[brlug-general] ms to remove IE, or will add other browsers?

[Tim Fournet]

The cost for an OEM copy of windows, after all the subsidies is something like $35. If you take into account the costs to build a process to order machines without an OS for the small number of people who would even request that sort of thing, you can see why the big box manufacturers don't want to deal with it. A local computer shop will do it because it's not like they have to interrupt an assembly line to one-off an image


----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark A. Lappin" <MarkL at lmfj.com>
To: "general at brlug.net" <general at brlug.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 11:15:51 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Re: [brlug-general] ms to remove IE, or will add other browsers?

> Few years ago when I was looking into getting a laptop, I could not get a preloaded linux one
> from any "major" manufacturer. The situation is a little bit better now. BTW the same issue applies to Apple.



A few years ago is a whole different story.  I don't use linux as my primary desktop OS but on the last several systems I've ordered OEM, linux has been an option for the pre-installed OS.  End-User desktop linux has really matured over the last few years, it installs easily, supports a lot more hardware without having to get into anything to technical which if I were an OEM provider would be a critical decision for me on what OS' to make available.  Not to mention what does the purchasing market want/demand.  Many more people are non-Windows aware now than they were even 3 years ago and that makes a big difference.

Re getting a machine with no pre-installed OS,  I've never tried to as a home user but have been doing so in my work life since 2001 in working for various helpdesks/IT departments with corporate purchasing accounts.   The few machines I had custom built at local computer shops it was never a problem to get without the OS (although it really only lowered the cost of the machine by a few bucks, I never quite figured out that pricing structure for OEM Windows XP).  For the Average user I can see not putting a no OS option in various web based build your computer interfaces - remember the average user just wants to turn their computer on and have it work, if a company easily offered to the masses no OS as an option with a "subtract $399" option, the average user wanting to save $400 would take it, end up calling support, being frustrated and then mad that it just didn't work.   I am not saying I 100% agree with not making it an easy option for the average home user but I can see
  why OEM vendors would not want to make it easy to do, more work and thus more money they may potentially have to spend meaning their margin on that machine just went down.  I doubt it would be easy to do even with a phone call unless they got a really good phone rep (unlikely) or called the business orders division where its more common.

I think in today's world and as non-Microsoft OS' start to take more of the market share, there will be more variety in whats available from big name computer vendors, I think it is a slow road but there is progress being made.  Once Google releases their OS I think there will be much more of a take off of OEM support for home users not running Windows.


ML


Mark A. Lappin, CCNA, MCSE:Security | Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry
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