On Sun, 26 Dec 2004 11:28:08 -0500, stan wrote: > On Sun, Dec 26, 2004 at 10:46:12AM -0500, JohnOfArc wrote: >> On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 00:01:12 -0500, stan wrote:
>> we may not like it, but the overwhelming majority of desktop users run >> MS, and most folks probably have a few copies floating around >> >> > True, but most of those copies, in my experience, are not legitimite > purchased copies. Remeber the M% license forbids moving your copy from > one machine to another. > while that may be true for some of their OS's, it's not for my copy of W98se: "You may install and use one copy of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT on a single computer...". It used to be on K5, which now only has Sarge, now it's on K7, along with Sarge, Mandrake 10x, and Ubuntu (and its not happy being a minority- I had to give it it's own private drive). I've never read anything suggesting this is in violation of the EULA. And please forgive my scepticism, but unless your experience is extremely broad, perhaps scholarly, I'd prefer a bit of hard data to back up your first contention. >> > Here's my concern. It appears that the promary intent of this is not >> > to encourage the new users that might buy this amchine to learn to >> > use Linux, but instead a way to sell them a machine W/O the M% tax, >> > and encourage them to load a pirated copy of a M$ OS on it. >> > >> if that was the motive, why go to the trouble of installing *anything*? >> By your logic, all non-Windows-preinstalled boxes are similarly >> suspect. But perhaps I don't have enough info: >> why didn't you address this? That's really my primary point! I'm not saying there are no possible explanations (I can think of a few myself), but I want your opinion before donning my tin-foil hat (it itches). >> 1. is there a law in your jurisdiction requiring preinstallation of an >> OS? > > Don't know. > how about... are there any shops selling white boxes w/no preinstall? I'm reasonably certain there's no proscription like this in Georgia, and I'd be surprised if it exists anywhere in US (maybe Wash state?? <snicker>). > >> 2. does Fry'$ have a policy prohibiting sale of bare-bones systems (no >> OS included)? If yes, there's FreeDOS & Debian (probably Ubuntu <g>) > > Ti the best of my knowledge, the only way to buy an asembeled system > from them WO Os would be to buy the components, and pay thier asembly > fee. I don't beleove that they have any pre asembled OS less machines. > if they do they are not displayed, or in the adds. > fair enough > >> 3. is there a proprietary feature of Lin$pire which lends itself to >> pirating commercial software? > > No. >> good >> 4. what was the Lin$pire tax, IOW, could you have purchased the same >> setup for less sans Lin$pire (not necessarily at Fry'$)? (also see #2). >> If you believe Lin$pire was "free", perhaps you should inform Lin$pire >> of your suspicions > > True, I supsect installing it has a small but non zero cost. Althoguh I > beleive that thier primary revenue stream derives from the Click and Run > licenseing of add on programs. > who, Fry'$ (surely not!). Lin$pire? They do seem eager to sell Warehouse subscriptions which I guess includes proprietary stuff, but if you'd care to elaborate... OTOH, Lin$pire knows up front that x% of copies they're selling probably won't be used, and their marginal cost is extremely low.. > >> 5. <Perry Mason voice> is it not true, stan, that Lin$pire desktop >> comes with "online help at you fingertips"?</Perry Mason voice> > > Truem and it rates a one line mention in tham manual. Which has several > pages on wiping linspire, and installing various windoze versions. Each > one of which also has an online help link. > well, if the one line mention gets the user to the help system, I'd say mission accomplished. Formatting, and installation of another OS, OTOH, is a bit more complicated. BTW, any mention of dual booting <crossing my fingers>? Doesn't Fry's sell various and assorted versions of MS OS's in nice shiny boxes? What do you suppose people do with those? >> >> 6. doesn't Fry'$ also sell commercial software? Why would it be in >> their best self-interest to promote pirating? > > As long as it sells hardware I think they are happy. The people thta buy > comercial software are not going to change their wasy. > perhaps, but for those teetering on the edge, a mild encouragement from their vendor might push them over (god help me, where's that damn hat!) -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
