I'm wondering though, at least for Dell, I assume they have an image and the hard drives get imaged way before the assembly line. So, to have an option at the assembly line that says, select drive 1 for Windows or drive 2 for OSS... wouldn't be too much to add. I dunno, i have no idea how it actually works at dell, but it might not be too hard to add. bb
On Wed, 25 Feb 2009, Tim Fournet wrote: > The cost for an OEM copy of windows, after all the subsidies is something > like $35. If you take into account the costs to build a process to order > machines without an OS for the small number of people who would even request > that sort of thing, you can see why the big box manufacturers don't want to > deal with it. A local computer shop will do it because it's not like they > have to interrupt an assembly line to one-off an image > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Mark A. Lappin" <ma...@lmfj.com> > To: "general@brlug.net" <general@brlug.net> > Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 11:15:51 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central > Subject: Re: [brlug-general] ms to remove IE, or will add other browsers? > >> Few years ago when I was looking into getting a laptop, I could not get a >> preloaded linux one >> from any "major" manufacturer. The situation is a little bit better now. BTW >> the same issue applies to Apple. > > > > A few years ago is a whole different story. I don't use linux as my primary > desktop OS but on the last several systems I've ordered OEM, linux has been > an option for the pre-installed OS. End-User desktop linux has really > matured over the last few years, it installs easily, supports a lot more > hardware without having to get into anything to technical which if I were an > OEM provider would be a critical decision for me on what OS' to make > available. Not to mention what does the purchasing market want/demand. Many > more people are non-Windows aware now than they were even 3 years ago and > that makes a big difference. > > Re getting a machine with no pre-installed OS, I've never tried to as a home > user but have been doing so in my work life since 2001 in working for various > helpdesks/IT departments with corporate purchasing accounts. The few > machines I had custom built at local computer shops it was never a problem to > get without the OS (although it really only lowered the cost of the machine > by a few bucks, I never quite figured out that pricing structure for OEM > Windows XP). For the Average user I can see not putting a no OS option in > various web based build your computer interfaces - remember the average user > just wants to turn their computer on and have it work, if a company easily > offered to the masses no OS as an option with a "subtract $399" option, the > average user wanting to save $400 would take it, end up calling support, > being frustrated and then mad that it just didn't work. I am not saying I > 100% agree with not making it an easy option for the average home user but I > can see > why OEM vendors would not want to make it easy to do, more work and thus > more money they may potentially have to spend meaning their margin on that > machine just went down. I doubt it would be easy to do even with a phone > call unless they got a really good phone rep (unlikely) or called the > business orders division where its more common. > > I think in today's world and as non-Microsoft OS' start to take more of the > market share, there will be more variety in whats available from big name > computer vendors, I think it is a slow road but there is progress being made. > Once Google releases their OS I think there will be much more of a take off > of OEM support for home users not running Windows. > > > ML > > > Mark A. Lappin, CCNA, MCSE:Security | Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry > Director of Information Technology > 11314 Cloverland Ave | Baton Rouge, LA 70809 > Ph: 225.291.9094 ext 245 | Fax: 225-291-5778 | Mobile: 225-362-2770 > www.lmfj.com > > > > This communication is privileged and confidential. If you are not the > intended recipient, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all > copies of this communication . > > _______________________________________________ > General mailing list > General@brlug.net > http://mail.brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net > > _______________________________________________ > General mailing list > General@brlug.net > http://mail.brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net > _______________________________________________ General mailing list General@brlug.net http://mail.brlug.net/mailman/listinfo/general_brlug.net
