I really hope they don't go down that multi-version fiasco of Vista, but for sure if it is too expensive, I have no problem with XP Pro as it has/does all that I currently need.
That's right on many levels.
First of all, I don't mind paying for an Operating System that works well. I DO mind paying $400 for an operating system, especially if I had just paid $400 for the previous version (vista) that came out a mere 2-3 years prior. I know the upgrades are cheaper, but we all know that "upgrading an O/S" can cause problems. I also know that there is a way to buy an "upgrade" version of vista, and do a clean install it on a blank system.
Still, How many small businesses can afford to pay close to $400 to put a new operating system on, let's say 8 computers that they own, having to make hardware upgrades just to support it, then having to find driver updates for their hardware / peripherals, updates to software that doesn't work right, and the time they spent to get it all working? How about if they had to pay someone like me to do the work for them? It's way too much money...
Then, you have to figure out why they put so much time and effort to prevent hacking the O/S so that customers have to pay for it.
There's a reason they get hacked!!! If they would just charge less, there would be many more legitimate purchases of the O/S, and a lot less hacking.
Gimme Win 7 "ultimate" for $150 and I'll buy it. Upgrade for $99 and I'll buy it, but when the darn thing is over $300-400 bucks, that's just getting ridiculous.
I'll just be happily hacking away for that price...