I guess I'll throw my two cents in... While a non-standard unit (no OS, etc) is out of process, I would imagine that Microsoft's OEM licensing Agreement forces the OEM to sell a percentage of units with the latest Microsoft bloatware, and I'd imagine that percentage or term to be somewhere around 95% or so. Whatever market share Microsoft wishes (or thinks) it should retain/obtain.
It seems Microsoft's business practices regarding the "privilege" to sell Microsoft products are similar to Wal-Mart's. Bully suppliers to play by your rules, or tell them to get off the field. There's a reason that the industry hasn't moved to OSS, and it's not because of any other reason then Microsoft. If OEM's were a free to sell what they want, to who they want, I believe that within a few years you would see OSS loaded desktops in the mainstream, right next to Microsoft desktops. Furthermore, I believe that without Microsoft's "market share" (is it really market share if it's forced?) they would have to step up and produce real, marketable products that were compatible with other OS's and packages. Ditto for security. Waiting two weeks for patches to resolve a 0day exploit? Fun. What are they worried about? Microsoft products are head and shoulders above any software written by a bunch of communist-hippie-hobbyists. :] Maybe I'm way off base here. It is before noon. ~hkb On Sat, 2008-11-15 at 09:21 -0500, Jerry Feldman wrote: > On 11/14/2008 11:03 PM, Greg Rundlett wrote: > > I've noticed many vendors offering a Windows XP "downgrade" for an > > additional fee. I just ordered a Lenovo notebook, and they do that. > > I don't know what to say about paying not to get something other than > > it sounds like a mafia racket. /me shakes head. If I were going to > > actually run Windows, then I'd probably pay extra for the XP option > > > I think the issues are that the vendors buy a bulk license, and the > process of producing a Windows machine is highly automated. In the case > of Linux or no OS, it is more of an out-of-process operation. The > number of Linux laptops produced is very small compared to Windows, and > Linux may not be compatible with some hardware options. HP and Compaq > did at one time sell Linux laptops and desktops, but they stopped > because of the cost. > > _______________________________________________ > gnhlug-discuss mailing list > gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org > http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/ _______________________________________________ gnhlug-discuss mailing list gnhlug-discuss@mail.gnhlug.org http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss/
