[svlug] Windows refund

[James Sparenberg]

Paul Cubbage wrote:
> On Tue, Jun 2, 2009 at 4:57 PM, Rick Moen <rick at linuxmafia.com> wrote:
>   
>> Quoting Don Marti (dmarti at zgp.org):.
>>
>>     
>>> They're starting not to. �Some of the OEMs are smart
>>> enough to do enough Linux that MSFT has to be nice
>>> to them. �(You only get respect or a good deal from
>>> MSFT if you prove that you don't need them. �Depend on
>>> them and you get higher pricing and worse service.)
>>>
>>> http://zgp.org/~dmarti/business/netbooks/
>>>       
>
> m$ has many tricks.One is to make sure that there is no possibility of
> side-by-side comparisons.  When the netbooks took off, you could find
> identical models with the only differences being an additional $89
> being charged for one with xp.  You can't (easily) make that
> comparison today.  I don't know how they did it.  If the m$ software
> designers were as smart as their lawyers, this list might not exist.
> LOL
>
> There are other forces at work.  Of that $89, my guess (based on
> history) is that m$ gets $20, the channel about $20, and the OEM about
> $59.  Considering the thin margins on most hardware, the netbooks are
> looking like cash cows.    It's vital to m$ to keep the system price
> high, otherwise nobody will be willing to carry $89 retail load.
>
> Minor prediction:  Things will stay that way until someone puts them
> in WalMart and CostCo and they are sold on end-caps in bubble packs
> for $79-$99.  That requires another round of simpler packaging meaning
> that they won't have hard drives,  the only mods will be various smart
> cards, and the case will be press-fit and won't open.  How m$ gets
> their $20 out of that, I don't know but predict they'll try.
>
> Paul
>
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>   

Some how (According to PC Magazine et al) M$ is losing money on every 
current notebook sale with XP.)  Which is why they are pushing to gain 
the market and move to 7.  Now where they are losing money I'm not sure 
since the cost of bits is minimal at best.  Perhaps the lost money is on 
the support and patch end not sure. 

As for the 99 dollar system.  I think you will see them in Q3 this year, 
but not in blister packs. Instead T-Mobile Verizon et all are going to 
be pushing subsidized ARM based "Smartbooks" for which Android is the #1 
OS. (and despite some arguments it IS Linux just not as much GNU)  This 
link goes to the one Qualcomm was showing off, and for which Asus 
apologized to Microsoft for it not running a WinOS.

 http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9133718

But this type of system is slated to come out at around $100 dollars + 
3G contract, and I won't be at all surprised to see it sell.  I know 
companies I've worked for and talked to, are talking about buying this 
type of setup for use by on-call personnel so they can be nearly 100% 
mobile (and have a family life) while being able to connect back to the 
company if needed.  Better than a pager for sure.

James