:39:33 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5610#comment-684716 Yep, sooner or later, Microsoft will find a way for us all to ditch our hard drives and simply hand over our paychecks directly to them. It will be a cold day in HE** before I'll buy in to any software rental scheme. Anybody else who does is a fool, simple as that. Yep, sooner or later, Microsoft will find a way for us all to ditch our hard drives and simply hand over our paychecks directly to them.

It will be a cold day in HE** before I’ll buy in to any software rental scheme. Anybody else who does is a fool, simple as that.

]]> by: LZW http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5610#comment-682700 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:06:52 +0000 http://www.realtechnews.com/posts/5610#comment-682700 I think if you install about any microsoft product before the first service pack, then you are a beta tester! They should rename this office subsciption to the alpha version! I'm thinking about trying out vista since there is a service pack for it now, see if it's ready for prime time! This whole subscription concept is what commenter's use to call "software as a service" and I think it could have a place in the market as a new type of share but the way microsoft will go about it is all wrong I believe. Suppose you download a brand new video game and by the time you're done playing it, you discover the author has already developed a new episode for the game and all you have to do is subscribe to the "new content" service and your game is automatically updated! (no need to search google) If office subscriptions work, then it's more likely that the upcoming windows 7 will also be a subscription service! You want to network a new home printer you just bought? Subscribe to the windows file and printer sharing service... ($4.95 a month) I think if you install about any microsoft product before the first service pack, then you are a beta tester! They should rename this office subsciption to the alpha version!

I’m thinking about trying out vista since there is a service pack for it now, see if it’s ready for prime time!

This whole subscription concept is what commenter’s use to call “software as a service” and I think it could have a place in the market as a new type of share but the way microsoft will go about it is all wrong I believe.

Suppose you download a brand new video game and by the time you’re done playing it, you discover the author has already developed a new episode for the game and all you have to do is subscribe to the “new content” service and your game is automatically updated! (no need to search google)

If office subscriptions work, then it’s more likely that the upcoming windows 7 will also be a subscription service!

You want to network a new home printer you just bought? Subscribe to the windows file and printer sharing service… ($4.95 a month)

]]>