Microsoft to start selling adware...
Published Thu, Aug 2 2007 2:42 PM
Technorati Tags: Computers and Internet, Annoyances
When you invest your money in a software package, what do you expect? Surely one of the things you expect is quality. Probably another is to not have to be annoyed by advertisements. Normally advertisements are associated with shareware or adware.
One of the new features of Windows Vista is supposed to be it's adware blocker. I wonder if it will start blocking Microsoft software now?
Would you like ads with that word-processing document?
That's the question Microsoft Corp. will try to answer by testing an alternative version of its low-end Works productivity software -- which will make money through ads placed at various points inside the program.
It's the latest attempt by Microsoft to supplement its traditional revenue with money from ads and software subscriptions. The company's Microsoft Office programs are facing increasing competition from free alternatives, including the OpenOffice.org suite and Google's Docs & Spreadsheets program.
In the long run, the trend could have noticeable implications for Microsoft's business. But for now, the ad-supported Works version is just a test.
Hopefully it's a test that will die a horrible death. Somehow I don't think so.
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