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Story: Microsoft: Don't sell PCs without operating systems

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Posted by: Al Active (Thursday 6 April 2006, 12:53 PM)

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All systems without M$ on it is a potential pirate system? It is the same mentality we heard "If you are not for us you are against us". It comes from the fundamentalist versions of the world views forming the nurturing bed of religions like rampant capitalism, Christianity of the bible belt, Muslims misusing the fatwas, some Hindu fanaticisms and other ideologies (Peter L Berger's 'Pyramids of sacrifice' is a must read – see Amazon).

What makes H/W vendors "bend over" to M$? What do they get from bundling H/W & S/W as a default without other options like “NO OS” or Linux? If I am forced to buy such a bundle, I demand a rebate to the cost of a standard M$ OS and the other S/W. If they do not want to do it, I go somewhere else. I have never bought a bundled H/W & S/W of the close to 160 systems I personally installed to date; Workstations or Servers.

As a professional I can do that, but the man in the street is locked in because most of them are glad to unpack and switch on a PC that works within minutes; it is true for a start, until the M$ malware hits back later. Some time ago I had business dealings with Compaq. They supplied all computers with an installation CD, where you could choose your OS and then obtain a license key for the one U wanted (and then only paid for - this system was available in Germany). Maybe a DVD that boots and can install various OS's can be included in the boxed bundle everyone buys, but with a virgin HD. This must be forced by EU legislation, to allow all Distros a chance.

I thought that capitalism is where everyone has an equal right to trade (on a fair playing ground - definition of economics according to Sameulson's standard work 'Economics' at business schools). The catch 22 is that some are more equal than others, like those with a lot of cash e.g. M$ that can distort this equal playing field. Is this the democracy with its religion of capitalism that GWB wants to export to the world? Then he is surprised why the world hates his guts!

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Full Talkback thread

Story: Microsoft: Don't sell PCs without operating systems

  1. Presumably, if Microsoft were in charge of CD / DV... Anonymous
  2. Well, I've got 4 copies of Windows XP Home th... David Wright
  3. I agree with this poster 100%. I have s... dc0de
  4. Large OEMs will never ship without MS Wi... Anonymous
  5. Well, I've got 4 copies of Windows XP Ho... Stephen Samuel
  6. Why not build your own PC? Or I can cust... Zolar
  7. I demand the right to buy a PC without a preinstal... Chris Rankin
  8. > Is this the *only* way that Microsoft expec... pgn
  9. Typical MS arrogance. The EC (European c... ji
  10. err Microsoft wants to sell more co... Jon
  11. you do have to buy a new licence as... D S Panesar
  12. Well microsoft, try and stop me fro... TIM
  13. What makes things worse is that the vendor, i... Tim Hanson
  14. Geez man have you guys got nothing bette... Anonymous
  15. Mr Anonymous Developer, this has no... Chris Rankin
  16. I wonder if being forced to buy something you... Anonymous
  17. I'll make you an offer you can't refuse.... It's i... Anonymous
  18. System builders should be able to sell PCs wihtout... Matthew
  19. Think about how old is XP? Today, the life span of... Lupa
  20. Another example of Microsoft trying to monopolize... smurphy
  21. mmm... Sounds like Microshaft is running scared. G... Anonymous
  22. That's right, Microsoft - keep pushing me towards... Rob Davidson
  23. Computers should come with a variety pack of oper... Anonymous
  24. Many more heavy-handed tactics like this and... mo
  25. Funny how everyone - EC commission inclu... Michael Pantridge
  26. Michael, Microsoft does NOT deserve... Chris Rankin
  27. Funny how everyone - EC commission inclu... Michael Pantridge
  28. Have all computers preinstalled with some ver... Zolar
  29. Every computer should be sold without an OS. Micro... Kilz
  30. ---Companies Selling Preinstalled Linux--- ...and... cyber_rigger
  31. Seems like microsoft thinks that free of choice is... Rodrigo Lazo
  32. All systems without M$ on it is a potential p... Al Active
  33. I think this goes into the same category... iandotcom
  34. As a small business owner in Seattle, I can say th... Anonymous
  35. Perhaps a class action lawsuit to put them ou... Zolar
  36. I agree - PCs should nopt be sold without operatin... Leigh Valentine
  37. Gump, you are a god damned genius.... Noah Fingway
  38. I would like to see Microsoft come to my house and... Anonymous
  39. the more microsoft say this year the more the... mike streather
  40. This makes Microsoft sound like a modern day mafia... Anonymous
  41. "We want to intimidate all system builders — indee... Ivan Marsh
  42. It was surprise to know that Microsoft is using sh... Anonymous
  43. Tomahawk desktop isn't the competition for Wi... sp
  44. There are a number of issues here. The first is... john
  45. I forgot some issues in my earlier post. The eleve... john
  46. Think about it seriously and you will see where mi... Anonymous
  47. Techy, you have it backwards. This is "more m... Chris Rankin
  48. The last computer I purchased, pre built, was in 1... Oldator
  49. This is something we can refer to Trading Standard... Sid Boyce
  50. Of course this is nothing other than a LINUX rant.... Ken Quick
  51. ms's bullying is well known and I, like most,... r
  52. I work for a small foreign company who have a lice... Anonymous
  53. First you must understand that your average citize... David
  54. The movie ROLLERBALL comes to mind here.... C... Zolar
  55. Zolar, "building my own" isn't an option... Chris Rankin
  56. I guess the basic problem is the in... Andrew Meredith
  57. Well, I personally won't buy a computer that has M... Jaqui Greenlees
  58. Give customers (us) a wider choice & adhere to tha... Gerard W
  59. If I were in charge, which I'm not, I would g... Not Bill Gates
  60. Sell PC with SLAX LIVE CD It is fast way for selle... Andriy
  61. No worries....Clothe the PCs in Linux (+KDE/Gnome)... Anonymous
  62. "Alexander estimated that 5 percent of computers s... Linux User
  63. you cannot buy a branded PC without paying for win... D S Panesar
  64. If linux is cheaper, and selling pc's with os prei... Koops
  65. Interesting thread... Never having used Linux... TonyGuitar
  66. Tony Guitar you should try Linux by usin... Tux
  67. Tux, Thank you. I cut an... TonyGuitar
  68. TUX, Thank you for giving me... TonyGuitar
  69. I wonder if this 'infringes' my human rights?! It... Anonymous
  70. Here is the answer to this question - NO OS sytems... Anonymous
  71. Isn't it illegal in Great Britain to tie the sale... Anonymous

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