The manager described quite straightly a few of the many tricks in use at Microsoft for making corporate clients have no other option but to buy all the next updates - as soon as they were released, for all the products they bought already.
Except it wasn't true. That is, corporate clients (and private consumers) did indeed have the option to NOT upgrade - and many didn't. This was a major factor in why XP stuck around for so long.
It is interesting that you noted it was a "marketing" manager - because the marketing department at Microsoft has a long history of
trying to force users to upgrade, but failed. They also have a long history of marketing blunders like the Outreach Teams they employed to spam - yes
spam tech support forums with obvious ploys meant NOT to help users with their tech support problems, but to market MS products. It caused a huge backlash among users, forum staff and Microsoft MVPs.
Note that Windows 7, still, by a large margin has the
lion's share of the market at close to 50% because Microsoft's marketing weenies failed miserably to convince users to upgrade to Windows 8 - which only has less than 2.5% market share while XP is still sitting around 10% globally. And W10, even though a better OS than W7, is still lagging W7 in large part because of poor marketing tactics.
The sad part is Microsoft really does make some top-notch software in spite of a few missteps like WindowsMe, Vista, W8. W8 was actually a great OS but failed because the
marketing department insisted W8's UI look like Windows Phone UI. They were convinced computer users would automatically want to give up their old reliable desktops and start menus and flock to W8 and Windows Phones - yet both W8 and Windows Phones are marketing failures.
As MVPs, you made the choice to enter the landscape of proprietary software many years ago
What? That's a bunch of BS and it's pretty clear you really don't know what the MS MVP program is about. I sure didn't get my MVP for the last 10 years promoting or supporting any Microsoft products. I got mine for helping folks with their hardware and networking problems - regardless the operating system they use. Most of the MVPs around here got their MVPs for helping folks with their security problems. I don't and never have done any programming, except a basic BASIC course in college over 25 years ago.
Proprietary software? That's really Apple's game not Microsoft's. Apple makes software to run on Apple hardware only! Microsoft makes software to run on Intel, AMD, Gigabyte, ASUS, MSI and even Apple hardware. Ever heard of Azure? Apparently not.
It is all about supporting open source software.
You are part of the Microsoft business system
:mad7: Frankly, that's insulting. I don't and never have worked for Microsoft. I am not obligated to promote any Microsoft product. I can and I do bash Microsoft at will -
when deserved as I just did above with no risk of consequences (as long as I tell the truth).
Yes, Microsoft would like MVPs to promote MS products but we are under no obligation or expectation to do so. They do not pull our strings and I would venture to say nearly every MVP on this site would forfeit their award if Microsoft attempted to do so. And note I said "award" because that is what it is - an award recognizing us for helping consumers with their computer problems over the PAST year.
My objection to not obtaining software legally is because (putting it straightly and quickly on the table) it is stealing! Plain and simple. And I don't like thieves. Stealing software is the same as shoplifting from a store - it results in increased prices for the rest of us.
IF there were no alternatives, I might be a bit more sympathetic. But you can always go with "propriety" software from Apple and buy a Mac and pay a lot more! Or you can go with all free, open source software and not use any Microsoft products.
Putting it straightly and quickly on the table, Microsoft is not the company I wanted to give my money to, as a private person.
That's fine! I respect that decision and will defend your right to it. But that
does NOT give you the right to steal their software! :shame2:
