[Am-info] Naked PCs from Wal-Mart

[John Poltorak]

On Sun, Mar 03, 2002 at 10:31:16AM -0800, Mitch Stone wrote:
> With a bit of research on the Wal-Mart web site, I confirmed what I'd 
> suspected: they are selling systems with and without Windows configured in 
> such a way that they can't be directly compared, let alone ordered either 
> way at different prices. The closest I could come to similar systems were 
> the two below, but note that the Windows bundle includes a slightly faster 
> processor. 

It's only slightly faster and probably not appreciably so, but shows that 
around 20% of the machine's price is accounted for by Windows.

That is one heck of a chunk!

I think Walmart are onto a winner here. I really hope so anyway.

I wonder how anyone can tell how succesful this Windowless option proves 
to be. Is it being advertised anywhere? Are Walmart likely to divulge any 
sales figures?

> Now, here's what I find even more interesting and relevant: This entire 
> naked PC offering from Wal-Mart began after Microsoft supposedly started 
> voluntarily honoring the terms of the settlement. The results certainly 
> call the into question the effectiveness of the "uniform pricing" 
> provisions of the proposed settlement.

Presumably some sort of watchdog will be put in place to monitor the 
proposed settlement, so who do you call when you see Microsoft cheating?

 
> http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=1731327&cat=86798&type=
> 1&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796%3A86798
> 
> $399.00
> Intel Celeron processor 1.0GHz
> 100MHz frontside Bus
> 128MB SDRAM Memory
> 40GB Ultra DMA Hard Drive
> CD-ROM Drive
> 56K Modem
> MONITOR - NOT INCLUDED
> OPERATING SYSTEM - NOT INCLUDED
> 
> http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=1679168&cat=86797&type=
> 1&dept=3944&path=0%3A3944%3A3951%3A41937%3A86796%3A86797
> 
> $498.00
> Intel Celeron 1.1 GHz processor
> 128 MB memory
> 40 GB hard drive
> CD-ROM drive
> 56K modem
> Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
> MONITOR NOT INCLUDED
> 
>    Mitch Stone
>    mitch@accidentalexpert.com


-- 
John