New Microsoft contract orders PC manufacturers to stop selling hardware without operating system

Slashdot.org ^ | August 10, 2002

[HAL9000]

Dell No Longer Selling Systems w/o Microsoft OS

Posted by CmdrTaco on Saturday August 10, @01:17PM
from the yer-bringing-me-down-man dept.

Some Sys Admin sent in an email that he got from Dell which basically says Microsoft will no longer allow Dell to sell PCs without an operating system. Please note that Microsoft is not a monopoly, and does not use their monopoly power to squish competition in the market place. The message itself is attached below, and is worth a read, especially the last bit.

UPDATES

1. Effective 8/26 - New Microsoft contract rules stipulate that we can no longer offer the "NO OS" option to our customers beyond September 1st. As such all customers currently purchasing a "NO OS" option on either OptiPlex, Precison or Latitude for the express purpose of loading a non-MS OS will have the following options:

1. Purchase a Microsoft OS with each OptiPlex, Precision or Latitude system.

2. For OptiPlex and Precision - purchase one of the new "nSeries" products (offered for GX260, WS340 & WS530 - details in the attached FAQ) that are being created to address a different OS support requirement other than a current standard Microsoft OS.

We must have all "No OS" orders shipped out of the factory by September 1st. The "No OS" legend code and SKUs will be I-coded on 8/19 and D-coded on August 26th to ensure shipment of orders prior to September 1st. FYI - this effects all of our competitors as well.

[Bush2000]

Some Sys Admin sent in an email that he got from Dell...

Ah, of course: Slashdot says "Some Admin" told them so, using an anonymous Hotmail account, no less. And this is supposed to give them credibility. Sorry, anybody could have fabricated that email. It's interchangable with any of the millions of porn solicitacions, chain letters, virus myths, and penis enlargement devices being circulated around the Internet on any given day.

[Bush2000]

I checked them out and both vendors force you to buy XP.

And that's certainly Dell's right, considering that they have to provide service and support for their products.

[Bush2000]

Unfortunately, neither the general consumer nor ANS have figured out how to program their VCR's. Like some folks - I build my own. Got some spare parts lying around and thinking of building another. (Wife groans..)

That's a good thing: Because otherwise, Dell would have to deal with all kinds of botched OS installs by consumers who don't know jacksh*t about what they're doing.

[TomServo]

Dell would have to deal with all kinds of botched OS installs by consumers who don't know jacksh*t about what they're doing.

True, but in the end, they all blame MS anyway. ;-)

[amigatec]

How many "penis enlargement devices" mailing lists are you on??

Maybe some of your old boy friends signed you up.

[Cacique]

Microsoft Ubber Alles bump

[ffrancone]

For those who wish to install Linux or some other non-Microsoft OS, it can be done easily enough. Just wipe the hard drive clean and install whatever you want.

This is true but misses the point. If you do things as you suggest, you have to pay for an MS OS. That is the whole point of MS's policy. By requiring that all computers sold have Windows on them, the cost of those computers goes up, even for buyers who use Linux only. That, in effect, makes Linux more expensive.

[Bush2000]

How many "penis enlargement devices" mailing lists are you on?? Maybe some of your old boy friends signed you up.

Wishful thinking on your part, dude. Sorry, I'm married to a wonderful woman and have two kids. ;-p

[Bush2000]

That is the whole point of MS's policy.

How did you arrive at the conclusion that it's "MS's policy"? On the basis of this sham email?!?

[Lael]

My Gateway died three months after the two-year warranty expired. Since then I've bought only from my local dealer.

My Gateway Full Tower G6-450 began having problems one year after I bought it. Two problems. An inadequate Power Supply (200 watts), for which I hold Gateway responsible, and a passive Pentium II cooling scheme, which was recommended to Gateway by Intel.

The last three Pentium II processors used an OLGA chip arrangement, which reduced heat transfer area by 5/6 ths. Even though the processors gave off less heat that their immediate predicessors, they had to transfer this at approximately 4.5 times the heat flux density. Intel recommended that the heat transfer area be augmented by Heat Transfer GOO placed on the remaining 5/6 area and that a larger Heat Sink be used.

Problem is, the Processor is placed vertically, and over time the GOO eroded away from the extra area, causing all manor of Strange Wierd Stuff to happen that was in no way related to software.

But, since Gateway used standard ATX parts, we rebuilt it in a case with 300 watt power, and replaced the passive Heat Sink with a fan. The GOO is still eroding away, so I went to Pricewatch and obtained a P II 450 with SECC 2 packaging, meaning I can mount a Solid State Peltier Heat Pump directly on the Slot One unit, obtained said Solid State refrigeration unit, and mounting hardware. They are in storage for the time when the GOO arangement finally fails, as I have no doubt it will.

Addressing the Bare machine issue...I have a current license for Windows 95, Windows 98 SE and Win ME that I am not using. When I build the next computer, I will use one of those licenses...and NOT pay M$ for an operating system like XP that is crippled by "activation" or Digital "Wrongs " Management.

And, for the first time, I am looking at Apple.

[palmer]

I was referring to the vendors that Boris presented as alternatives to Dell. I thought they provided only XP because they are targetted at the gaming market, but maybe support is an issue for them too.

[Brush_Your_Teeth]

I have never heard of dell offering to sell anything but a windows operateing system. I believe IBM sells both Unix and Windows but never Dell. I could be wrong but this smells like a hoax.

[Brush_Your_Teeth]

I was referring to the vendors that Boris presented as alternatives to Dell. I thought they provided only XP because they are targetted at the gaming market, but maybe support is an issue for them too.

Alienware and Falcon do target the high end Video Gamers with some good systems. Alienware I believe has been putting out cheaper PCs for normal users over the past few months as well.

[Crispy]

You are better off buying a computer from a local computer shop that builds them from scratch. I build my computers myself, but if I was ever to get too lazy, I would buy from a local computer store. They build computers without all the crap components. Plus, you will save a bit of money usually.

[ECM]

And what a beautiful site that would be ;)

[Bear_in_RoseBear]

Dell support was very good until they farmed out ALL their phone support to India

Dell still employs lots and lots of phone support techs right here in Round Rock Texas. While they do farm out some phone support to India, it's not "ALL" of it.

[Charles_Bingley]

Dude, you're not getting a Dell.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Right , those are the low budget items, eh!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Me too, course nearly all of the places you might buy motherboards , also are selling complete systems!

Including an operating systems!

[gore3000]

Excuse me, but is this not illegal for MS to do according to the consent agreements on the monopoly case?