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Microsoft: Don't sell PCs without operating systems | |
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| Time: 12:26 EST/17:26 GMT | News Source: ZDNet UK | Posted By: John Quigley | ||
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Naked PCs: Free software supporters are angry that Microsoft is putting pressure on PC vendors not to sell machines without an operating system installed Microsoft has urged UK PC vendors not to give customers the opportunity to buy a PC without a pre-installed operating system. Supplying base systems, or 'naked PCs', is a missed opportunity, according to Michala Alexander, Microsoft's head of anti-piracy. | ||
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| #1 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 4/5/2006 2:18:14 PM |
| With all their antitrust problems on both sides of the ocean, I can't believe that MS still thinks it can get away with stupid stuff like this. I also love some of the language "It is a risk to your customers and a risk to your business..." How is it a risk again? A risk to MS' revenue maybe. These days, it seems pretty risky to run Windows. "Alexander also insisted that Microsoft was simply trying to help its reseller partners by explaining how they could grow their businesses by selling its software and services." That's funny, considering it's coming form the MS head of anti-piracy. Perhaps he's confused and believes he's the head of EU Sales. |
| #2 By 22962 (12.205.118.31) at 4/5/2006 5:38:05 PM |
| [yawn] |
| #3 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at 4/5/2006 5:55:30 PM |
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Latch.... so now Microsoft and its officers are to be prevented from having an opinion? They are not to have a business position and are to be prevented from stating what that opinion is - even in the context of anti-piracy efforts?
?? in the name of promoting competition, or ensuring fairness - to whom ?? The consumer?? The OEM?? OEM's sell what the market asks for and they are free to do as they wish. Systems sold w/o an OS are assumed to eventually run "something...." So an MS employee offers an opinion that selling a naked PC may lead to increased incidents of SW piracy attempts - there is a strong basis supporting that opinion and stating it hardly rises to the level of leveraging a monopoly - much less an illegal one. I can't believe anyone as supportive of Open Source - or Open anything as you are could possibly reconcile the logic you are asking us to accept - all should be free.... except for Microsoft, the US, or anything to do with either...? I really respect your passion, Latch. I just can't understand the basis for the logic and one ruling, by a judge, using Preci Deci [existing law], who has zero understanding of what it took Microsoft to evolve the platform under 92% of the computing world is just not enough of a basis to last forever. It is as if one is to say that there is some inherent evil in Microsoft, and not one shred of evidence exists to support that - bad decisions from time to time...? yes. Mistakes... yes, but inherent evil? No flipping way. I submit the opposite is true of Microsoft - that there is an inherent goodness born of its leaders and its people. I assess there is a lot of evidence to support my position, too. |
| #4 By 12071 (203.26.206.129) at 4/6/2006 8:57:51 AM |
|
No problem Microsoft... these hardware OEM's will be delighted to change all their "naked PCs" to include a free copy of Linux on them by default which the customer can then make a choice of keeping or removing. No need to have your costly OS on their PCs by default especially if the customer has no interest whatsoever in running your software!
As for the hardware OEMs themselves - this will make no difference to them whatsoever given that they are in the business of selling hardware and services... unless of course you then turn around and use your mafia style tactics to punish them for installing non-Microsoft software by increasing the price they are currently getting Windows for. But a honest company like yours wouldn't do that... right? :) |
| #5 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 4/6/2006 10:51:49 AM |
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#3: this is not just a matter of some MS drone voicing their opinion. This is clearly a veiled threat by a senior executive to OEMs that if they sell more than a handful of PCs without Windows on it, then MS will send their sniffers around to poke into the OEM's business. And while they're there, maybe they'll audit the OEM for license compliance... Make sure you don't sell naked PCs and Sauron's gaze will not fall on you.
I am aware that naked PCs can have pirated copies of Windows on it, but that does not justify the anti-competitive stance MS has taken. After the sale, the OEM has no responsibility for what the user does with the PC, or what is on it. MS would like the OEMs to be the front-line policemen for their piracy effort, and that's not in the OEMs best interest. However, because of MS' monopoly and the leverage it gives them, they feel that they're in a position to dictate (er sorry, "make their opinion known") as to how the OEM should sell its products. As for your opinion of MS, some of Webster's definitions of evil include "arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct", and "causing harm". There are books (more than one) that detail the unethical, immoral, predatory, deceptive behaviour of MS in the market over the past 20+ years and the harm its done to the market and consumers. Sorry, but I would certainly describe MS as an evil company. |
| #6 By 2960 (68.101.39.180) at 4/6/2006 1:23:31 PM |
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Boy, they just don't learn, do they...
TL |
| #7 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at 4/6/2006 7:41:06 PM |
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Latch, there are books aplenty about UFO's, too - big foot, Yeti's and the JFK assassination...doesn't mean any of them sustain much scrutiny.
Why is it that people expect business and the competitive process to be gentle? What is inherently evil about having an opinion, or position opposite selling a PC sans an OS? I do not understand that and the availability of books, or site link, etc... does not seem to reverse the necessity of allowing any company to express itself regarding its product or the market it operates in. It is like much of the world wants all the MS has, or has built or enabled, but at the same time, they want them to go away, or cease to compete. They forget that MS was once a start-up competing to simply stay in business or that MS 'built" success. So they succeeded and continue to and for that they are to pay whatever price much of the world demands? I don't get that. I remember not having two dimes to rub together. It was tough. I recall busting my backside for decades to build at least some success - I also remember just how tough it became once some success was achieved - people come out of every place trying to knock your head off, or take away what one has earned. I used to wonder about successful people and why they had become more closed off. I learned some tough lessons about why and I am much more understanding about why people and businesses become very careful. in many ways I miss being dirt poor - it was so simple and I was still working hard to be decent. I multiply how that might feel in MS's shoes - has to just sting and a lot. |
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