Dell Open-Source Notebooks
,----[ Quote ]
| The open-source n Series notebooks feature select popular models
| from the LatitudeTM line available with a copy of the FreeDOSTM
| open-source operating system included in the box, ready to install.
`----
http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/nseries_nb?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&%7Eck=mn
There are some desktops and servers which are sold with Red Hat Linux, but
this one is certainly new, AFAICT.
Related rumour:
On a related note, there was a rumour a while back.
,----[ Quote ]
| Dell to intro Linux based notebook
|
| SOURCES SAID Dell in Europe and Mandriva will introduce a Latitude
| DX20 laptop using the Linux operating system.
|
| The machine includes Centrino Duo and hardware certification of Mandriva.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31300
There was no word on that one...
Makes an observer wonder if the H-P and Lenovo plans to preinstall Linux --
plans that were shortly afterwards retracted -- are due to Microsoft
intervention and pressure.
Jury Hears Microsoft Competition Suit
,----[ Quote ]
| A judge on Friday told jurors they must accept as fact that a
| federal court found in 1999 that Microsoft holds a monopoly over
| computer operating systems and that it restricted computer
| manufacturers' ability to use competing systems.
|
| [...]
|
| She said she'll show that the company used its monopoly power
| to exclude competition and control prices and that it conspired with
| other companies to restrain trade, maintaining what she called a
| chokehold on software competitors and computer manufacturers.
|
| "It isn't illegal to be successful," Conlin said in opening
| remarks. "We applaud that. ... But you can't freeze out competitors
| and punish and retaliate against people who cooperate with
| competitors. Microsoft did all that and more."
|
| Conlin warned jurors that she would say some unflattering things
| about Microsoft and its billionaire founder Bill Gates, who
| serves as company chairman.
|
| [...]
|
| Conlin's first 3 1/2 hours of opening arguments delved deeply into
| computer industry history and how Microsoft fought off competitors
| attempting to design rival software.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061201/microsoft_trial.html?.v=1
Quote:
--------------------
Today in Iowa, attorneys have once again taken Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT
- news - people ) to court over anti-trust charges associated with
its Windows operating system. In addition to the age-old complaints
about squeezing out competitors and price-fixing, there is a twist:
This case alleges that by bolting together Windows and Internet
Explorer, Microsoft produced software that gummed up people's
computers....
The opening statement by Iowa attorney Roxanne Barton Conlin is
expected to last three to four days. She plans to show the entire
10-hour deposition given by Gates in 1998 to attorneys for the U.S.
Department of Justice....
One minor victory for Microsoft: Gates and Ballmer need only make one
trip to Iowa and so will answer questions from both the prosecution and
defense on the same day--potentially disrupting the "flow" of the
plaintiff's case.
Complaints about lack of choice and high prices have been the theme
song of most of the legal complaints against Microsoft. The Iowa case
also alleges that Microsoft's software caused "drained memory,
decreased speed and an increased incidence of security breaches and
bugs" in its customers' computers....
The plaintiff lawyers contend that Iowan customers of Microsoft are
entitled to as much as $329 million in damages as compensation for
Microsoft overcharges between May 1994 and June 2006. The lawyers are
also seeking compensation for the time people have had to spend
repairing security breaches--a figure that they put at a minimum of $50
million. "The illegal bolting of Internet Explore to the Windows
operating system created a larger 'attack surface'" and made the
operating system more vulnerable, asserts Richard Hagstrom, co-lead
counsel for the plaintiffs. "The damages are based on what people
need to do to protect themselves from security breaches."
-------------------
http://www.forbes.com/2006/11/30/vista-lawsuit-microsoft-tech-cz_ec_1...
Comes v. MS Antitrust Trial Begins in Iowa
,----[ Quote ]
| Here's part of what Allchin said about how to deal with the competitive
| threat from Novell then:
|
| "We need to slaughter Novell before they get stronger....If you're
| going to kill someone, there isn't much reason to get all worked up
| about it and angry. You just pull the trigger. Any discussions
| beforehand are a waste of time. We need to smile at Novell while
| we pull the trigger."
|
| [...]
|
| Conlin used a variety of computer-generated illustrations,
| including one that showed 15 icons, each representing what she
| said was an illegal action taken by Microsoft in pursuit of its
| bid to become and remain a monopoly. The icons had titles like
| "exclusionary contract," "technical sabotage," "buying out the
| competition," "espionage," and "deception and misinformation."
`----
http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=2006120516224886
,----[ Quote ]
| ...PC makers remain loyal to (read: scared of) Microsoft. But Linux
| is catching on like crazy in other devices, powering the sleek new
| Motorola A1200 Ming smart phone, the Sony Mylo handheld computer,
| Linksys wireless routers and TiVo digital video recorders. Another
| big market: telco switches. Venture Development Group says Linux will
| soon hold a 30% share in some parts of the embedded software market.
| Hardware guys choose Linux because it's faster and more reliable than
| Windows (some say) and is easily customized. Best of all--no protracted
| dealing with Microsoft and no royalties to pay. That's a hard deal to beat.
`----
http://www.forbes.com/free_forbes/2006/0918/102e.html?partner=yahoomag
As Novell's CEO recently said:
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft Corp is using scare tactics to exert pressure on PC vendors
| not to explore the potential of desktop Linux, according to Novell
| Inc president and COO, Ron Hovsepian
`----
http://www.commentwire.com/article_news.asp?guid=2044AB5A-59CA-4EC3-AD3F-73DF7BC4F8E0
Here's how Microsoft intercepted a country's migration to F/OSS, as well as
acquisition of 1 million Linux laptops.
Here it is from a better source
,----[ Quote ]
| About the meeting with Microsoft, he mentioned that he got a request from
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, deputy prime minister. [Note: It seems
| likely that the early meeting with Microsoft was about going to see
| the operation of British e-government.) Dr.Sitthichai said he will
| use his own money and contact British government directly instead.
|
| For the OLPC project, he asserted that he does not oppose or intend
| cancel the project. This project was initiated during Thaksin's
| government with no financial support plan. Therefore, the government
| does not have budget to support the project. Kamthorn had a chance
| to clarify and talk about the project for a little while. The
| minister said he will bring that up for the next meeting with
| OLPC working group which Dr.Djitt Laowattana serves as a board
| director.
`----
http://www.iosn.net/asean-3/countries/thailand/news/thai-open-sourcers-meet-ict-minister
Many more examples exist
|
|
