All windows OS, Ms Office, have been sliced to 50% of their original prices recently in Malaysia market.

What's the strategy ?

Everyone in Asia loves open-source software, almost as much as they love pirating MS software. I suspect Malaysia is a test market to see how competitive MS products can be in a lower price bracket.

April Fool's?

Who cares about April Fools? I am wondering if this is the right forum for this post.

Oh... uhhh. Right. Sorry and all that. Got my 'Software' and 'General' forums mixed up.

So that makes Office what, around 200 or 300 dollars now.. Microsoft Server now around 500 or 600 dollars..

Last time I checked OpenOffice was what... free?
About every Linux distro last time I checked you could download for free and a big bonus, the source code is included too..

lol! The April fool is the one who buys the crappy software....
Until they pay me back for my purchase of Windows ME, they wont get a dime from me ever again..

Acid will be round shortly to flame you.

Probably to test the market like young Skywalker stated.

I tell you though that even if M$ software cheaper than in Malaysia I still cannot justify the price tag.

Now in fairness and not to sound to bitchy, XP Pro is not to bad. It seems pretty stable. I would not spend over $100 for it, which is what I paid by using ebay. But not a penny more. I am much happier paying for Mandy $70 twice a year than pay once for Winblows.

For their other products like Office and such, I use alternatives that may or may not be free, but they are always easier on my purse than M$ products. I dont mind paying a good price for good software though, but that is me.

I can't see it making too much difference. The average Malaysian who needs software is going to compare:

OpenOffice: Free
Pirated MS Office: Free
Legit MS Office: $200+

Linux: Free
Pirated MS Windows: Free
Legit MS Windows: $100+

Tough decision...

i just dont understand one think do you use linux just because its free if so you can get any windows software for free warez etc. peoble seem to use linux just because its free i think there are lots of other things to use linux.

I use Linux because it's something different then the old Windows that everyone uses and only a "select few" use Linux. XP is a good OS but it's to overpriced the same is true for Office and the other MS software. I personally like Open Office but since everyone I know uses MS I have to use both (atleast it was a bundle of MS crap with this PC & I didn't have to buy it seperately)

I don't think their (M$) marketing scheme will be to effective until they can stop the pirates but those who love Linux will stay true to Linux.

Bubba169

I use Linux because I can do what I want with it, and because I can make it do what I want. I think most people who have been using it for more than a few weeks have similar reasons.

thisis not april fool, it's true,
it began in the mid of March 2003.

for example, Ms Office XP Professional used to sell for RM1900, now only cost about RM988,
cheaper by half.

/me *yawns*