@Richard: Well, I think that poorly constructed programs not running on 64 bit is not Microsoft’s fault (unless it is their program). And we can compare it to Apple’s current strategy, which is a hybrid 32/64bit OS. Who else did that before? Microsoft had Windows ME (and the previous in the 9x series). If you remember, it is what gave Microsoft the reputation for blue screens nearly single-handedly. I know it is temporary for the purpose of moving forward, but I’m a bit more comfortable with Microsoft’s current approach, even if you think it adds more versions.

Trying to pretend that the OS market is (or should be) somehow immune to this reality is pure idiocy. Even with 7 versions, I’m sure there are will be more than a few people complaining that none of the versions matches what they want/need.

So, how does one cope with this “overwhelming” array of choices? The same way we handle life in general, by ignoring the parts that aren’t relevant to us.

We’re already doing this for software in general. For any given task, there are at least a dozen apps that can do it. Try listing every word processing app (web-based as well as standalone) on the market today, and you’d be overwhelmed by the possibilities. But users still manage to pick one they like (or can at least tolerate) from among all those choices.

To my mind, any OS needs a minimum of 3 workstation versions: home user, professional lite (for SOHO users), and professional heavy (or ‘full featured’ for the euphemistic types). Additionally, since MS wants to be everybody’s sole provider for; well, darn near everything; they also have to provide versions for the niche markets, which account for 4 of the 6 versions (ultimate for tech enthusiasts and power users, enterprise for large businesses, home basic for emerging markets, and starter for “netbooks”).

So, the vast majority of users really only have 2 choices: Home, or Professional; and that’s a fairly easy choice to make.

Richard and Ed are clearly talking beyond each other. Ed is talking about the reality of Windows. Richard is talking about the perception of Windows. In many cases, there isn’t a whole lot Microsoft can do about the perception, especially given the antitrust scrutiny. (Glitches from poorly-written software is a classic case. Clearly the EU would frown on Microsoft banning all Intuit software until they clean up their act.)

The anecdote of the elderly lady on fixed income only highlights that OS X is better perceived than Windows, even by people who have no knowledge. The point here is that Microsoft has some heavy lifting to do in order to improve the public’s perception of their client OS.

The Quicken 64 bit issue was posted to let Yert know that there are real differences between 32 bit and 64 bit version of Vista and that they are really different SKUs because they perform differently. BTW, W7 64 bit also shows the Quicken printing issue.

What I am saying and what I have been saying is that Microsoft added unnecessary complexity to both their product line and the public perception of Vista without real benefit when they created the numerous Vista’s SKUs. They have done similar bad things with Windows versions of Office. They need to be very careful that they do not reinforce this public perception with W7 or they may never recover in the public’s mind, i.e., they become the technology version of GM to Apple’s Toyota.

Another way to say this—it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and a moment to lose it. Microsoft’s moment may be at hand.

You keep undercutting your argument. For users with demanding configurations who aren’t using Quicken, x64 is an excellent choice. But there are some people who will want to stick with a 32-bit version for compatibility reasons. So Micosoft makes both available.

So what do yuo suggest they do? Drop x86 completely? Your Quicken-using customers are going to be unhappy at that. So they offer both, and they count on people like you and me to help educate customers as to which version they need.

This is not a stupid journalist distinction. If you had experience with lots of different setups you might be aware of the subtle but real differences, beyond maximum memory. One prominent example is that Quicken has lots of trouble printing on a 64 bit versions of Vista. Do a Google search to satisfy yourself if you don’t believe me.

I’ll say one thing about Apple: They haven’t fragmented their OS, and that is a powerful marketing tool for them, should they latch onto it.

A quick summery: Base Windows pricing (at least for netbooks) on a system that has a set price based on OEM pricing that goes down as OEMs include better features in the computer, such as using the 64 bit version of Windows, better specs, or better base features like a webcam, microphone, and even touchscreen.

http://yertblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-microsoft-could-price-for-netbooks.html

It is funny, because I wrote it up on the first, thinking about netbook pricing, and now this SKU story breaks, begging the question of how Microsoft is gonna price Windows.

Just because so called tech journalists confuse the masses by claiming it, or pointing out non-consumer versions (Enterprise, and now Home Basic), or double counting versions (32 bit and 64 bit) doesn’t make it what the choices are.

For consumers, there are going to be three versions targeted towards them, Home “Premium”, Professional, and Ultimate. Plus Apple sells more then one version of it’s OS (three actually), OS X, OS X Server, and iPhone OS (which is still OS X, unlike Windows Mobile to Windows NT).

Granted, now consumers, there are really now four, because Microsoft made the retarded “Starter” decision, and Home “Premium” should just be called Home, with “Home” Basic needing to be just called Basic, but Microsoft will eventually get it right.

Until then, we’ll have to deal with this stupid debate on top of Microsoft actually screwing up, after that, there will be four versions of Windows in the U.S., three for consumers, being the main three I pointed out, and a Starter, and possibly Basic version in developing markets.

Note how I wasn’t silly and counted the 64 bit versions, which are freely movable back and forth with the 32 bit versions in Vista, and presumably Windows 7, and are at this point, either a “tech” journalists rant of stupid, or at best, poor marketing on Microsoft’s part.

However, only yesterday I had a retired woman, living on a fixed income, ask me if she should replace her misbehaving Dell XP Optiplex with a Mac because her daughter suggested that she should. If I had not dissuaded her I believe she would have been taking a trip to Best Buy or the Stamford Apple store today. She told me that Dell had offered to replace her machine last year but would only give her a Vista box in swap. She turned them down. I wish she had asked me at the time I would have told go ahead.

That is real world. That is what I see daily. Computer users who hear and believe that Apple is better and are ready to part with their money even given the price difference. They think they will have an easier time with an Apple machine so spending the extra money is not that big a hurdle to overcome.