Microsoft: Don't sell PCs without operating systems

ZDNet UK ^ | April 05, 2006 | Graeme Wearden

[DeFault User]

Microsoft may be attempting to use its powerful position in the market to hamper competition.

Never, jamais, mai, nie..........nunca...do you think?

[DeFault User]

Don't think they will get away with it..

I know of a relatively small local computer shop that puts out its own brand. They don't sell PCs without Windows for that exact reason--it's not worth losing the discount from Microsoft.

[Echo Talon]

someone needs to take them to court, that sounds like blackmail or something.

[Arkinsaw]

what are they going to do? sue a company for selling hardware?

For the machines that do have Windows, they could stop giving discounts...they could withhold the little "Designed For Windows XP" logo sticker that goes on the PC. They could ask their retail chain not to carry PC's without the little Window logos. They could pressure partners not to do business with naked PC manufacturers.

Some of this would be unfair restraint of trade if they came right out and did it, but they can apply a lot of pressure subtly.

[Echo Talon]

if they did something like this they would lose in court. i build/assemble my own computers anyhow

[antiRepublicrat]

A manufacturer does not receive the lowest possible price for Windows unless they agree to install Windows on every PC they produce.

I thought the antitrust settlement prevented them from doing this. Such tactics are what killed OS/2 and delayed Linux. BTW, it didn't just work on lower price, since an OEM would be forced to sell a Windows license for every system that went out the door. IIRC, IBM had to ship an OS/2 install disk for customers that wanted it, so customers paid for OS/2 and Windows, making OS/2 the more expensive option.

But Microsoft has its ways. All they have to do is keep sending the BSA around all the time to harass these vendors, maybe file a few legal actions against some.

[bigdcaldavis]

Nintendo tried stuff like this back in the 1980s with the NES, such as refusing to ship their products to any store which sold either competitor game systems (such as Sega and Atari) or unlicensed NES games (such as from Tengen and Wisdom Tree). They even tried to threaten stores which sold the Game Genie for the NES.

[bigdcaldavis]

I suggest giving Xandros 3.0.2 Open Circulation Edition a try. I've been using Xandros since the 2.01 OCE days back in 2004. I'm planning on buying the 3.0.2 Business Edition next month.