10.06.09
Vista 7 Cheats Buyers
Summary: “Free” as in “read the fine print” (or “How false marketing continues at Microsoft”)
SEVERAL Web sites are currently pointing out that Microsoft’s delusion known as Vista 7 uses people’s inability to read the fine print. People are led to believe that they receive a “free” upgrade, but free in this context means neither libre nor gratis. It’s a marketing trick.
Hidden Fees Discovered for “Free” Windows 7 Upgrades
Since June 26, retailers and computer manufacturers have urged shoppers to buy computers already on store shelves loaded with the much-maligned Windows Vista operating system because they would qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it was released in October. As it turns out, Mouse Print* has learned that some computer purchasers will be asked to pay shipping, handling and other junk fees that total between $11 and $17 to receive their “free” upgrade disks.
More at Tom’s Hardware:
Did you buy a new PC this past summer with the promise of a free upgrade to Windows 7 when it launches on October 22? Well, it turns out that the upgrade might not be completely free.
This seems like yet another case of false marketing. Remember the “Vista capable” lawsuits [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] .
Speaking of marketing zeal, watch what Apple is doing.
Apple has moved to prevent Oz retailer Woolworths from trademarking a logo – something which would allow it to “slap its branding and logo on every imaginable product”, as The Age puts it.
Put into perspective:
Do Morons In A Hurry Shop For iPhones At Woolworths Down Under?
[...]
Honestly, I have no idea how anyone can claim the two logos are similar in a way that might lead to even the slightest bit of confusion.
For marketing companies like Microsoft and Apple, focus on competition continues to neglect technical merit. They are distracted. █
Mikko said,
October 6, 2009 at 11:09 am
Here in Sweden there’s laws against caling something free and taking a fee
Roy Schestowitz Reply:
October 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Maybe it was a typo. They means to print “fee”, but dropped in an “r”.
The Mad Hatter said,
October 16, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Roy,
Please don’t refer to Microsoft as a marketing company. Apple, well yes, they are great at marketing.
I work in marketing, and it bothers me to hear Microsoft described as a “marketing company” when they are so bloody incompetent at marketing that it is beyond belief. The only reason they get any sales is because of their monopolistic practices.
Don’t spread the myth that they are a marketing company. Some poor bastard who’s looking for an example might follow their lead, and end up in bankruptcy, because he doesn’t have a monopoly.