Roy Schestowitz wrote:
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> Microsoft strikes back at Linux netbook push
>
> ,----[ Quote ]
> | The very next day, Asus' chairman, Jonney Shih, after sharing a news
> | conference stage with Microsoft corporate VP, OEM Division, Steven
> | Guggenheimer, apologized for the Android Eee PC being shown.
The Shih has hit the fan for micoshaft.
Just don't tell anyone where you source your netbooks from.
They will go after your suppliers.
As for the suppliers, don't allow micoshaft employees and sales plops
to your factory. Never shown them the entire factory. To avoid
micoshaft business spies, always make sure that customers don't get
shown around the factory until they have constant orders for at least
a year and that they are not sneakily breaking the products and
returning them to overload the factory. A sale is a sale, no returns
if you are a factory because the price you quote includes 2% breakage.
Thats how you sell it and avoid crap from micoshaft.
The micoshaft business spies are everywhere. Never trust a 'customer' until
payment received and regular orders have been placed.
> | Shih said, "Frankly speaking ... I would like to apologize that, if you
> | look at Asus booth, we've decided not to display this product. I think
> | you may have seen the devices on Qualcomm's booth but actually, I think
> | this is a company decision so far we would not like to show this device.
> | That's what I can tell you so far. I would like to apologize for that."
> |
> | What the heck does he have to apology for? This wasn't some put-together
> | at the last minute skunk-works project that never should have been seen
> | by the public eye. This was a system that, from all reports, could have
> | gone into production immediately.
> |
> | The only thing I can think of is that Asus doesn't want to tick off
> | Microsoft. Microsoft has been losing money by almost giving away Windows
> | XP Home to netbook vendors. The Evil Empire wants to make that up this
> | year by forcing netbook customers into buying over-priced, under-powered
> | Windows 7. But, if customers get a chance to buy Linux-powered netbook
> | for a good deal less than Windows 7 netbooks, Microsoft is scared that
> | they'll lose the netbook market.
> |
> | If this was an isolated incident, I might not make so much of it. But,
> | it wasn't.
> |
> | On the other side of the world, PC World, Britain's self-professed
> | largest specialist chain of computing superstores, announced that,
> | regardless of what was coming with Linux netbooks, it would only be
> | selling Windows netbooks.
> |
> | [...]
> |
> | Microsoft, frightened by the sudden rise of new Linux netbooks, is doing
> | it best to make sure that neither you, nor anyone else, get a chance to
> | even see one, never mind buy one.
> |
> | It's typical Microsoft strong arm tactics. Microsoft doesn't dare
> | compete on quality, so it pressures OEMs (original equipment
> | manufacturers) and retailers to keep people from even realizing that
> | there are other, never-mind better, choices.
> `----
>
> http://blogs.computerworld.com
microsoft_strikes_back_at_linux_netbook_push
>
> Microsoft has history commissioning a group of people to pressure
> Wal-Mart, for example, to take Linux off the shelves. Sounds familiar,
> doesn't it? Exhibit below.
>
>
> _________________________________________________________
> Confidential Memo
>
> To: Microsoft Internal
>
> From: Walmart/Linux Taskforce: Robin Bradshaw, Christine Briggs, Mark
> Croft David Hoffman & Tom Perrier
>
> CC: Rogers Weed
>
> Date: May 16, 2006
>
> Summary
>
> Microtel PCs without an operating system (?naked?) first started appearing
> on Walmart.com in CY 01. We responded by working with Walmart.com on the
> language that was used to market those PCs. The focus was on ?anti-piracy?
> messages.
>
> The first Microtel Lindows PCs appeared on Walmart.com in June 2002. We
> are responding with a taskforce and coordinated efforts to understand the
> situation and intentions of all parties involved.
>
> To date, there has been a lot of press about the Linux PCs selling on
> Walmart.com (See attached list of articles.) The media has been mixed,
> some telling a positive story about the Linux efforts and some pointing
> out the flaws in the offerings. One consistent message is that these are
> ?substandard? PCs based on today?s technology advances.
>
> There is one critical data point we are missing: volume. Walmart will not
> disclose the volume of Microtel PCs they are selling, and Microtell has
> told us they are under a ?non-disclosure agreement with Walmart.? We have
> been working on some tactics so attempt to obtain volume estimates, but at
> this time, we can?t confirm any numbers.
>
> - - We understand that Microtel is shipping approximately 100 units per
> week on Walmart.com orders.
>
> - - We understand that most of the volume is at the $199 price point.
>
> - - We understand that most of those systems are shipping with NO OS.
> (Naked Systems)
>
> - - We understand that there has not been a customer satisfaction issue.
> Walmart sets fairly strict standards for customer return rates and service
> calls.
>
> The PR activity and focus from Walmart has definitely increased out
> efforts to understand the Linux threat on the desktop. Several Linux PCs
> were purchased and evaluated. See the summary of those findings below.
>
> Linux on the Desktop
>
> Abcdefghijklmnop?..
>
> Microtel
>
> Microtel is a small system builder in the City of Industry California. A
> couple of principles in the company came from a previous OEM Mitsuba.
> Microsoft filed suit against them in _____ for piracy and they went out of
> business. They haven?t been proponents of Microsoft, their volumes haven?t
> warranted direct account management, and we just began to engage and build
> a relationship with them in 2002.
>
> We started to engage with Microtel in the beginning of FY02, but the AM
> was met with a closed door and had little if no success. When the Lindows
> issue broke, Tom Perrier (tperrier), Microsoft System Builder RSM,
> discovered that Rich Hindman was their VP of Sales/Marketing (from
> Mitsuba). Tom had worked with Rich prior at AST Computer. Tat got us in
> the door and Rich is open to work on the relationship with Microsoft and
> Tom, but isn?t sharing any information regarding their plans of volume.
> This is a summary of his progress with Rich:
>
> 1.) Continue the engagement with Rich Hindman to focus on strategies to
> differentiate the offerings as Microtel introduces a new wave of SKU?s.
> This will separate the offerings and focus on the added value of the
> Windows based systems. (Avoid the current situation where the $299 Windows
> Home SKU is the same config as Lindows model but $100 more for the same
> model with XP Home, with no other differentiation). This can be
> accomplished with scenarios like the Office XP 20-Day trial (in place
> today).
>
> 2.) They are still very ?non-disclosure? oriented. I tried and tried, but
> could not get Rich to divulge any shipment data. I continue to think that
> the shipments out of their facility in City of Industry are small. In
> addition, Rich would not give me any real data for the current PRM Account
> Profiling that we are doing.
>
> 3.) All of the conversations with Microtel are centered on growing their
> Microsoft business, and improving the relationship between Microtel and
> Microsoft. We avoid any direct conversations on Lindows.
>
> 4.) Rich realizes and states that Microtel is getting increased focus and
> attention based upon their offerings on the Wal-Mart.com site. He will
> continue to take advantage of these opportunities as they arise.
>
> 5.) In developing the relationship with the local VIA Sales Rep, Roger Goh
> (rogergoh), System Builder AM was able to determine that the systems built
> for Walmart.com are build somewhere on the east coast, and the volume is
> approx 1000 a week. He was not able to get the mix.
>
> Tom has been working closely with the taskforce team and David Hoffman on
> driving a longer term strategy with Walmart.com. Microtel seems willing to
> do the implementation.
>
> Walmart.com
>
> Retail relationship efforts have been historically focused on Walmart
> corporate and not walmart.com. There is a high level of autonomy at
> walmart.com. They are not managed under the same guidelines and processes
> as Walmart corporate. They are making their own decisions about product
> offerings. Luke Ellison is the Technology Manager at Walmart.com. David
> Hofman, Microsoft HRD Account Manager, has developed a relationship with
> Luke. He is eager to work on some additional Microsoft programs with
> David, but isn?t sharing too much regarding their Linux plans. This a
> summary of his meetings with Luke:
>
> 1.) Luke is concerned that Microsoft is mad at them for selling Linux PCs.
>
> a. He wanted to make sure that we knew that www.wal-mart.com is
> very ?pro-Microsoft?
>
> b. They feel that customers that purchase Linux PCs were never a
> ?Microsoft? customer anyway, and that by offering Linux PCs, they were
> broadening their customer base
>
> c. Their goal with Lindows was to hit a very low price point - if it sold,
> they would keep it, if it didn?t they would dump it after 90-120 days.
> It?s selling.
>
> 2.) ?Naked PCs? (no O/S) are still outselling Linux PCs (but not by much)
>
> a. They plan to start selling Windows XP OEM (bundled with mouse) as a
> standalone product (technically this is legit)
>
> 3.) All the machines are build-to-order and that www.wal-mart.com carries
> no inventory.
>
> 4.) They are currently working on a way to offer additional software
> bundles with all of their PCs (like Office, Anti-Virus, etc.)
>
> 5.) He mentioned that Microtel was upset about the E-machines deal with
> Wal-Mart retail, but that Wal-Mart didn?t think Microtel could handle
> being a retail partner - it was just too big of a job for them.
>
> David is working with Walmart.com to help them promote the Windows XP PCs
> that are listed on walmart.com today. In an effort to differentiate the
> Windows XP PC from the Linux PC, we are working on a consumer software
> title bundle to promote as part of the purchase of the Windows XP machine.
>
> Next Steps
>
> 1.) Continue the relationship efforts with Microtel and Walmart.com. (Tom
> Perrier & David Hoffman)
>
> 2.) Develop a deeper understanding of the Linux efforts at other System
> Builders and OEMs in the US. (Datel, ZT Group, MEI etc) (Tom Perrier & Ken
> Goetsch)
>
> 3.) Work with Windows Team to understand options for a Windows XP eval
> solution. (Mark Croft)
>
> 4.) Stay close to HP and eMachines (to oOEMs selling PCs at Walmart) to
> understand their efforts and position in the account.
>
> DRAFT
>
> http://www.startribune.com/stories/789/3341339.html
>
> http://mslibrary/news/elecpub/csn
>
> http://msnbc.com/news/813350.asp
>
> http://www.pcmag.com/print_article/0,3048,a=30914,00.asp
>
> http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS9675669942.html
>
> http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,3973,491621,00.asp
>
> http://newsforge.com/newsforge/02/08/22/1855237.shtml?tid=23
>
> http://biz.yahoo.com/fo/020821/doesn t do windows 3.html
>
> Wal-Mart Sells Windows-Less Computers
>
> Associated Press
>
> Silicon Valley.com
>
> USA Today:
> http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech
review/2002-07-17-walmart-computers
> x.htm
>
> Linux finds fans at Wal-Mart
>
> C/Net:
>
> Sun, Lindows.com Strike Deal
>
> Internet.com: http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/1404731
>
> Mandrake on Lindows
>
> C/Net:
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A35576-2002Jul20?language-printer
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2
wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentID=A35576-2002Jul20¬Found=true
>
> http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0.4149.470658.00.asp
>
> http://www.pcmag.com/print article/0,3048,a-30914,00.asp
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