[kwlug-disc] free MS software for 3 years

[unsolicited]

Khalid Baheyeldin wrote, On 09/24/2009 11:27 AM:
> Let us see if it gains them market share ...

I suspect that may be the wrong way to look at it.

Rather, particularly given your own statistics from the presentation 
(Apache use over IIS) ... let's see if it stops them from continuing 
to lose market share.

Or, reduces the rate of loss at all.

Even more so ... in 3 years ... how many people paid the first $100 
and the next year's $1000?

And, in that 3 years, did more acquire Apache than the MS software, 
and how many switched from the free MS to Apache.

See you in 2012.


The problem with all of this (MS giving out free software) - you'd 
think that MS hired some seriously market/ing savvy people before 
putting out the program. And would probably have a reasonable shot at 
gaining / retaining market share and/or protecting their server 
revenue amounts. Or they wouldn't be doing it.

Unlike, say, Vista which would appear to be, at the least, a marketing 
failure, despite all the user-friendliness gurus.

Could MS be getting more effective marketing wise?