OT = How Does Shrapnel Stay In Business

quote:

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Originally posted by Alpha Kodiak:
I carefully reread my post, and I can't find anywhere in there where I said Microsoft did anything first or best.

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Absolutely right, you did not. Also if you read mine, you will see that I was offering a challenge to find an example, not accusing you of thinking they were the first or best at anything. If you visit the Amiga.com website then you will note that there ARE or soon WILL be other operating systems on handhelds. Also read the comments I just posted on tactics by robber barons, in particular offering a kitchen sink package.

Back in the old days each computer product manufacturer offered several product families as standard packages and ALSO offered customer specific options for packages so that you did not have to buy the kitchen sink unless you really needed it. You will note that as somebody else also just pointed out, most of the products packaged together for over $100 in the Windows operating system are NOT used by the VAST MAJORITY of customers. Those customers would be better served by selling them a $20 package that contained just what they needed, plus options at $5 each on the few other parts they want. Do NOT tell me that this would be a configuration control nightmare, because the automated help databases could handle any combination whatsoever without human intervention. That was the weak point in the old days - getting support for oddball configurations. It would also not be a marketing nightmare, because most software purchases are handled by Online purchase using "Shopping Carts". Most software is purchased by download, so that is not an issue either. So that $20 basic package only needs to include enough to get the customer Online to buy more. So the only issue left is that the customer may not want to go Online. Well where the heck did the customer get the computer ? If at a store then the store can do the downloads onto a disk. If by mail, then check off the options desired at purchase. The only objection I can see to my proposition is that it would be somewhat less profitable. Which brings me back full circle to my accusation - they are robber barons.