Re: Vista? No thanks!
- From: Robin T Cox <nomail@xxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:02:08 GMT
On Fri, 02 Mar 2007 10:56:35 +0000, Michaelangelo wrote:
Oh dear! I have no plans to upgrade to Vista but my sisters PC is coming
up for replacement in a couple of months and I will be heavily involved
in that. Okay, it'll be a new PC (probably another Mesh) with Vista
re-installed but there's the issue of her 5 year old printer, scanner
and zip drive. I remember explaining when she got the PC originally that
once the initial expense was over replacement would be less costly
because, "you don't need to replace everything at once in the future." I
can see new peripherals having to be bought and then there's the
question of how well her version of MS Office runs on Vista.
The simple (and far cheaper) alternative is:
Ask for a new PC without Vista, and then get Windows 2000, XP or Linux
installed yourself. If you need help, put a message on this newsgroup.
With Vista you may well be in for more expense and inconvenience than you
had bargained for, which is why Microsoft are currently putting pressure
on vendors of PCs not to sell them without Vista pre-installed. Apparently
XP is no longer satisfactory from a Microsoft point of view.
See:
Microsoft: Don't sell PCs without operating systems
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39261437,00.htm
Naked PCs: Free software supporters are angry that Microsoft is putting
pressure on PC vendors not to sell machines without an operating system
installed
Microsoft has urged UK PC vendors not to give customers the opportunity to
buy a PC without a pre-installed operating system.
Supplying base systems, or 'naked PCs', is a missed opportunity, according
to Michala Alexander, Microsoft's head of anti-piracy.
Writing in Microsoft's Partner Update magazine, which is distributed to
computer dealers, Alexander estimated that 5 percent of computers sold in
the UK in 2006 would not include an operating system.
Alexander is keen to bring that number down, even though customers could
want a base system because they want to install Linux, or because their
firm already has a licensing agreement for an operating system such as
Windows.
"We want to urge all system builders — indeed, all Partners — not to
supply naked PCs. It is a risk to your customers and a risk to your
business — with specifically 5 percent fewer opportunities to market
software and services," wrote Alexander.
Linux vendors and free software supporters, though, believe these base
systems can play an important role in supporting the open source market.
Some are concerned that Microsoft may be attempting to use its powerful
position in the market to hamper competition.
The European branch of the Free Software Foundation hopes that PC vendors
will not be swayed by Microsoft.
"We would be happy to see any kind of hardware being shipped without an
operating system, or pre-installed with free software. Furthermore, we
would be happy to get in contact with any hardware vendor who wants to
free his customers this way," said Joachim Jakobs, of the FSF Europe.
Alexander's role is to combat the use of counterfeit and unlicensed
versions of Microsoft's software. In February, Microsoft launched an
initiative called Keep IT Real, in which "feet on the street"
investigators would visit technology vendors suspected of installing
counterfeit software on PCs before selling them.
In the article, Alexander appeared to reveal that these investigators will
also have a role in clamping down on the sale of base systems.
"Microsoft is recruiting two 'feet on the street' personnel whose role
will be to provide proactive assistance during customer visits, and help
you get the value proposition for pre-installed software and related
services. Give us a call and let's get those feet walking," Alexander
wrote.
The FSF Europe is alarmed by the prospect that customers who request a
base systems would risk a visit from Microsoft's investigators.
"It looks like a private sniffing service which is supposed to spy on
these who do not want to pay the Microsoft tax anymore. It is an
incredible piece of impudence which any politician, customer and
journalist should recognise carefully," said Jakobs.
When contacted by ZDNet UK, Alexander denied that operatives would be
dispatched into the premises of customers who attempted to buy a PC
without Windows.
"I can confirm that the... personnel are not participating in customer
visits. This is an error in the copy and will be amended in future
material on the subject," Alexander claimed.
Alexander also insisted that Microsoft was simply trying to help its
reseller partners by explaining how they could grow their businesses by
selling its software and services. But she did reiterate that the software
giant is concerned that the sale of base systems may be linked to the use
of counterfeit software.
"There will be a concern if we see an increase in businesses selling PCs
without Windows and piracy goes into the sky," said Alexander, who also
rejected the suggestion that Microsoft was attempting to use its powerful
position in the market to hamper rival operating systems.
Both Red Hat and Novell argue that naked PCs can be an important part of
the overall market.
"Microsoft is clearly concerned about the threat of Linux on the desktop
and is trying to protect its base. Naked PCs provide customers with choice
and lower the price of commodity PCs," said a Novell spokesman.
"Customers want to have choice and they don't want to be locked in by one
vendor, such as Microsoft," said Red Hat's Dirk Kissinger. "We would like
to see more hardware vendors give their customers the choice of
pre-installed operation systems, be it Microsoft or Red Hat or other
options, or raw hardware without an operating system."
Several PC vendors contacted by ZDNet UK were reluctant to comment on the
issues surrounding base systems. One, though, did say that they hadn't
encountered any difficulties.
"We've had no pressure from Microsoft, yet," said a representative from
Chillblast, a UK PC vendor that sells some computers without operating
systems.
.
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- Re: Vista? No thanks!
- From: Michaelangelo
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