Many of the shoppers look for a bargain at the Circuit City liquidation sales left disappointed and angry. The expected price cuts were only ten per cent:
The timing seems to be just right for EBay. Merchants and manufacturers are looking for the most efficient way to reach the consumer. And EBay is expanding its products to its online customers:
Some airlines are changing fare restrictions. It isn’t in the spirit of holiday generosity. It is because the airlines are having trouble filling the seats - and empty seats means loss revenue - again:
It is rare that the general public is privy to the private interchanges between corporate giants. However, because of an ongoing lawsuit, some confidential email exchanges between Microsoft and HP are now a matter of public record:
Earlier this year, Starbucks announced the closing of almost six hundred stores in the United States. This was a move to trim back those outlets that were not meeting the company’s financial criteria. In the face of a poor economy, Starbucks is reporting more bad news:
The United Kingdom has been called the ‘Surveillance Society’. Citizens’ activities are monitored and kept in various data bases. It seems that many people in the UK will find that their internet service provider (ISP) has joined the surveillance movement:
“Six of the UK’s biggest net providers have agreed a plan with the music industry to tackle piracy online.
The deal, negotiated by the government, will see hundreds of thousands of letters sent to net users suspected of illegally sharing music.”
link: Net firms in music pirates deal
The question remains on how these suspected people will be identified. How can the ISP identify a possible incidence of piracy as opposed to a legitimate file transfer? The obvious issues are privacy and security of the customers’ online activities. It seems that the internet customers will have to prepare for the day when it becomes necessary to prove their innocence.
Catherine Forsythe
The old adage used to be that “the customer is always right”. Microsoft seems to have modified that into “we will tell the customer what is right”. In a supply and demand marketplace, Microsoft is ignoring the demand and controlling the supply. In fact, in the case of Windows XP, there will not be a further supply:
“Microsoft Corp. is scheduled to stop selling its Windows XP operating system to retailers and major computer makers today, despite protests from a slice of PC users who don’t want to be forced into using XP’s successor, Vista.”
link: Microsoft to stop selling Windows XP
With the inventory of Windows XP being throttled, Microsoft gives its customers two choices. It is either to switch to Vista or consider a non Microsoft product. As a switch away from Microsoft is not always possible, the choice for the consumer is limited.
This is reminiscent of voting in third world countries. The elections are free and unfettered. The problem is that there is only one candidate on the ballot.
Catherine Forsythe
I am in the process of deciding what parts to buy and what I really need for a machine that will meet my data base / computing needs for the next three years. The parts have been recommended to me by a Lockergnome friend in Norway. He also recommends that I use XP Professional on this new machine. Therein lies the problem.
The literature on the state of XP is so confusing.
Steve Ballmer is saying that Microsoft may reassess its position on Windows XP:
“…Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said the company could re-evaluate its plans to phase out Windows XP by June 30, if customers demand that it stick around. So far, they have not.
“XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies, we can always wake up smarter, but right now, we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments,” Ballmer said during a Thursday news conference, according to Reuters.”
link: Ballmer: You want XP, we’ll keep XP
This sort of statement does not clarify. It adds to the confusion. Microsoft makes no commitment, which is fine for them and not so fine for its customers. Obviously, Microsoft would like its customers to spend and buy the ‘latest and greatest’. Windows 7 is on the horizon. Personally, I just want something that will allow me to do what I have to do on the computer and not have to buy (and change) at Microsoft’s pace. I find that Microsoft is making me spend time preparing how to work and taking me away from using that time to do actual work. Perhaps the magic word is Linux… or “Apple”.
Catherine Forsythe
Director of Operations
FlyingHamster
