On Wed, 2002-11-13 at 02:26, Todd Slater wrote: > the sooner they will take notice. > > Exactly. I checked out an offer from Gateway for a $399 computer. I went > into a Gateway support chat session and asked if I could get a Gateway > computer without an operating system. The support person said that no, > Gateway can't sell a computer without an OS, they have an agreement with > MS. Thank you very much, I said. > > On exiting the chat, I was prompted to fill out a survey on the > experience. Under additional comments, I asked, "I wonder how many more > computers Gateway could sell if it didn't force customers to pay the > Microsoft tax?" > > I'm sure Gateway has a beancounter that has figured out that they will > make more money bending over for MS than they will selling OS-less > systems. But I'm just as sure that as soon as the numbers change, so > will the policy. Or, when the demand for OS-less computers is > sufficient, Gateway will dump its agreement with MS. > > It felt good to say it, though :) > > Todd
BTW, in 2000, before I left Texas for Australia, I purchased a "server" from Gateway - without the OS installed. They didn't have a whinge about it at all. On the other hand, that is a SERVER and not a DESKTOP. Servers don't really count in the "desktop market" - but I just wanted you to know that... -- Thu Nov 14 07:10:00 EST 2002 -------------------------------- | __ __ | | / \ /| |'-. | | .\__/ || | | | | _ / `._ \|_|_.-' | | | / \__.`=._) (_ |kuhn media australia | |/ ._/ |"""""""""| |http://kma.0catch.com | |'. `\ | | |stephen kuhn | ;"""/ / | | |email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] | smk ) /_/| |.-------.| |mobile: 0410-728-389 | ' `-`' " " |linux user:267497 -------------------------------- Take your dying with some seriousness, however. Laughing on the way to your execution is not generally understood by less advanced life forms, and they'll call you crazy. -- "Messiah's Handbook: Reminders for the Advanced Soul"
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