Microsoft’s Fixed Rate Tax approaches 100%
,----[ Quote ]
| But to get back to the main thread of this. Just two companies here in the UK
| that could offer me a laptop which I could choose to have supplied without an
| Operating System. That is bloody scandalous. EVERY other laptop (apart from
| the 2 Dell machines and some Asus EEe PCs [Update: I was a bit brief here.
| There are few other vendors who supply Linux pre-installed. But they do not
| offer the choice of “no operating system”]) would be supplied with a
| Microsoft Operating System. I had little or no choice; I could always have
| bought a Mac but that’s a somewhat similar issue.
`----
http://www.theopensourcerer.com/2008/01/29/microsofts-fixed-rate-tax-approaches-100/
Dell adds Ubuntu option to XPS M1330n - Linux users get screwed again
,----[ Quote ]
| Dell has announced that it has started shipping Ubuntu Linux 7.10 as an
| option for the XPS M1330 laptop in various European countries. U.S.
| availability will follow soon.
| Dell has recently revealed a prime choice for hardware when it comes to Linux
| users and offers like this one will help continue that trend.
|
| The problem is that Dell might eventually report they're not getting enough
| demand. In that situation I wouldn't be surprised - I don't think people will
| be stupid enough to the point of paying £100 more just to get Ubuntu
| installed - it's not something hard to do.
`----
http://www.siliconmadness.com/2008/01/dell-adds-ubuntu-option-to-xps-m1330n.html
Related:
Why the Unbundling Windows Sceptics are Wrong
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft has introduced a number of measures in recent versions of Windows
| which are designed to stop piracy of Windows. In effect, they have provided
| their own answer to this question.
`----
http://www.cybersource.com.au/users/conz/why_the_unbundling_windows_sceptics_are_wrong.html
Users split over naked PCs
,----[ Quote ]
| The high cost to business of having Windows pre-installed on PCs was
| certainly an issue for ZDNet.co.uk's sister site silicon.com's CIO Jury.
| Three-quarters of the jury backed calls for naked PCs, not only to foster
| diversity in operating systems but also to bring down costs.
|
| On the business side, several reader comments point to the fact many
| companies do not use pre-installed operating systems but rather choose to
| install a "standard image" on each machine. By starting from a naked PC,
| businesses would at least save time (due to not having to delete the existing
| installation), if not cash too, they said.
`----
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39289744,00.htm?r=2
Are 'naked PCs' good for businesses?
,----[ Quote ]
| Three-quarters of silicon.com's 12-strong CIO Jury IT director panel have now
| backed that call for naked PCs, although the argument is far from
| straightforward.
`----
http://news.zdnet.com/2424-9595_22-167353.html
Unbundling Microsoft Windows
,----[ Quote ]
| Computers in the European Union should be sold without a bundled operating
| system, according to this submission to the European Commission. It says that
| the bundling of Microsoft Windows with computers is not in the public
| interest, and prevents meaningful competition in the operating system market.
`----
http://www.globalisation.eu/briefings/competition-policy/unbundling-microsoft-windows-200709231241/
Free-market think tank urges EU to unbundle Windows
,----[ Quote ]
| The Globalisation Institute, a European think-tank run by free market
| advocates, today went on the offensive against Microsoft, calling on the EU
| to require all PCs to be sold without operating systems.
`----
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/09/24/globalisation_institute_windows_bundling/
French consumer group attacks PC software bundling
,----[ Quote ]
| UFC-Que Choisir legal officer Sandra Wouhling said current
| practice effectively forced ordinary consumers to buy computers
| using Microsoft operating systems whereas companies anda
| dministrations were offered a real choice.
`----
http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20061214:MTFH94365_2006-12-14_14-49-22_L14537403&type=comktNews&rpc=44
http://tinyurl.com/yf7kfu
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."
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061201/microsoft_trial.html?.v=1
Linux gains ground in China
,----[ Quote ]
| Linux has been riding on a wave in China, topping the growth of all operating
| systems in the first quarter of 2007, says an industry analyst.
`----
http://www.zdnetasia.com/insight/specialreports/0,39044853,62028679,00.htm
China's Founder agrees to preinstall Windows on more PCs
,----[ Quote ]
| The earlier agreement to preinstall Windows on Founder PCs helped fight
| piracy by reducing the number of systems that are shipped without operating
| systems.
`----
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/11/07/China-Founder-to-preinstall-Windows-on-more-PCs_1.html
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