12 March 2007
4000 for a Extended Patchs
Microsoft has announced that for people running older versions of their products that are outside of the standard support and in the extended support phase, for example Windows 2000, that need to be patched for the DST changes, the patches can be bought for 4000 USD. This is a decrease from the original 40,000 USD. Microsoft said that the 4K was just to cover costs. People who have already paid the 40,000 USD will be reimbursed the difference.
While I can understand charging users a small fee for such patches, charging something around 13 times more than the original value of the software is a bit much. With the number of people and companies still running Windows 2000 and other software that has moved into extended support, a small fee would be plenty to cover costs. This just help the idea that Microsoft has lost sight of its customers and their needs and has matured into a company only interested in making profits in the most Machiavellian ways.
While I can understand charging users a small fee for such patches, charging something around 13 times more than the original value of the software is a bit much. With the number of people and companies still running Windows 2000 and other software that has moved into extended support, a small fee would be plenty to cover costs. This just help the idea that Microsoft has lost sight of its customers and their needs and has matured into a company only interested in making profits in the most Machiavellian ways.
