Microsoft "persuading" sales people to push MS products

Marty_J

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/08/microsoft_unleashes_retail_talking_points_attacking_linux_macs.html

Interesting article to say the least; Microsoft are offering retail sales people a free copy of Windows 7 if they complete a training course which teaches how to talk customers out of choosing their competitor's products.

Immoral and uncompetitive, or a shrewd business decision?

kai666

Marty_J wrote: »

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/08/microsoft_unleashes_retail_talking_points_attacking_linux_macs.html

Interesting article to say the least; Microsoft are offering retail sales people a free copy of Windows 7 if they complete a training course which teaches how to talk customers out of choosing their competitor's products.

Immoral and uncompetitive, or a shrewd business decision?

Although being an apple website, probably not the most objective of articles

robt_2

Regardless of being on what is not a neutral website, I would say shrewd business decision.

asbokid

Marty_J wrote: »

http://www.appleinsider.com
Interesting article to say the least; Microsoft are offering retail sales people a free copy of Windows 7 if they complete a training course which teaches how to talk customers out of choosing their competitor's products.

Immoral and uncompetitive, or a shrewd business decision?

Look at the product though... what's it really worth?

Compared to a user-friendly Linux distribution like Ubuntu that everyone can get for free, Windows 7 is just an expensive and fragile toy.

RobTang

Whenever have SALES people been objective ? theres no realy difference than this and getting commission on every sale.

If I walk into into any computer store (or any store for that matter) they are going to try pushing their products any way they can... this has been happening since the dawn of time, so why is this 'news'

aliEnRIK

Microsoft are a 'cash cow'. Theyll make money by whatever way they feel will reap the greatest profits. Theyll also lie through their teeth (Which has been happening since the beginning and STILL shows no signs of letting up)

sweetstudent

quite interesting read, although redmond cannot really compare Win 7 to OSX 10.6, the only things they can use is price (of a new computer) and the fact that it is windows and the majority of software will work!

That being it did not work on me!! lol

esuhl

That's just normal sales propoganda! Anyone who takes a salesman/woman's advice should expect to be taken for a ride.

Unfortunately for those who aren't technically knowledgeable, this means doing the research yourself from a number of independent sources. Biased information is fine, so long as the bias is identified and understood.

It is better that we live in an untrustworthy world where we must continually ask ourselves about the motivations and biases of others than it would be to live in a world of trust where we can be more easily exploited.

The best thing about Wikipedia is the vandalism. Eventually people will learn not to believe everything they read or are told. The mis-placed respect that the majority give to printed materials such as books and newspapers is astonishing. Think for yourselves, people!

davester

Can you actually go into a shop and buy an alternative OS for a PC. If you said I want a PC and want to by Snow for it you have the computer guys rolling on the floor wetting themselves. So what is the retail alternative?

cyberbob

davester wrote: »

Can you actually go into a shop and buy an alternative OS for a PC. If you said I want a PC and want to by Snow for it you have the computer guys rolling on the floor wetting themselves. So what is the retail alternative?

Microsoft have the oem market sown up. Its a real shame there isn't a viable alternative for the majority of non tech customers. Most customers go in and just want a PC (they think that Macs are too expensive) so they end up with a Windows machine. So there is no competition with no competition the Market stagnates and there is very little innovation
(just look at vista)

davester

Thats what I thought so whats the point of this article if true. Its like saying right we want you to convince people to buy windows even thought they have no choice in the matter so your efforts will be wasted here have a free copy of windows thus forcing you to keep with us and not download linux lol.