phelix_da_kat

Why is Microsoft Tepid in Its March to Cloud Computing?

You can either sell a product outright or rent it...

For example, the record companies used to sell singles and albums. effectively pricing it so it was economical to buy the album. They hated the fact that online stores wanted to sell singles only (I mean, come on, they even wanted to charge something close to the physical album at a lower sound quality!)

Then there was a push for subscription models.

What Redmond is trying to do is find a new income stream.

For example, for my home computer I have bought various copies of MS Office, but only 4 versions over the last 15 odd years. ie only when I get a new computer.

If, I was to subscribe to MS Office "cloud", that would prove to be an ongoing cost. Albeit a relatively small price per month, but accrued over say a few years, likely substantially more than my own copy of Office. There will also be hidden costs... well, you need an internet connection! I know most people have one, but if you are travelling, your mobile or roaming charges are going to burden you.