Here’s a summary and analysis of "I’ve had it with Microsoft" by Paris Marx, as seen on Disconnect:
Read the original and comments for more first-hand accounts:
Disconnect Blog – I’ve had it with Microsoft by Paris Marx
Source: Disconnect | Paris Marx I’ve had it with Microsoft
- Price hikes and AI funding: Paris Marx criticizes Microsoft for significantly raising prices on existing Microsoft 365 customers to fund its investments in generative AI. For example, his annual subscription jumped from $79 CAD to $115 CAD (a 46% increase), which Microsoft justified as necessary for "rising costs" and "new innovations"—essentially, AI development.
- Deceptive tactics: The article details how Microsoft appeared to force all customers onto AI-driven plans at a higher price. However, only when Marx attempted to cancel did Microsoft reveal the option to stay on a cheaper plan "without AI"—one similar to what customers previously had. No clear communication about this was given in the price hike notice.
- Market abuse: Marx sees this as a classic case of market power abuse, paralleling similar tactics from Google, Salesforce, and others, who are raising prices on essential business products to recoup AI spending, while overstating the utility of these generative tools.
- Disillusionment with big tech and AI: Marx and many commenters believe generative AI is largely overhyped and of little real value to average users, yet they’re being forced to pay more for it. There’s a growing sentiment that these companies' tactics foster public resentment and should attract regulatory attention.
- Alternatives explored: The comments include multiple users sharing their switch to alternatives like LibreOffice or OnlyOffice, although some note that Microsoft Excel’s advanced features remain unmatched for power users.
Key Quotes:
- “The price of my plan did not change. Instead, Microsoft moved me to a new plan that contained generative AI features I never asked for; a plan that cost a lot more than I was already paying. Then it lied to me... claiming my existing plan had increased in price and that there was no version... without generative AI—until I tried to stop paying them altogether.”
- “Deceptive practices like this are part of the reason so many people... see generative AI as a giant scam.”
Community Response Highlights:
- Many users recount similar experiences of price hikes and misleading upgrade paths.
- Several suggest LibreOffice or OnlyOffice as alternatives, noting some trade-offs but overall satisfaction.
- Some lament there’s “no real alternative to Excel” for advanced work, but for basic needs, MS alternatives work well.
- Others note general frustration with "selective" digital pricing in tech and online services today.
Takeaway:
Paris Marx’s essay captures a wave of frustration at how tech giants are using AI as justification for squeezing more from consumers, employing deceptive pricing and upgrade practices. The backlash isn’t just about cost but about trust—users feel lied to and manipulated, and many are now exploring other, sometimes open-source, alternatives to escape Big Tech's grasp.Read the original and comments for more first-hand accounts:
Disconnect Blog – I’ve had it with Microsoft by Paris Marx
Source: Disconnect | Paris Marx I’ve had it with Microsoft