What I've heard on this matter is that the M$ contract states only that builders can no longer sell "empty" chassis. There must be AN OS with the computer.
This was to counter the practice of quantity purchasers buying blank boxes, (and by M$'s concern) loading a single copy of some M$ OS on dozens of boxes with only one license. But, they would be hauled into court by every company and State in the US if they went so far as to say it HAD to be an M$ OS. So they left it as *an* OS knowing full well that theirs would be the most likely candidate, and thus another sale made. Not wanting to loose thousands upon thousands from customers not wanting to spend the extra for the installed OS, BUT, also not wanting to breech or lose the contract with M$, for these special customers they would build an empty chassis to the customers' specs, then, just before sealing up the box, they toss in a floppy containing a copy of "free DOS". Thus, they have met the contract stipulation of "providing *an* OS, but not having to charge the client for the product, or installation. I haven't confirmed this for myself. But he who told me has a strong purchasing arrangement with Dell, so, could be. :-) ht >)----- Original Message ----- >)From: Andy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >)Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2003 07:15:19 -0900 >)To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >)Subject: Re: Getting Linux on a retail laptop, without paying for Windows >) >)Re: > > IBM would be the best bet. >)Re: > >)Re: > sadly, for all the hype coming out of IBM these days about >)Re: > how they're firmly behind linux and are investing bazillions >)Re: > of dollars in it, it appears that you still can't buy a thinkpad >)Re: > that doesn't have windows pre-loaded on it. >)Re: > >)Re: > i'll finally start taking IBM seriously when they sell either >)Re: > a linux-loaded laptop or, even better, a blank one. IBM >)Re: > can certainly talk the talk. time for them to walk the walk. >)Re: >)Re: Is it IBM's choice to continue this practice? >)Re: Or are they still bound by legal contractual obligations to ship with >)an MS >)Re: operating system? >)Re: >)Re: Same thing with Dell I think. The only way I could get around this >)last year >)Re: was to buy a PowerEdge with no OS loaded from their Business sales. >)Re: Loaded Linux on it and its actually a nice workstation. >)Re: >)Re: Anyone know if IBM is contractually bound? I will be in the market >)for >)Re: a new Thinkpad soon and would like to know. >)Re: >)Re: >)Re: >)Re: -- >)Re: redhat-list mailing list >)Re: unsubscribe mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?subject=unsubscribe >)Re: https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list >) >) >) >)LINUX OS >)of the people >)by the people >)from the people >) >) >)-- >)_______________________________________________ >)http://www.operamail.com >)Now with OperaMail Premium for only US$29.99/yr >) >)Powered by Outblaze >) >) >) >)-- >)redhat-list mailing list >)unsubscribe mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?subject=unsubscribe >)https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list {{{{{{{{{{{{{ END ORIGINAL MESSAGE}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} -- redhat-list mailing list unsubscribe mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?subject=unsubscribe https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list
