Why are no Linux netbooks being allowed to be sold in UK?

user · External Since: Aug 14, 2005 Posts: 1361

Why are no Linux netbooks being allowed to be sold in UK?
---------------------------------------------------------

The netbook consumers are being deprived of choice, market freedom
and lower Linux prices in UK and EU by robber barons colluding
to maintain high netbook prices to bring real harm to netbook consumers.
The rest of the world sold 11 million Linux netbooks while there
are none in UK shelves.

The UK and EU regulators must be proud sitting like fat cats
and eating tax payer money and taking bribes from big
business to look the other way.

Ezekiel · External Since: Sep 28, 2009 Posts: 44

"7" <website_has_email.RemoveThis@www.enemygadgets.com> wrote in message
news:140Jm.2380$Ym4.1681@text.news.virginmedia.com...
> Why are no Linux netbooks being allowed to be sold in UK?
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>
> The netbook consumers are being deprived of choice, market freedom
> and lower Linux prices in UK and EU by robber barons colluding
> to maintain high netbook prices to bring real harm to netbook consumers.
> The rest of the world sold 11 million Linux netbooks while there
> are none in UK shelves.
>
> The UK and EU regulators must be proud sitting like fat cats
> and eating tax payer money and taking bribes from big
> business to look the other way.

The *you* should drop your nano-bot ponzi scheme and sell Linux netbooks in
the UK.

*You* put your own money where your mouth is and *you* sell them. Instead
you complain that others aren't doing it.

John Fuhrer · External Since: Nov 03, 2009 Posts: 76

On Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:56:29 GMT, 7 wrote:

> Why are no Linux netbooks being allowed to be sold in UK?
> ---------------------------------------------------------

Because nobody wants to buy them?

http://www.netbookchoice.com/2009/11/04/lenovo-rubbishes-linux-but-con...ms-look

"Lenovo has put the boot into Linux netbooks, saying that the introduction
of Windows 7 makes the gap even wider than before. Howard Locker, director
of Lenovoÿs new technology department, also confirmed that they are looking
into alternatives including Googleÿs Chrome OS.

Lenovo launched Linux netbooks targeting the education market back in
October 2008, but canned them following poor sales. ´Our S9 and S10 model
netbooks had Linux loads, but they didnÿt do well so we stopped selling
them. People didnÿt realize what they bought, and they returned them
because they expected Windows and thought they were broken,¡ Locker said."

Megabyte · External Since: Jul 05, 2009 Posts: 19

7 wrote:
> Why are no Linux netbooks being allowed to be sold in UK?
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>
> The netbook consumers are being deprived of choice, market freedom
> and lower Linux prices in UK and EU by robber barons colluding
> to maintain high netbook prices to bring real harm to netbook consumers.
> The rest of the world sold 11 million Linux netbooks while there
> are none in UK shelves.
>
> The UK and EU regulators must be proud sitting like fat cats
> and eating tax payer money and taking bribes from big
> business to look the other way.
>
>

Ever hear of the concept of supply and demand. Do you really think that
if a retailer thought they could make bag loads of money selling Linux
Netbooks that they would allow Microsoft to prevent them from doing so?

Paul Hovnanian P.E. · External Since: Oct 25, 2006 Posts: 252

Where does this idea come from? I was in the UK just this summer and I
ran into a guy with the exact same ASUS Eee PC, running Linux, as I
have.

--
Paul Hovnanian mailto:Paul@Hovnanian.com
------------------------------------------------------------------
Drugs may be the road to nowhere, but at least they're the scenic route!

JeffM · External Since: May 06, 2007 Posts: 24

Megabyte wrote:
>Ever hear of the concept of supply and demand.
>
Anti-trust activities by M$
have NOT been met with effective regulatory action.
It's hardly an open market
when a corporation is allowed to openly break the law.
Bulk pricing is one thing; what M$ does is quite another.

>Do you really think that if a retailer thought
>they could make bag loads of money selling Linux Netbooks
>that they would allow Microsoft to prevent them from doing so?
>
For 28 years, peo^Wsheeple have equated M$ with computers.
Most don't know there IS an alternative.

Some European academics have proposed a la carte pricing
on all elements of computer systems being sold.
If a customer was allowed to see
the price of Linux alongside the price of Windoze,
THAT would open up the market.

Of course, M$'s illegal activities would have to be stopped first.

JeffM · External Since: May 06, 2007 Posts: 24

Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:
>Where does this idea come from? I was in the UK just this summer
>and I ran into a guy with the exact same ASUS Eee PC, running Linux,
>as I have.

Wow. You both actually got hardware with Linux support?
From what I hear, ASUS has been shipping just anything
--sometimes hardware supported with Linux device drivers
and sometimes just any unsupported slop--they don't really care.
If their approach to Windoze was as half-assed as their approch to
Linux,
their sales numbers would soon be zero.

DFS · External Since: Jun 07, 2005 Posts: 3577

7 wrote:
> Why are no Linux netbooks being allowed to be sold in UK?
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>
> The netbook consumers are being deprived of choice, market freedom
> and lower Linux prices in UK and EU by robber barons colluding
> to maintain high netbook prices to bring real harm to netbook
> consumers. The rest of the world sold 11 million Linux netbooks while
> there are none in UK shelves.
>
> The UK and EU regulators must be proud sitting like fat cats
> and eating tax payer money and taking bribes from big
> business to look the other way.

Looks like a money-making opportunity for you, little guy.

You should invest several $hundred thousand - hit up all your family and
friends for their life savings - and buy a large batch of Asus netbooks and
sell them in the UK.

You'll all get rich, I'm sure.

John Fuhrer · External Since: Nov 03, 2009 Posts: 76

On Fri, 6 Nov 2009 19:23:51 -0800 (PST), JeffM wrote:

> Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:
>>Where does this idea come from? I was in the UK just this summer
>>and I ran into a guy with the exact same ASUS Eee PC, running Linux,
>>as I have.
>
> Wow. You both actually got hardware with Linux support?
> From what I hear, ASUS has been shipping just anything
> --sometimes hardware supported with Linux device drivers
> and sometimes just any unsupported slop--they don't really care.
> If their approach to Windoze was as half-assed as their approch to
> Linux,
> their sales numbers would soon be zero.

Lenovo shipped a Linux laptop last year where many of the features, like
suspend and hibernate, along with the fn keys etc didn't even work!!!

Amazing!!

I guess they figured that the Linux community "many eyeballs" would fix it
and they could then incorporate the fixes.

bbgruff · External Since: May 26, 2005 Posts: 60

Megabyte wrote:

> Ever hear of the concept of supply and demand. Do you really think that
> if a retailer thought they could make bag loads of money selling Linux
> Netbooks that they would allow Microsoft to prevent them from doing so?

We are speaking of netbooks here?
Let me put a quite hypothetical situation to you (pure conjecture):-

1. A new "class of computer is invented - the Netbook.

2. The idea is that these will be sold very cheaply - almost "impulse buys".

3. There's a problem in the price of the OS.
- Vista wont run on them
- XP will, but puts a great chunk on the price:-(

4. Manufacturers (Asus in particular) approach MS, and suggest
two things:-
i) Extend the life of XP for these devices
ii) License it much more cheaply

5. MS respons, "NO!". Hobson's choice, mate - there's no
alternative - if you want XP, pay our price, and
take it or leave it.

6. Asus (and others) market the new devices with Linux!

7. Now MS is caught. These things are actually viable, and
are flying off the shelves!

8. However, both sides recognise that even more sales would
result if the devices had XP.

9. MS "sees sense". The last thing that MS can allow is for
Linux to gain a foothold, even on Netbooks.
It licenses XP at $10 a copy, and tells Asus et. al. that
even that can be recouped from "sponsored crud-ware".

!0. Now (almost) everybody is happy.
Linux kept at bay.
MS "giving away" an obsolete OS
Manufacturers still have a "zero-cost" OS.

11. Now that you can pre-install either OS for zero cost, why develop and
support an extra one? You now make no more money doing it. Note though
that there is a cost to MS in doing this.

All conjecture, but it gives the phrase "Using Linux" a whole new meaning?
imo Linux was used by the manufacturers to bring MS to heel.
It will be interesting to see what Windows 7 brings to the scenario. Will
MS still be prepared to (almost) give it away for Netbooks?

John Fuhrer · External Since: Nov 03, 2009 Posts: 76

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:19:25 +0000, bbgruff wrote:

> Megabyte wrote:
>
>> Ever hear of the concept of supply and demand. Do you really think that
>> if a retailer thought they could make bag loads of money selling Linux
>> Netbooks that they would allow Microsoft to prevent them from doing so?
>
> We are speaking of netbooks here?
> Let me put a quite hypothetical situation to you (pure conjecture):-
>
> 1. A new "class of computer is invented - the Netbook.
>
> 2. The idea is that these will be sold very cheaply - almost "impulse buys".

You might as well stop there because if you don't have people willing to
purchase Linux based netbooks, they will either never be sold in the first
place or returned as "defective" because that is how average Joe sees
Linux.

Defective.

Just ask Lenovo which is one of the largest manufacturers in the world.

http://www.netbookchoice.com/2009/11/04/lenovo-rubbishes-linux-but-con...ms-look

Lenovo launched Linux netbooks targeting the education market back in
October 2008, but canned them following poor sales. ´Our S9 and S10 model
netbooks had Linux loads, but they didnÿt do well so we stopped selling
them. People didnÿt realize what they bought, and they returned them
because they expected Windows and thought they were broken,¡ Locker said.

user · External Since: Aug 14, 2005 Posts: 1361

Micoshaft Appil asstroturfing fraudster with a big girlie butt
pounding the sock John Fuhrer wrote on behalf of Half Wits from Micoshaft
Appil Department of Marketing:

> You might as well stop there because if you don't have people willing to
> purchase Linux based netbooks, they will either never be sold in the first
> place or returned as "defective" because that is how average Joe sees
> Linux.

All micoshaft sponsored Lies posted to get some asstroturfing money.

All very funny asstroturfing considering its just been proven 30%+ of all
netbooks sold are Linux and the numbers are growing exponentially.

bbgruff · External Since: May 26, 2005 Posts: 60

John Fuhrer wrote:

> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:19:25 +0000, bbgruff wrote:
>
>> Megabyte wrote:
>>
>>> Ever hear of the concept of supply and demand. Do you really think that
>>> if a retailer thought they could make bag loads of money selling Linux
>>> Netbooks that they would allow Microsoft to prevent them from doing so?
>>
>> We are speaking of netbooks here?
>> Let me put a quite hypothetical situation to you (pure conjecture):-
>>
>> 1. A new "class of computer is invented - the Netbook.
>>
>> 2. The idea is that these will be sold very cheaply - almost "impulse
>> buys".
>
> You might as well stop there because .....

Yes, I can quite understand why you would want me to stop there Smile

However, you may recall that I went on to say:-

3. There's a problem in the price of the OS.
- Vista wont run on them
- XP will, but puts a great chunk on the price:-(

4. Manufacturers (Asus in particular) approach MS, and suggest
two things:-
i) Extend the life of XP for these devices
ii) License it much more cheaply

5. MS respons, "NO!". Hobson's choice, mate - there's no
alternative - if you want XP, pay our price, and
take it or leave it.

6. Asus (and others) market the new devices with Linux!

7. Now MS is caught. These things are actually viable, and
are flying off the shelves!

8. However, both sides recognise that even more sales would
result if the devices had XP.

9. MS "sees sense". The last thing that MS can allow is for
Linux to gain a foothold, even on Netbooks.
It licenses XP at $10 a copy, and tells Asus et. al. that
even that can be recouped from "sponsored crud-ware".

!0. Now (almost) everybody is happy.
Linux kept at bay.
MS "giving away" an obsolete OS
Manufacturers still have a "zero-cost" OS.

11. Now that you can pre-install either OS for zero cost, why develop and
support an extra one? You now make no more money doing it. Note though
that there is a cost to MS in doing this.

All conjecture, but it gives the phrase "Using Linux" a whole new meaning?
imo Linux was used by the manufacturers to bring MS to heel.
It will be interesting to see what Windows 7 brings to the scenario. Will
MS still be prepared to (almost) give it away for Netbooks?

John Fuhrer · External Since: Nov 03, 2009 Posts: 76

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:18:34 GMT, 7 wrote:

> Micoshaft Appil asstroturfing fraudster with a big girlie butt
> pounding the sock John Fuhrer wrote on behalf of Half Wits from Micoshaft
> Appil Department of Marketing:
>
>
>
>> You might as well stop there because if you don't have people willing to
>> purchase Linux based netbooks, they will either never be sold in the first
>> place or returned as "defective" because that is how average Joe sees
>> Linux.
>
>
> All micoshaft sponsored Lies posted to get some asstroturfing money.
>
>
> All very funny asstroturfing considering its just been proven 30%+ of all
> netbooks sold are Linux and the numbers are growing exponentially.

http://www.netbookchoice.com/2009/11/04/lenovo-rubbishes-linux-but-con...ms-look

Lenovo rubbishes Linux but confirms looking at Chrome OS

November 4, 2009 at 1:43 pm

Lenovo confirms looking at Chrome OS Lenovo has put the boot into Linux
netbooks, saying that the introduction of Windows 7 makes the gap even
wider than before. Howard Locker, director of Lenovoÿs new technology
department, also confirmed that they are looking into alternatives
including Googleÿs Chrome OS.

Lenovo launched Linux netbooks targeting the education market back in
October 2008, but canned them following poor sales. ´Our S9 and S10 model
netbooks had Linux loads, but they didnÿt do well so we stopped selling
them. People didnÿt realize what they bought, and they returned them
because they expected Windows and thought they were broken,¡ Locker said.

The lack of support for Appleÿs iTunes was one of the reasons that annoyed
Linux users, Lenovo claim. However, the company is currently evaluating
Chrome OS in netbooks, although it says that it is only at the early
stages. ´Weÿre watching it but itÿs too early to tell because they donÿt
even have alpha code to test,¡ Locker said.

Windows 7 has made the gap between Linux offerings even wider claims
Locker. He cited a number of improvements included in Windows 7 including a
10-second boot time, one second resume and lower power consumption. He went
on to say that Windows 7 ´has really hurt the alternatives because itÿs a
lot better, so thereÿs a huge gap [for Linux environments] to jump now.¡

Via EETimes.

John Fuhrer · External Since: Nov 03, 2009 Posts: 76

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:41:41 +0000, bbgruff wrote:

> John Fuhrer wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:19:25 +0000, bbgruff wrote:
>>
>>> Megabyte wrote:
>>>
>>>> Ever hear of the concept of supply and demand. Do you really think that
>>>> if a retailer thought they could make bag loads of money selling Linux
>>>> Netbooks that they would allow Microsoft to prevent them from doing so?
>>>
>>> We are speaking of netbooks here?
>>> Let me put a quite hypothetical situation to you (pure conjecture):-
>>>
>>> 1. A new "class of computer is invented - the Netbook.
>>>
>>> 2. The idea is that these will be sold very cheaply - almost "impulse
>>> buys".
>>
>> You might as well stop there because .....
>
> Yes, I can quite understand why you would want me to stop there Smile

>
> However, you may recall that I went on to say:-
>
> 3. There's a problem in the price of the OS.
> - Vista wont run on them
> - XP will, but puts a great chunk on the price:-(
>
> 4. Manufacturers (Asus in particular) approach MS, and suggest
> two things:-
> i) Extend the life of XP for these devices
> ii) License it much more cheaply
>
> 5. MS respons, "NO!". Hobson's choice, mate - there's no
> alternative - if you want XP, pay our price, and
> take it or leave it.
>
> 6. Asus (and others) market the new devices with Linux!
>
> 7. Now MS is caught. These things are actually viable, and
> are flying off the shelves!
>
> 8. However, both sides recognise that even more sales would
> result if the devices had XP.
>
> 9. MS "sees sense". The last thing that MS can allow is for
> Linux to gain a foothold, even on Netbooks.
> It licenses XP at $10 a copy, and tells Asus et. al. that
> even that can be recouped from "sponsored crud-ware".
>
> !0. Now (almost) everybody is happy.
> Linux kept at bay.
> MS "giving away" an obsolete OS
> Manufacturers still have a "zero-cost" OS.
>
> 11. Now that you can pre-install either OS for zero cost, why develop and
> support an extra one? You now make no more money doing it. Note though
> that there is a cost to MS in doing this.
>
> All conjecture, but it gives the phrase "Using Linux" a whole new meaning?
> imo Linux was used by the manufacturers to bring MS to heel.
> It will be interesting to see what Windows 7 brings to the scenario. Will
> MS still be prepared to (almost) give it away for Netbooks?

You don't seem to be getting it.

If you don't have customers for the Linux netbooks, the rest of your post
is completely irrelevant.

Lenovo, amongst others, have figured this out.....

Lenovo rubbishes Linux but confirms looking at Chrome OS

November 4, 2009 at 1:43 pm

Lenovo confirms looking at Chrome OS Lenovo has put the boot into Linux
netbooks, saying that the introduction of Windows 7 makes the gap even
wider than before. Howard Locker, director of Lenovoÿs new technology
department, also confirmed that they are looking into alternatives
including Googleÿs Chrome OS.

Lenovo launched Linux netbooks targeting the education market back in
October 2008, but canned them following poor sales. ´Our S9 and S10 model
netbooks had Linux loads, but they didnÿt do well so we stopped selling
them. People didnÿt realize what they bought, and they returned them
because they expected Windows and thought they were broken,¡ Locker said.

The lack of support for Appleÿs iTunes was one of the reasons that annoyed
Linux users, Lenovo claim. However, the company is currently evaluating
Chrome OS in netbooks, although it says that it is only at the early
stages. ´Weÿre watching it but itÿs too early to tell because they donÿt
even have alpha code to test,¡ Locker said.

Windows 7 has made the gap between Linux offerings even wider claims
Locker. He cited a number of improvements included in Windows 7 including a
10-second boot time, one second resume and lower power consumption. He went
on to say that Windows 7 ´has really hurt the alternatives because itÿs a
lot better, so thereÿs a huge gap [for Linux environments] to jump now.¡

Via EETimes.

John Fuhrer · External Since: Nov 03, 2009 Posts: 76

On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:41:41 +0000, bbgruff wrote:

> All conjecture, but it gives the phrase "Using Linux" a whole new meaning?
> imo Linux was used by the manufacturers to bring MS to heel.
> It will be interesting to see what Windows 7 brings to the scenario. Will
> MS still be prepared to (almost) give it away for Netbooks?

MS would be fools to ignore the netbook, or OSX, or Linux for that matter.

As for manufacturers using Linux as a device to put pressure on
Microsoft,it's an interesting theory but it's not even needed.

What determines what will sell and for how much is the consumer.

Obviously, the consumer ignored for the most part, the Linux netbooks
despite the price difference.
Just like the consumer ignores Linux in general despite it being free and
Windows 7 being expensive.

You're preaching to the choir BTW because I personally feel Linux is a
great OS to have on a netbook.
I'm just pointing out that I'm in a minority in that regard.

bbgruff · External Since: May 26, 2005 Posts: 60

John Fuhrer wrote:

> You don't seem to be getting it.
>
> If you don't have customers for the Linux netbooks, the rest of your post
> is completely irrelevant.

No - there *was* (note "was"!) no "if".
The original Netbooks were, IIRC, 100% Linux?
Certainly I seem to remember Mr Ballmer commenting (after they started to be
sold with XP) that it was 60/40 Linux/MS respectively.

I'm not arguing the current situation, but rather the historical one.

bbgruff · External Since: May 26, 2005 Posts: 60

John Fuhrer wrote:

> On Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:41:41 +0000, bbgruff wrote:
>
>
>> All conjecture, but it gives the phrase "Using Linux" a whole new
>> meaning? imo Linux was used by the manufacturers to bring MS to heel.
>> It will be interesting to see what Windows 7 brings to the scenario.
>> Will MS still be prepared to (almost) give it away for Netbooks?
>
> MS would be fools to ignore the netbook, or OSX, or Linux for that matter.

I think though that in 2008 they were caught on the back foot.

> As for manufacturers using Linux as a device to put pressure on
> Microsoft,it's an interesting theory but it's not even needed.
>
> What determines what will sell and for how much is the consumer.
>
> Obviously, the consumer ignored for the most part, the Linux netbooks
> despite the price difference.

But if (as I think was the case) there was *only* Linux on offer on the
originals?

> Just like the consumer ignores Linux in general despite it being free and
> Windows 7 being expensive.
>
> You're preaching to the choir BTW because I personally feel Linux is a
> great OS to have on a netbook.
> I'm just pointing out that I'm in a minority in that regard.

Yes - and of course it's a minority.
However, all the indications seem to be that "Linux on the Netbook" sells
much better than "Linux on the desktop", and by one or two orders of
magnitude! (Bear in mind that for most Linux desktop users, a Linux
install is a DIY job)

Chris Ahlstrom · External Since: Jan 08, 2009 Posts: 484

bbgruff pulled this Usenet boner:

> Megabyte wrote:
>
>> Ever hear of the concept of supply and demand. ??Do you really think that
>> if a retailer thought they could make bag loads of money selling Linux
>> Netbooks that they would allow Microsoft to prevent them from doing so?
>
> We are speaking of netbooks here?
> Let me put a quite hypothetical situation to you (pure conjecture):-
>
> 1. A new "class of computer is invented - the Netbook.
>
> 2. The idea is that these will be sold very cheaply - almost "impulse buys".
>
> 3. There's a problem in the price of the OS.
> - Vista wont run on them
> - XP will, but puts a great chunk on the price:-(
>
> 4. Manufacturers (Asus in particular) approach MS, and suggest
> two things:-
> i) Extend the life of XP for these devices
> ii) License it much more cheaply
>
> 5. MS respons, "NO!". Hobson's choice, mate - there's no
> alternative - if you want XP, pay our price, and
> take it or leave it.
>
> 6. Asus (and others) market the new devices with Linux!
>
> 7. Now MS is caught. These things are actually viable, and
> are flying off the shelves!
>
> 8. However, both sides recognise that even more sales would
> result if the devices had XP.
>
> 9. MS "sees sense". The last thing that MS can allow is for
> Linux to gain a foothold, even on Netbooks.
> It licenses XP at $10 a copy, and tells Asus et. al. that
> even that can be recouped from "sponsored crud-ware".
>
> !0. Now (almost) everybody is happy.
> Linux kept at bay.
> MS "giving away" an obsolete OS
> Manufacturers still have a "zero-cost" OS.
>
> 11. Now that you can pre-install either OS for zero cost, why develop and
> support an extra one? You now make no more money doing it. Note though
> that there is a cost to MS in doing this.
>
> All conjecture, but it gives the phrase "Using Linux" a whole new meaning?
> imo Linux was used by the manufacturers to bring MS to heel.
> It will be interesting to see what Windows 7 brings to the scenario. Will
> MS still be prepared to (almost) give it away for Netbooks?

A decent analysis.

--
You will be run over by a bus.

Megabyte · External Since: Jul 05, 2009 Posts: 19

bbgruff wrote:
> Megabyte wrote:
>
>> Ever hear of the concept of supply and demand. Do you really think that
>> if a retailer thought they could make bag loads of money selling Linux
>> Netbooks that they would allow Microsoft to prevent them from doing so?
>
> We are speaking of netbooks here?
> Let me put a quite hypothetical situation to you (pure conjecture):-
>
> 1. A new "class of computer is invented - the Netbook.
>
> 2. The idea is that these will be sold very cheaply - almost "impulse buys".
>
> 3. There's a problem in the price of the OS.
> - Vista wont run on them
> - XP will, but puts a great chunk on the price:-(
>
> 4. Manufacturers (Asus in particular) approach MS, and suggest
> two things:-
> i) Extend the life of XP for these devices
> ii) License it much more cheaply
>
> 5. MS respons, "NO!". Hobson's choice, mate - there's no
> alternative - if you want XP, pay our price, and
> take it or leave it.
>
> 6. Asus (and others) market the new devices with Linux!
>
> 7. Now MS is caught. These things are actually viable, and
> are flying off the shelves!
>
> 8. However, both sides recognise that even more sales would
> result if the devices had XP.
>
> 9. MS "sees sense". The last thing that MS can allow is for
> Linux to gain a foothold, even on Netbooks.
> It licenses XP at $10 a copy, and tells Asus et. al. that
> even that can be recouped from "sponsored crud-ware".
>
> !0. Now (almost) everybody is happy.
> Linux kept at bay.
> MS "giving away" an obsolete OS
> Manufacturers still have a "zero-cost" OS.
>
> 11. Now that you can pre-install either OS for zero cost, why develop and
> support an extra one? You now make no more money doing it. Note though
> that there is a cost to MS in doing this.
>
> All conjecture, but it gives the phrase "Using Linux" a whole new meaning?
> imo Linux was used by the manufacturers to bring MS to heel.
> It will be interesting to see what Windows 7 brings to the scenario. Will
> MS still be prepared to (almost) give it away for Netbooks?
>

Good hypothetical but here is another scenario:

1. A new class of computer is invented a Netbook.

2. Because the goal is low price and size, it is built using a 7"
screen, tiny keyboard and 4GB storage. The 4 GB constraint and keeping
memory small leads to the use of Linux.

3. The little machine takes off and sells like no one expected. The
market takes note and while consumers like the idea, they find the
screen too small, the keyboard too small as well as the memory and
storage too limiting.

4. MS notes the uptake of Linux on this small platform and says how do
we compete and get in on the action. Someone comes up with licensing XP
Home at a lower cost. Vista is now selling on desktop PC's and XP is
headed towards its end of life.

5. Manufacturers produce Netbooks with the higher specs (larger
screens, larger keyboards, more memory and storage) that consumers want
and continue to offer Linux but now also begin to offer XP Home.

6. Sales of the XP machines exceed expectations and Linux sales begin
to dwindle from previous levels when it was the only option available.
The majority of consumers choose Windows as they want to use iTunes,
Office, other applications and an operating system they are already
familiar with. Because Linux is often shipped with simplified
interfaces the Windows Netbooks seem like they are more capable as
software can be easily installed or removed just like on their desktop,
even though the Linux Netbooks are just as capable but require the use
of command line entries to make them that way.

7. As consumers are overwhelmingly purchasing XP based Netbooks,
manufacturers reconsider the viability of continuing to offer Linux and
some abandon it.

8. XP Netbook sales continue to skyrocket and manufacturers that
avoided the simplified interface and instead used Ubuntu (Dell) continue
to have a reasonable market as competition for Netbooks with Linux has
decreased and some consumers see a full distro like Ubuntu to be a
viable alternative to Windows.

9. Because the uptake of Windows Netbooks has been enormous,
manufacturers decide to stick with Windows and begin offering some units
with XP Home, others with Windows 7 Basic and even others with Windows 7
Home Premium at various price points to feel out where the market will go.

10. Manufacturers will monitor their sales and not rule out a return to
Linux based operating systems such as Google Chrome, should Windows
based sales volumes decline or if demand for a new operating system
becomes viable. MS monitors sales given the introduction of Windows 7
and will alter their strategy if the current one proves unsuccessful.
MS will experience some anytime upgrade revenue as some Windows 7 Basic
purchasers find it too limiting and upgrade to Windows 7 Home Premium on
their Netbook.