MS OEM licensing
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I have a question for anyone out there: How is it that an OS software company (Microsoft), can dictate to hardware OEMs like Dell, Gateway(? are they even still around), IBM et al how they can sell their products ? The question relates to the whole selling of an OEM machine with no OS. How can MS legally make the demand that they (the OEM's) not be allowed to sell PC's without an OS? I understand that MS can play hardball and say, well if you want Windows, then this is how you have to play ball, but isn't that illegal ? Just wondering...
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I have a question for anyone out there: How is it that an OS software company (Microsoft), can dictate to hardware OEMs like Dell, Gateway(? are they even still around), IBM et al how they can sell their products ? The question relates to the whole selling of an OEM machine with no OS. How can MS legally make the demand that they (the OEM's) not be allowed to sell PC's without an OS? I understand that MS can play hardball and say, well if you want Windows, then this is how you have to play ball, but isn't that illegal ? Just wondering...
Jim Crafton wrote: you have to play ball, but isn't that illegal ? Even if it is illegal, will it change anything? Dell and the other OEMs won't squeal in public coz MS will just cut them off. People will not buy PCs which don't have Windows installed. Microsoft knows this. And so do the OEMs. Business is a bitch too. bibamus, edamus, cras moriemur
[eat, drink, for tomorrow we die]
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I have a question for anyone out there: How is it that an OS software company (Microsoft), can dictate to hardware OEMs like Dell, Gateway(? are they even still around), IBM et al how they can sell their products ? The question relates to the whole selling of an OEM machine with no OS. How can MS legally make the demand that they (the OEM's) not be allowed to sell PC's without an OS? I understand that MS can play hardball and say, well if you want Windows, then this is how you have to play ball, but isn't that illegal ? Just wondering...
I believe it is all about price. AFAIK, MS offers special prices for computer vendors that follow their terms. There is nothing stopping a computer manufacturer from buying each Windows license for each computer they produce at retail cost, and doing whatever they want. It would just be more expensive to do it that way. You are special and unique, just like everyone else.
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I have a question for anyone out there: How is it that an OS software company (Microsoft), can dictate to hardware OEMs like Dell, Gateway(? are they even still around), IBM et al how they can sell their products ? The question relates to the whole selling of an OEM machine with no OS. How can MS legally make the demand that they (the OEM's) not be allowed to sell PC's without an OS? I understand that MS can play hardball and say, well if you want Windows, then this is how you have to play ball, but isn't that illegal ? Just wondering...
of course it's illegal. MS has already been determined to be a monopoly and of illegally using that monopoly power to stifle competition. but, look at who's running the country these days: g_wBush, a man who never saw a business practice he didn't like. -c
Conservative: One who admires radicals centuries after they're dead. -- Leo C. Rosten
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I have a question for anyone out there: How is it that an OS software company (Microsoft), can dictate to hardware OEMs like Dell, Gateway(? are they even still around), IBM et al how they can sell their products ? The question relates to the whole selling of an OEM machine with no OS. How can MS legally make the demand that they (the OEM's) not be allowed to sell PC's without an OS? I understand that MS can play hardball and say, well if you want Windows, then this is how you have to play ball, but isn't that illegal ? Just wondering...
It seems that Dell sells machines without Windows/any OS installed: http://news.com.com/2100-1001-949671.html?tag=fd_top[^] Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com
Never argue with an idiot, he'll bring you to his level and beat you with experience.
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It seems that Dell sells machines without Windows/any OS installed: http://news.com.com/2100-1001-949671.html?tag=fd_top[^] Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com
Never argue with an idiot, he'll bring you to his level and beat you with experience.
Quote from article: N-series PCs will cost the same as PCs that ship with Windows, a Dell representative said. What would be the point to buy that???:confused: --------------- http://www.edovia.com
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Quote from article: N-series PCs will cost the same as PCs that ship with Windows, a Dell representative said. What would be the point to buy that???:confused: --------------- http://www.edovia.com
LukeV wrote: What would be the point to buy that??? Have no idea - user doesn't waste time on formatting HD? Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com
Never argue with an idiot, he'll bring you to his level and beat you with experience.
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of course it's illegal. MS has already been determined to be a monopoly and of illegally using that monopoly power to stifle competition. but, look at who's running the country these days: g_wBush, a man who never saw a business practice he didn't like. -c
Conservative: One who admires radicals centuries after they're dead. -- Leo C. Rosten
But he does let the interns alone. You have about as much insight into GW as I do into meta physics. Democrat: A Republican that hasn't been mugged yet. Richard Monarchies, aristocracies, and religions....there was never a country where the majority of the people were in their secret hearts loyal to any of these institutions. Mark Twain - The Mysterious Stranger
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But he does let the interns alone. You have about as much insight into GW as I do into meta physics. Democrat: A Republican that hasn't been mugged yet. Richard Monarchies, aristocracies, and religions....there was never a country where the majority of the people were in their secret hearts loyal to any of these institutions. Mark Twain - The Mysterious Stranger
Richard Stringer wrote: But he does let the interns alone tell me how that matters. i find it absolutely f'ing incredible how GWB's defenders simply can not talk about their own guy without trying to define him in terms of "not-clinton" or "not-gore". and, no Mr. Stringer, I'm not referring to you only - there are plenty of others just like you on CP. is it that they can't find anything good to say about GWB on his own, so the best they can come up with is "well he's not clinton!" ? it's pitiful, actually. -c
Conservative: One who admires radicals centuries after they're dead. -- Leo C. Rosten
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Richard Stringer wrote: But he does let the interns alone tell me how that matters. i find it absolutely f'ing incredible how GWB's defenders simply can not talk about their own guy without trying to define him in terms of "not-clinton" or "not-gore". and, no Mr. Stringer, I'm not referring to you only - there are plenty of others just like you on CP. is it that they can't find anything good to say about GWB on his own, so the best they can come up with is "well he's not clinton!" ? it's pitiful, actually. -c
Conservative: One who admires radicals centuries after they're dead. -- Leo C. Rosten
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Chris Losinger wrote: tell me how that matters. For me it was a matter of honesty and integrity. I expect more from our president. "I did not have sex with that woman." :|
Mike Mullikin :beer: You can't really dust for vomit. Nigel Tufnel - Spinal Tap
Mike Mullikin wrote: I expect more from our president and i'd like a president who treated the constitution as The Law, rather than as a set of general guidelines to be followed when they don't get in the way. -c
Conservative: One who admires radicals centuries after they're dead. -- Leo C. Rosten
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Mike Mullikin wrote: I expect more from our president and i'd like a president who treated the constitution as The Law, rather than as a set of general guidelines to be followed when they don't get in the way. -c
Conservative: One who admires radicals centuries after they're dead. -- Leo C. Rosten
Chris Losinger wrote: and i'd like a president who treated the constitution as The Law, rather than as a set of general guidelines to be followed when they don't get in the way. Get real, like we're ever going to find a president that's honest, ethical, and follows the law? You can sometimes have 2 out of 3, but that's about as good as it gets. :-D You are special and unique, just like everyone else.
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LukeV wrote: What would be the point to buy that??? Have no idea - user doesn't waste time on formatting HD? Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com
Never argue with an idiot, he'll bring you to his level and beat you with experience.
In that case, even if I had no plan on using it, I'd still buy the version with windows on (just so I'd have the option to use it if I wanted to) -- Help me! I'm turning into a grapefruit!
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I have a question for anyone out there: How is it that an OS software company (Microsoft), can dictate to hardware OEMs like Dell, Gateway(? are they even still around), IBM et al how they can sell their products ? The question relates to the whole selling of an OEM machine with no OS. How can MS legally make the demand that they (the OEM's) not be allowed to sell PC's without an OS? I understand that MS can play hardball and say, well if you want Windows, then this is how you have to play ball, but isn't that illegal ? Just wondering...
AFAIK This was related to the deal MS did with IBM - a looooong time ago IBM agreed that all PCs would have MS OS on them. Then Dell etc made PC compatibles - which meant they had to stick to the agreement IBM made with MS. If Dell made non-PC PCs then they could put what the want on them. I think that this agreement has been watered down over time, but MS still has strong control due to original terms...
"When the only tool you have is a hammer, a sore thumb you will have."
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Mike Mullikin wrote: I expect more from our president and i'd like a president who treated the constitution as The Law, rather than as a set of general guidelines to be followed when they don't get in the way. -c
Conservative: One who admires radicals centuries after they're dead. -- Leo C. Rosten
Chris Losinger wrote: and i'd like a president who treated the constitution as The Law, rather than as a set of general guidelines to be followed when they don't get in the way. Ummm.... it would be the DOJ/AntiTrust division that enforces the laws the MS is accused/convicted of breaking, not the POTUS. The case is still being heard by a federal judge (not the POTUS) and being litigated by state AG's and DOJ lawyers (not the POTUS). EXACTLY what would you like Mr. Bush to do?
Mike Mullikin :beer: You can't really dust for vomit. Nigel Tufnel - Spinal Tap
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LukeV wrote: What would be the point to buy that??? Have no idea - user doesn't waste time on formatting HD? Tomasz Sowinski -- http://www.shooltz.com
Never argue with an idiot, he'll bring you to his level and beat you with experience.
Tomasz Sowinski wrote: Have no idea - user doesn't waste time on formatting HD? Not even that, according to Slashdot (yes even I take that with a grain of salt). The contract with MS says that every PC must have an Operating System installed, so, Dell is selling the PC with FreeDOS instead of Windows. I still can't figure out how the costs can be the same. Somewhere, deep inside the price, the OS must be accounted for. Given that a drive image is a drive image, I would bet that the manufacturing costs are the same for both Operating Systems, so where is the refund for the cost of Windows? Shawn
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Chris Losinger wrote: and i'd like a president who treated the constitution as The Law, rather than as a set of general guidelines to be followed when they don't get in the way. Ummm.... it would be the DOJ/AntiTrust division that enforces the laws the MS is accused/convicted of breaking, not the POTUS. The case is still being heard by a federal judge (not the POTUS) and being litigated by state AG's and DOJ lawyers (not the POTUS). EXACTLY what would you like Mr. Bush to do?
Mike Mullikin :beer: You can't really dust for vomit. Nigel Tufnel - Spinal Tap
i guess i wasn't referring to the anti-trust stuff specifically, since we were already far off topic. i understand that that issue is still in the courts. (though it's obvious to me obvious that GWB wouldn't mind if MS got off without even a slap on the wrist). and, the guy in charge of the justice department, Ashcroft, reports directly to GWB. so, to say GWB isn't involved is ridiculous. -c
Conservative: One who admires radicals centuries after they're dead. -- Leo C. Rosten
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I have a question for anyone out there: How is it that an OS software company (Microsoft), can dictate to hardware OEMs like Dell, Gateway(? are they even still around), IBM et al how they can sell their products ? The question relates to the whole selling of an OEM machine with no OS. How can MS legally make the demand that they (the OEM's) not be allowed to sell PC's without an OS? I understand that MS can play hardball and say, well if you want Windows, then this is how you have to play ball, but isn't that illegal ? Just wondering...
You guys gotta keep up better. Dell sells machines and ships "FreeDOS" with them if the customer doesn't want Windows. This way, the machine goes out with an OS (but you don't have to use it if you don't want to. ------- signature starts "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001 Please review the Legal Disclaimer in my bio. ------- signature ends
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Tomasz Sowinski wrote: Have no idea - user doesn't waste time on formatting HD? Not even that, according to Slashdot (yes even I take that with a grain of salt). The contract with MS says that every PC must have an Operating System installed, so, Dell is selling the PC with FreeDOS instead of Windows. I still can't figure out how the costs can be the same. Somewhere, deep inside the price, the OS must be accounted for. Given that a drive image is a drive image, I would bet that the manufacturing costs are the same for both Operating Systems, so where is the refund for the cost of Windows? Shawn
Shawn Horton wrote: so where is the refund for the cost of Windows? i wouldn't be surprised if MS's contract had something in it that prohibited a discount on systems without Wind'rs. :) -c
Conservative: One who admires radicals centuries after they're dead. -- Leo C. Rosten
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Chris Losinger wrote: and i'd like a president who treated the constitution as The Law, rather than as a set of general guidelines to be followed when they don't get in the way. Ummm.... it would be the DOJ/AntiTrust division that enforces the laws the MS is accused/convicted of breaking, not the POTUS. The case is still being heard by a federal judge (not the POTUS) and being litigated by state AG's and DOJ lawyers (not the POTUS). EXACTLY what would you like Mr. Bush to do?
Mike Mullikin :beer: You can't really dust for vomit. Nigel Tufnel - Spinal Tap
He wants Bush to start using the DOJ as an extortion racket like Clinton did. "What, only 3 million in donations this year Mr. Gates? Well, let me see if I can find that DOJ phone number. Oh, thanks for the extra 2 million. You are a sweet heart." "Honest, we will use all that money we extorted, I mean deserved from the tobacco companies for the good of the public. BTW, we will be removing all current funding from programs and replacing it with tobacco money. Heh, we kept our word." Tim Smith "Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we can not avoid it... If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs, is also complicated, the language itself becomes part of the problem rather that part of the solution." Hoare - 1980 ACM Turing Award Lecture
