Files patent for metering hardware capabilities but admits overall cost 'may be higher' (computeworld).
I've been hearing about this for more then a year, but never thought they'd have the balls to go for a patent. If Micro$oft ever tries to charge me by the hour to use MY HARDWARE, I am taking retirement if future [SAS] games don't run on a Mac lol.
a brief except from the article:
"A different business model may allow a more granular approach to hardware and software sales," Microsoft argued. "A computer may have individually metered hardware and software components that a user can select and activate based on current need. When the need is browsing, a low level of performance may be used, and when network-based interactive gaming is the need of the moment, the highest available performance may be made available to the user."
If you currently own a machine with more then 2GB of RAM, and better then a Core 2 or Athlon, and intend to always keep high end systems -- you won't like it if this ever happens in the future, and you end up buying Windows 9 or something like that lol.
Although I must admit, this idea would work nice if MS tried to compete with the Blackberry some more......
I wouldn't have a problem with this at all if it's an option instead of the only way to continue to use Microsoft products. I don't even think that Microsoft can make it mandatory, as wouldn't such a scheme require constant access to the internet in order for such a system to work? Thus, couldn't someone just hack the OS and disable the part that sends the billing information to Microsoft?
However, if Microsoft does do such a thing and does not leave the option to keep the current 'business model', then I will be frustrated and faced with an impossible dilemma: switch to Mac and lose all of my good games, or put up with Microsoft's outrageous scheme.
Even the activation / proof process you first go through when setting up a Windows XP install requires internet access; only it delays the transmission until there is one available to phone home with
I know if they pull it off, the privacy-people will be in an uproar; but what I wonder, is what happens to the government if it becomes mandatory? lol. The increased cost could make the Iraq war look like bus fair....