[Am-info] Dell Outsmarts Microsoft!

[Geoffrey]

Paul Rickard wrote:
> ========== On 2002.08.14 08:10 AM, Erick Andrews typed: ============
> 
> 
>>This part of the article is really cute on MS's behalf:
>>
>>"The Microsoft licensing terms, which were put in place on Aug. 1, 
>>specify that PC makers must ship PCs with an operating system. 
>>The new policy exists to prevent piracy and to better track OS shipments."
> 
> 
>    I'm wondering about one thing, though... Why can't Dell include a free 
> distro of Linux with its new n-Series systems instead of FreeDOS? Is Dell 
> under some contract with a Linux vendor that prevent it from using a free 
> Distro? Or is Dell in an agreement with Microsoft not to sell Linux to 
> anyone buying fewer than 100 computers? The latter one seems more likely 
> to me. I just can't see why FreeDOS is the solution here instead of Linux.

I think it's an issue of they want to work around the license but they 
don't want to outright piss M$ off.  The assumption is, someone getting 
one of these boxes will put something else on there rather than freedos. 
  If someone buys it with a preloaded Linux, they may well check it out 
and keep it on there.


-- 
Until later: Geoffrey		esoteric@3times25.net

I didn't have to buy my radio from a specific company to listen
to FM, why doesn't that apply to the Internet (anymore...)?