Author: Eugene Nalimov
Date: 10:48:21 08/11/04
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On August 11, 2004 at 12:15:28, Frank Phillips wrote: >[...] > >Windows here is the order of 100 ukpounds to buy OEM. That's price for individual customers. Large PC manufacturers pay much lower price to Microsoft, exactly like milk store pays to the milk factory much less than you are paying for the bottle of milk. Article in WSJ estimates Microsoft sells Windows to OEMs for ~$45 per copy in the USA. I've heard even lower numbers. As I wrote in my previous post (and gave some links), PC manufacturers are free to sell PCs with any other OS. Some manufacturers are doing this for some models, at least in the USA. I suspect your manufacturer refused to sell you PC in "non-standard" configuration for 2 reasons: (a) Profit -- money they are making on Windows are probably the only money they are making on the PC, or at least major part of it. (b) Support cost -- it's more costly to support different OSes than a single one. Example: Windows (not even device driver!) include workaround for defect in some external device; PC maker found that defect after it sold ~5mln such devices (sorry, I cannot provide more details). I am not sure Linux includes such workaround. Or do you remember recent cases when Linux damaged some CD drives? To avoid such incidents all hardware should pass OS compatibility tests, and it costs 2x more to test for 2 different OSes than for single one. Similar case: Honda Motor Co. will sell you cars only with very limited choice of audio equipment, and I believe you cannot buy the car without *some* audio equipment installed. At the same time you can go to the any store that sells car audio and can choose from tens of different audio radios, CD players, etc... Is it the fault of the manufacturer of the pre-installed audio equipment? No, Honda just made decision (based on the market estimates) so it will maximize its profit. Thanks, Eugene
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