27 responses to “Windows 7 RC to RTM + Greenhouse Update”

1. 

   Justin de la Chi(cago) February 25th, 2010 at 09:10

   So, I didn’t see any CowPots in use here….are they saved for a later date and for a different set of plants?

   As I agree, Windows and Microsoft suck the big one, it is a fairly obvious connection to their business ideals and product deployment. Tiered marketing, product offerings, and pricing are definitely successful strategies. Microsoft just takes the strategy to a trial, then an acclimation, then a need, then a profit. There is much to be learned here, when investors’ wants are the foremost strategy, and not the customer.

   J

2. 

   Spencer Abrams February 25th, 2010 at 10:42

   I’m confused…They suck because they make a product that’s good enough you want to buy it as soon as it’s launched, and then you blast them for making a profit? I would be thankful for being allowed to trial the new product. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard good things and I’m sure I will eventually buy it at the discounted rate before I graduate.

3. 

   Dan Wyss February 25th, 2010 at 10:54

   Yea I agree with Spencer. They are just trying to make some profit on it because that’s normally how it works. I too have heard good things about it and will hopefully soon buy it as well.

4. 

   Justin de la Chi(cago) February 25th, 2010 at 11:24

   Perhaps I wasn’t descriptive in my point of their suckage. I hate their products, mainly due to the extent of memory usage and resource management issues. User friendly and intuitiveness are not their forte.

   As far as a profitable company, there are not many finer. Their to market strategy is of note to any tiered product strategy. I am a “for consumer needs” product strategy advocate. While this may change when I have a company large enough to consider the investors needs, I choose to focus on user friendly avenues.

   Just because I do not use products, does not mean I cannot appreciate the complexity and success of the business they have created. Do not read the entire response as a company hating reply, merely an appreciation for their creating a need from a free trial.

   J

5. 

   Colby Beacham February 25th, 2010 at 12:03

   I did something like this awhile back, I downloaded Windows 7 Ultimate Student Edition and opted for the 30 dollar upgrade version. This version is only supposed to work if you’re upgrading from windows vista but with a few simple hacks I was able to clean install it on my macbook pro.

6. 

   Curtis Brackett February 25th, 2010 at 12:19

   Sounds to me like everything worked out ok; yes it was an inconvenience to have to perform the transfer, as simple as it was, but it was a trade-off. Microsoft allows you to try their product for free to see if you like it enough to fork over the money to buy it, it wouldn’t make sense from the companies standpoint to not force the consumer to either purchase their product or quit allowing them to use it. I agree with Spencer when he says that we should be thankful that the company even allows us to try the product for a period before purchasing it.

7. 

   Molly Longest February 25th, 2010 at 12:32

   Sounds like I should work on my hacking skills. Way to work around things Hank!

8. 

   Thomas Gick February 25th, 2010 at 12:46

   Good stuff Hank, way to stick it to the man

9. 

   Matt Kompara February 25th, 2010 at 12:55

   It seems that big software corporations depend on people not knowing how to to do anything too “techy” with their products in order to keep everyone dependent on them. Not a bad plan to make a lot of money.

10. 

    Brett Cohen February 25th, 2010 at 13:02

    Microsoft does plenty of betas in order to try to attempt to get you to buy the full version. I am glad you found a way around this.

11. 

    George Petrov February 25th, 2010 at 13:18

    I wish i was more tech savvy so i could do things like this. I dont update my computer. The only way i do that is if i buy a new one so until i do that, then i will have this new version. It is pretty cool how you did that though.

12. 

    Kelly Plantz February 25th, 2010 at 13:27

    I love how software companies always give the customers solutions that are going to pricey and a hassle to upload. I wish I was more technology savvy to be more efficient with computers! I’m also glad to know that there really is a way around the expensive “proper” way of getting programs!

13. 

    Austin Collins February 25th, 2010 at 15:12

    My friend came over and installed the new windows 7 but I’m unsure what type of windows 7 it is. I think he got it from torrent but I refuse to spend money on the new window software that comes out every year. It’s too easy to get things for free. I don’t really know what the difference is with windows 7 compared to the last ones but whatever.

14. 

    Zack Mirsberger February 25th, 2010 at 15:18

    This seems to always be the way it goes, software companies off the free trials to suck you in so you feel you just can’t go without the product. Then the software trial expires and it’s time to fork over the big bucks. Adobe does perhaps the best job at doing things like this to suck you in. At least with Adobe, you don’t have to lose all of your work created on the trial. Do better next time, Microsoft.

15. 

    Jaideep Singh February 25th, 2010 at 17:55

    Awesome job Hank! I also haven’t paid for any software ever (except when it comes with the hardware). I liked the LED lamps too. Is it easy to build one yourself? Or too much hassle?

16. 

    Keegan Klauke February 25th, 2010 at 22:03

    I have witnessed this too first hand. the reason companies come out with Betas are to recieve feedback on how the machine works. do you know how much it would cost to have one person be the tester of a beta from a cost perspective? 60000 dollars a year for one tester. here they have thousands of testers who provide very substantial input into the product saving the company millions of dollars. and the funny thing is they don’t even want to repay testers for their service by providing them with the software they helped to make? yea flawed.

17. 

    Amanda Edmondson February 26th, 2010 at 00:49

    First of all, I need to learn how to hack. I am not very technological outside of the basic programs all students know how to use, so hacking a program has never crossed my mind-until now. Second of all, it looks like those LED lights are working, the greenhouse looks great!

18. 

    Damon Ward February 26th, 2010 at 01:33

    I think Microsoft knows that people are doing these kinds of things, but they could probably care less because of all the average joes out there who have no idea how to hack are paying them big bucks. On the other hand, couldn’t them saying that you can’t update be false advertising? LED lights are cool!

19. 

    ashley lane February 26th, 2010 at 10:03

    Yes, these companies are out for profit first. However, it is not their fault alone that everything is getting updated so quickly. If you think about Moore’s Law and how quickly technology is progressing, if they do not go quickly they will get left behind. For us students, we use whatever the school is compatible with; which in turn, makes us have to update to keep up with the school. The companies know this and use it to their advantage.I just wish they never made vista.

20. 

    Courtney M. Cronk February 27th, 2010 at 10:47

    Thats really stupid that they would make it so you would have to start all over. (smart for them, but an inconvience to us consumers, both mentally and wallet-wise.) Even more amazing that you were able to keep all of your old files and get the new version anyways. how did you know how to do that? and that it would work?

    ps.-Your lighting system for the gren house seems to do be holding up well! your green house looks beautiful.

21. 

    Mahmood Alrawi February 28th, 2010 at 01:15

    hey i had the same problem with windows seven…but for me the one i was running was a flawed hacked version so its partially my fault. i also did something similar and got a “new” hacked version going. Ur right about Microsoft being an evil empire…but they know how to make the best customer rated software. i hope those tomatoes grow well, i couldn’t watch all of it, my eyes started hurting from the led lights.

22. 

    Mahmood Alrawi February 28th, 2010 at 01:17

    ohh nvmd…wrong video. you might want to check the embedded video…it seems to either stop playing or take me to a whole different video than what was posted…

23. 

    joseph mecca February 28th, 2010 at 02:37

    Giving the free trial is a principle of persuasion to suck you in, get hooked, (foot in the door) but it’s also a fair attempt to get people to purchase the product. Allow the consumer to use and see if it is actually something they want to invest in, and if they get “hooked” then the customer should be grateful they had the opportunity to trial it free, otherwise they may never have known to make the purchase.

24. 

    Soroosh Karamyar February 28th, 2010 at 15:08

    Thanks for the heads up on getting around the beta version!!!! I have not updated yet but ill get to it later. For a poor student this is an awesome deal.
    The plants are looking good too. Im jealous because I like growing plants too and wish I had a green house.

25. 

    Byron Young March 2nd, 2010 at 02:01

    I agree that their are still some problems but as they continue to update windows they try to correct these errors.

26. 

    Blake Bronowicki March 2nd, 2010 at 10:58

    I am actually in the process of purchasing Windows 7. It seems like as soon as one software package comes out, within the year or so a new one comes out. By doing this Microsoft seems to simply keep on taking money from everyone. Beta versions of Microsoft seem to work well, but I wish I was more informed with technology so I could update software in a way without spending hundreds of dollars to buy new software.

27. 

    Daniel Johnson March 9th, 2010 at 10:53

    I have not purchased Windows 7, I am happy with Vista for now untill I graduate. I would probably purchase it through Purdue for they get a discount on the softwares. My computer is nt running tht fast the way it is. It also looks likes you are off to a good start with the LED light in the greenhouse!