Microsoft: Such a selfish lover

You'd have thought Microsoft had learned by now to treat others as it would like to be treated.

But no, many of its users still feel like second-class citizens, spending considerable sums on cycle after cycle of Windows releases.

It should come as no surprise that a group like The Infrastructure Forum (TIF) believes the upcoming Windows XP operating system will cost users an extra £1bn as they are forced into a three-year subscription model that does away with old-style discounts for upgrading.

All this comes at a time when Microsoft should be bending over backwards to tempt its customers to upgrade.

Microsoft needs good publicity not more negative comments from outraged users fed up with being regarded as endless money pits.

Windows XP launches at a time when UK Plc is tightening its belt. That's an unfortunate coincidence not even Microsoft can get around, but surely it should be aware of this situation and offer encouragement to its loyal band of followers. Instead, the software giant sits pretty, chuckling to itself that its customers have little choice.

When invited to write an open letter to our readers offering its side of the story Microsoft told us it would be a good idea to wait a month, and then promised the issues would still be relevant.

It wouldn't be good business to be drawn into a public debate on such a negative issue this close to a major release. Would it?