In recent years, computer technology has hit a level at which you don’t really ‘need’ to upgrade in the same way you had to every 6-18 months (if you wanted to have a reasonable speed computer during the late 1990’s). You only need a 3 year old CPU and so much RAM in order to browse the net/word process. As a result of this decline in the need for a ‘yearly upgrade’, computer components manufacturers have been increasingly focusing their attention on performance enthusiasts most commonly found in the computer gaming community (where regular hardware updates are still mandatory in order to give you a performance edge in your gaming). The range and variety of high profit margin ‘impressive looking’ performance hardware has increased steadily, including ‘perspex windows’ so you can see the computer components inside your case, RAM modules with LCD displays spooling out performance information and UV reactive water cooling equipment (yes, many enthusiasts cool their computers with water!). Recently, one of the five leading hard disk manufacturers has attempted to ‘get in on the game’. Western Digital has released a version of their top of the line Raptor 150X with a clear window so that hardware enthusiasts can see the inner workings of their hard disk in action. This hard disk is available for £200 without the window or £240 with the window for exactly the same performance. You have to question the value of such an upgrade when you consider watching hard disk activity is barely a step above watching paint dry! Feel free to watch the video:http://www.wdraptorx.com/video/ (Caution, High Bandwidth).
Its not only hardware manufacturers who are desperately trying to increase their profit margins, software companys are also following suit. Microsoft has for a long time stated if you wish to watch HD-DVD’s on your pc, you’ll need a copy of their new ‘swanky’ operating system Windows vista. This is due to the introduction of more advanced digital rights management (DRM) techniques to try and reduce piracy. There has also been some talk or users having to buy DRM-compatible monitors (at a high cost), or their screen will not display the HD-Videos at all! As far as the software implementation goes, there is no reason why the HD-DRM interfaces cannot be programmed into the current incarnation of Windows (XP).
It seems microsoft is on an offensive to get people to upgrade windows, having recently announced the sequel to their flagship game licence Halo2 will only work on Windows Vista (despite the fact the console incarnation still works on an X-Box which uses ‘off the shelf’ 4 year old pc hardware and an simple OS).
Has microsoft shot themselves in the foot with Windows XP? I myself am of the opinion XP is the first decent enough and easy to use operating system Microsoft has ever released. As a company, of course they are within their rights to want to prompt customers to buy newer versions of ther products, although with the customer base/brand loyalty of the Windows family, they don’t have much in the form of competition from the likes of linux and MacOS! As computers and access to the internet have become an intrinsic part of so many peoples lives, is it right coroprations are still 100% in control of the software that billions of people regularly use/rely on for work..?
DRM (http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=25124)
Halo2 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4698072.stm)