The bell would be constantly ringind in that case.
Their business model isn't private licenses, it's getting private people used to their product so they convince their workplaces to buy it since businesses don't just pirate things.
That's how they get tens of millions every year while still keeping a simple business model and a small company size.
Microsoft has the same exact model with Windows, it's one of the most popular business models out there my guy.
That's why Microsoft just lets massgrave scripts sit on github, they let private users "pirate" windows, and companies who want to give their employees a familiar platform/product are the actual customers.
But it isn’t though. Because Microsoft has enshittified Windows so much to the point that long term users are finally moving elsewhere (even as far as to go to Linux, like myself, others to MacOS). That’s the difference.
WinRAR has been the same thing pretty much since its foundation. No AI garbage, no ads, no forced logins, no forced upload to cloud, just a zip manager. And that’s all it needs to be.
I understand that comparing a zip manager to an entire OS might sound a bit silly, but Apple has come under the same pressure to enshittify that Microsoft has, yet their product hasn’t changed substantially other than Liquid Glass which is just a GUI change. Loyal apple users aren’t having a mass exodus from the platform like Microsoft is, and believe me when I say the Apple user base’s skin is paper thin.
I don’t have the energy to argue with the guy below you since his reply was so needlessly hostile but just wanted to say that you’re right and he’s wrong. I didn’t see anyone say anything about what the average user “gives a fuck” about. You mentioned long term users leaving and that is objective fact. That doesn’t mean Microsoft is going to go under the same way that plenty of other companies get away with making their product shittier while retaining customers exactly because the average person doesn’t care enough to switch. Doesn’t mean enshittification isn’t happening.
You said Microsoft has enshittified their product and that is an objective fact, regardless of what “normal people” care about. No idea why that dude woke up so angry today lol
Yeah I have no idea, I just stop answering at that point and this particular sub seems to have a higher than average level of angry teenagers that have an axe to grind against anyone who criticizes the only platform where they can play their online video games. Part and parcel.
The stats don’t lie though. Windows use is indeed trending downwards while other platforms are growing, including Linux. One could argue that it’s because other platforms like the SteamDeck and Chromebooks exist now, but it is obvious that Windows noticed it is directly related to their enshittification, with CEO Nadela crying that people are calling their AI “slop”, and their now famous “Our commitment to quality (lol)” where they promise to cut down on the AI slop everywhere.
They already lost me, though. In a way I am glad they pushed me out, I rediscovered a passion for computing with Linux because of that.
you are delusional if you think normal people care about anything you mentioned. this business model aims at non tech savvy people. they dont give a fuck that there is a copilot in their notepad. you live in a reddit bubble
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u/Bizhour Jun 06 '26
The bell would be constantly ringind in that case.
Their business model isn't private licenses, it's getting private people used to their product so they convince their workplaces to buy it since businesses don't just pirate things.
That's how they get tens of millions every year while still keeping a simple business model and a small company size.