Why Modular Windows Will Suck for Microsoft and Suck for You

There is a growing consensus of opinion forming that Windows "Seven" will be "modular," the concept being that you buy the core OS first and then add to it individual "modules" with logically distinct units of functionality. There are two ways the OS could be modularized in such a fashion, the first being that it could be split into functional "roles," such as "music" or "movies" or "mail & chat." The other option, which is a bit more radical, would be to build on the "Windows Live" software that updates/replaces some of the OS components. For example, Vista's Windows Photo Gallery is replaceable with Windows Live Photo Gallery. The Live version is similar in concept, but includes greater online integration and features.

[BrianC6234]

Leave it to Micro$oft to come up with this idea. I can see it now. The base OS is $99. If you want to print you have to add the printer module. That's another $49.99. If you want sound that is another $49.99. If you need your mouse to work you'll need the mouse module. That's a bargain at just $24.99.

Once you add all the modules to do what you want your OS has cost you $500. Way to go, chase everyone to Apple.

[Bolts]

Yup this sounds like a massive ripoff, its like a Live DLC for your OS.

[OpiZA]

I take it it sucks?

[qwertyuiopasdfghjkl]

MS has been my most hated company for awhile, this only adds fuel to my flames.

[Scarfy]

BrianC6234 - It obviously won't be as bad as that... BUT, how about this,

1) Want the OS to support more than 1GB of RAM? Download a module
2) Want the OS to use more than 1 CPU core? Download a module
3) Want to play those divx movies? Download the "certified" module
4) MP3 support? Download the module (WMA and WMV are Free!)
5) Want greater Wifi and Ethernet speeds? Download the module
6) etc.

They'll be no means cripple the system. They'll simply put a cap on what people can do with hardware.

[sleepbox]

Meh...this will only encourage more piracy and more open source software.

[Thugbot187]

This concept isn’t new and Microsoft did not invent it. They are taking this concept from Linux, and have been flagged for years by the Linux community, security community, and everyone else involved in antitrust suits against Microsoft.

Linux users consider Windows an Over-Weight OS. The idea is Windows should only do the thing that you want it to and not be able to have 100 different roles out of the box that you are going to use. The security folks tag on to this belief because it makes it harder to secure an operating system when it has so many different roles that can be exploited. It also makes it hard to run Windows on small devices; this is why Linux is favored as the OS to run on things like hacked iPods, or as standalone firewalls or web servers. Basically Windows will be able to compete now and you will start seeing windows as the core for many smaller devices, not only that Windows will become one of the most if not the most secure operating system (getting the security community off its back.)

As for the antitrust parties out there they love to complain about anything Microsoft adds to its OS out of the Box. Microsoft has been getting so many rulings against about components they include in their operating system to make a better product, because they say we are forced to have these items and it stamps out competition. They have been forced to do this for the most part by these court rulings.
So if you think about its been something people in the computer industry have been pushing Microsoft toward for quite a long time. I think this may end up working in Microsoft favor as far as security and being a antitrust rulings. However if people are upset with what Microsoft is doing they should have stuck up for them when they were attacked by the Linux community for not supporting this or by the Antitrust, or when people named Microsoft the evil empire.

[ThatArtGuy]

The idea is Windows should only do the thing that you want it to and not be able to have 100 different roles out of the box that you are going to use.

But according to Apple's commercials, isn't this what it's supposed to do?!?

;)