Microsoft eyes making desktop apps and the Windows OS free

[mandy]

Even as Microsoft readies a host of new ad-supported online services to battle rivals, the software maker has been mulling a plan to offer free, ad-supported versions of some of its desktop products...

Although no specific plans have been made, executives within Microsoft are examining whether it makes sense to release ad-supported versions of products such as Works, Money, or even the Windows operating system itself, according to internal documents...

"As Web advertising grows and consumer revenues shrink, we need to consider creating ad-supported versions of our software,"...

full article: http://news.com.com/Microsoft+eyes+makin...51569.html

[jezebel]

whether it makes sense to release ad-supported versions of products such as Works, Money, or even the Windows operating system itself,

It reminds me of the companies that tried offering ad-supported Internet access.  People hated the ads.