Did you know that “a survey showed that Microsoft’s FoxPro database application accounted for 65% of database installations in
China, yet Microsoft had not sold a single legal copy in the country.” (source)
This blows me a way. I know pirating is bad in China but this is just unbelievable. Imagine if 10% of those installs were legal. Microsoft would have additional pressure to carry on the language (and would have plenty of additional revenue as well).
Anyway, that article is a great read for anyone interested. Now I can blame Bill AND China for VFP’s fate.
![[Valid RSS]](http://blog.todmeansfox.com/wp-content/icons/valid-rss.png "Validate my RSS feed"){kind=icon}
![[Valid CSS]](http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/images/vcss "Validate my CSS")
#1 by xinjie at March 29th, 2008
| Quote
“yet Microsoft had not sold a single legal copy in the country.” —This is an irresponsible statement!! According to my experience, I at least know that some companies and individuals to buy legal copy!!
#2 by xinjie at March 29th, 2008
| Quote
I forgot tell you ,I’m from China.
#3 by Tod McKenna at March 30th, 2008
| Quote
Perhaps you should contact the author!
I get the feeling though that selling a few thousand legitimate licenses in China would be statistically insignificant for the study and for Microsoft.
Just a thought. Generally speaking though, do you feel that the statement is accurate in general (aside from your personal experiences)?
#4 by wOOdy at March 30th, 2008
| Quote
Hi Tod, this survey is sure a bit older, since I remember to have heard that very same numbers several years ago…
One interesting fact here is, that (at least to my knowledge) FOX Software had a deal with a Chinese Software company, who localized FoxPro to the Chinese market on their own. That’s why FoxPro had a very good standing in China from the beginning. When MS took over, they didn’t renewed that agreement, but provided the two Chinese language DLLs with the main product. There are not too many MS products with chinese support out of the box.
#5 by ccb2000 at March 31st, 2008
| Quote
?????????visual foxpro???microsoft??????????visual foxpro???????????????????????visual foxpro????????visual foxpro?????????visual foxpro???????microsoft???????????????download……
#6 by ccb2000 at March 31st, 2008
| Quote
In China it is very difficult to buy visual foxpro, perhaps microsoft it is not sales visual foxpro in China. But in Hong Kong(China) and the China Taiwan purchased the vast majority of genuine visual foxpro. Where they buy visual foxpro can, of course, the visual foxpro Maizhengban. China was not selling microsoft here, we do not buy in, we had to download ……
#7 by xinjie at March 31st, 2008
| Quote
Hi Tod,I’m sorry if you caused misunderstanding?
I admit that my emotions excited when I saw this view .I don’t have any blame with you because we are all interested in the VFP.
In China,in many years ago, it’s a face that a large number of illegal copy was sales, OS,TOOLS,etc.This situation has largely improved since China joined the WTO .This is the same for everyone to see.
VFP’s future, will not be decide by the number of sales in China.It is a fact known to all.
It may be seen as a zero from the statistical point of view?but, it does not mean that there is no sales of even “a single legal copy”.
BTW,Windows Operating System price is the highest in China, compared to other countries.Of course,it does not include Vista .
#8 by xinjie at March 31st, 2008
| Quote
My god!VFP sales price is $544.99 in the United States.In fact,VFP sales price is greater than $900 According to today’s exchange rate in China .
#9 by Stuart at April 1st, 2008
| Quote
Imagine how many copies would have been sold if VFP supported Unicode properly..
#10 by Tod McKenna at April 1st, 2008
| Quote
Touché Stuart!
#11 by YeLaiXiang at May 22nd, 2008
| Quote
Hello, the World !
I Come From China too.
#12 by Plinio at October 6th, 2008
| Quote
The busssiness with VFP is windows, office and Sql Serve sales it brings. Microsoft is so stupid that they don’t know that.