Tuesday, October 19, 2004
Reseller Selling Standalone Windows Media Center Software
Posted by James Fee in "ARTICLE" @ 10:00 AM
"At least one vendor is selling OEM copies of Microsoft's new Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 operating system online, possibly exploiting a loophole in Microsoft's contracts. Houston, Tex.-based Directron is selling the OEM edition of Microsoft's software on its web site for $129.99, as well as the accompanying remote control for $43.99. That's substantially less than the $299 Directron is charging for the retail boxed copy of Windows XP Pro. Microsoft executives said Tuesday that they do not plan to sell versions of Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 at retail. For the first time, however, the software is being made available to legions of "system builders," white-box makers who can purchase copies of Microsoft's OSes through special programs. Directron, however, appears to be using this loophole to sell the software directly to consumers. An ExtremeTech analyst was able to successfully purchase the Windows Media Center Edition 2005 software as a standalone product from Directron. "
I can't begin to understand Microsoft sometimes. Windows Media Center Edition is as important to PC's today as Windows 95 was almost 10 years ago. Holding this back from consumers who want to either upgrade their existing PC or build their own just hurts the whole platform. I should be able to go down to Best Buy, and purchase MCE 2005 (with included remote) in a retail box. Sure OEM versions are available, but they don't distribute the OS to the maximum amount of consumers. Currently, most MCE PCs are higher end products that don't have broad appeal. To me at least, OEM's have dropped the ball and are not promoting the platform enough. MCE 2005 should be the cornerstone of PlaysForSure, but for now it is out of reach for most people and that is just too bad for all of us. Microsoft needs to either pressure OEM's to build a greater variety or products or sell MCE 2005 directly to the consumer.
I can't begin to understand Microsoft sometimes. Windows Media Center Edition is as important to PC's today as Windows 95 was almost 10 years ago. Holding this back from consumers who want to either upgrade their existing PC or build their own just hurts the whole platform. I should be able to go down to Best Buy, and purchase MCE 2005 (with included remote) in a retail box. Sure OEM versions are available, but they don't distribute the OS to the maximum amount of consumers. Currently, most MCE PCs are higher end products that don't have broad appeal. To me at least, OEM's have dropped the ball and are not promoting the platform enough. MCE 2005 should be the cornerstone of PlaysForSure, but for now it is out of reach for most people and that is just too bad for all of us. Microsoft needs to either pressure OEM's to build a greater variety or products or sell MCE 2005 directly to the consumer.
