On CNET: Create your holiday wish list
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 26 of 84:
Next »
« Previous
The problem is, you can't.
I went through the same experience recently. Ended up buying a laptop and formatting the sucker. I have never once allowed XP to boot on the thing, and the disks are still unopened. Why the hell should I have to buy something I very specifically DON'T want in order to get something I do?

Well, the answer is simple: Microsoft, despite Linux inroads, is still a monopoly. Only when I, the little guy, the consumer, can buy a laptop without the OS if I so choose, will I conclude that Microsoft is no longer a monopoly.

I'm still trying to get a refund for the OS, BTW... Microsoft's contracts with the OEMs are less restrictive than they used to be, but the OEMs still have to guarantee a certain percentage of machines shipped with Microsoft's OS to be able to buy Microsoft's OS at all, which means that if you're buying less than 100 computers, you're still buying Windows.
Posted by: Damon K   Posted on: 01/09/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story Reply to Message

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

so if you cought  JWatson77 | 01/09/04
history101  stephen732@... | 01/11/04
waste of resources  matted@... | 01/13/04
Run Windows Update, then burn OS image (where permitted by law)  KeithRisler | 01/09/04
Better yet  Franklin_z | 01/10/04
I agree!  DarbyOhara | 01/11/04
Typical M$  tslocum7 | 01/09/04
History's largest criminal monopoly...  moiety | 01/10/04
Forced upgrades  tslocum7 | 01/12/04
Forced Upgrades??  Wolfie2K3 | 01/12/04
compared to Linux  el1jones | 01/09/04
Well you know,  rkadowns | 01/09/04
No  el1jones | 01/09/04
%rolling eyes%  DarbyOhara | 01/11/04
Study in Dec '03 reported only 6.6% market uptake for WinXP. M$ is scared!  dicktaurus@... | 01/09/04
Uh huh  vdraken | 01/09/04
Gosh, that was even brainless for a certified Micro$hill! Congrats!  dicktaurus@... | 01/09/04
Hmm hmm  NemesisNL | 01/10/04
60,000 machines a day!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
They're afraid of the OS being stripped and replced with a tux  GRindinAxTaRupy | 01/09/04
Your the best kind of Windows customer.  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
you cant always do that  doh123 | 01/09/04
Maybe in the past.  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Sure, only 'cuz M$ was ordered to stop pre-load extortion against OEMs  dicktaurus@... | 01/09/04
Would love to...  MkIIISupra | 01/09/04
The problem is, you can't.  Damon K | 01/09/04
pre-installed linux  Chris Moller | 01/09/04
Would Love To  Snapsoup | 01/10/04
Gee Bit, it's sooooo hard to recognize you  GRindinAxTaRupy | 01/09/04
Not making their numbers  IT_User | 01/09/04
Explain.  vdraken | 01/09/04
Use Some Reason, please  KeithRisler | 01/09/04
Dude...  quietLee | 01/09/04
It's aboutr reasonable durability  KeithRisler | 01/09/04
I'll take a shot too  el1jones | 01/09/04
Why look in so complex matters?  FirstNLastN | 01/09/04
As far as companies , they do not wait until hardware breaks  NemesisNL | 01/11/04
Explanation how  FirstNLastN | 01/09/04
My two cents...  noShut_z | 01/09/04
Explanation  Chris Moller | 01/09/04
Just a quick poll?  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
poll?  dwest_z | 01/09/04
Old is Better!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Drivers  dwest_z | 01/09/04
Actually Not!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
NOT!  dwest_z | 01/09/04
Which Version!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
In fact...  FirstNLastN | 01/09/04
Win XP stable?  dwest_z | 01/09/04
I agree with FirstNLastN  noShut_z | 01/09/04
RE: dwest  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
That made me laugh  voska | 01/11/04
True, but....  FirstNLastN | 01/09/04
Dvorak...  noShut_z | 01/09/04
How many Linux users arunning a distro from 1998  hal9000mx | 01/09/04
True  NemesisNL | 01/11/04
Win98 with Updates is NOT 4 years old  KeithRisler | 01/09/04
Just the Facts Sir!  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Patch the Patch  dwest_z | 01/09/04
it's more that 5 year old  voska | 01/11/04
Still waiting.  ShadeTree | 01/09/04
Still waiting to hear from a Linux user using a 1998 distro  hal9000mx | 01/09/04
You have to go slowly, Bitty is just not sophisticated  GRindinAxTaRupy | 01/09/04
1998 distro  Chris Moller | 01/09/04
1998 linux  Chris Moller | 01/09/04
A better poll  voska | 01/11/04
I am still running Win98 at work  Tammee | 01/09/04
Question  Ployd_Farker | 01/09/04
Only 1/4 of web surfers use w98! Worldwide!!  jjon2121 | 01/09/04
370,000 BUSINESS  hal9000mx | 01/09/04
XP 2 years old already  JWatson77 | 01/09/04
Waste of time...  MkIIISupra | 01/09/04
I'm switching  skeptic tank | 01/10/04
WIN98 SUPPORT  ALFRED_z | 01/09/04
id i buy a boxed copy of XP in a year  JWatson77 | 01/10/04
I have Windows XP with all the latest patches.  GraysonPeddie | 01/10/04
Windows lover  NoB$ | 01/10/04
Just (?) Business  bekercher | 01/10/04
But we must remember that for profit companies are in business to make mone  NemesisNL | 01/11/04
GOOD! The sooner all 9.X versions are gone...  No_Ax_to_Grind | 01/11/04
Now is this longer or shorter support than Solar 2.5  FilledOut | 01/12/04
Where can I get the CD from  charlesa@... | 01/12/04
W98 CD  logren | 01/12/04
Windows 98  pettite@... | 01/12/04

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
advertisement

SmartPlanet

  • Thought-provoking progressive ideas on diverse topics that intersect with technology, business, and life, and matter to the world at large. Visit SmartPlanet
  • More from IBM
  • Innovate your business' process model, play against the market, compete against others on our scoreboards and WIN! Try INNOV8 2.0: A BPM Simulator
  • Enabling Real-World Business Transformation through IBM Service Management Read the EMA Analyst Report
Click Here