Windows Only Users: Will you ever change to Linux?

Now that will be sad.
I wonder what MS will do with all those
folx buying alot of PCs with no OS.

Question: If I buy Windows 98 cd and put it on multiple machines. . . am I in violation of the law or something. . . I mean . .. I bought the program right?

Rocket River


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Yes. I'm not sure of the exact wording of the End User License Agreement (EULA), but you can't run the program on more than one machine at a time unless you acquire more licenses (usually in the form of License Paks).

Technically, you bought the program, but you also agreed to the EULA when you opened the package. If you can't agree to the EULA, don't install it.

The following is an excerpt from the Windows 98 EULA :

A license for the SOFTWARE PRODUCT may not be shared or used concurrently on different COMPUTERS.

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My company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, then agreed to merge with another company, which also declared for Chapter 11 bankruptcy... should I be worried?

 

It's essentially free in that it comes as part of pretty much every PC sold in the retail market. I haven't really tried, but it's probably not very easy to find a new off-the-shelf PC without it. Chances are, like any non-standard option, the loss of any PC package offsets the cost of buying it with the PC.

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Stay Cool...

 

I would switch to Linux if and only if:

- It could run all the same programs as Windows, as good as Windows could.

- It was as easy to use as Windows.


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My dream job is to be a Houston Rockets towel boy.

 

"It's essentially free in that it comes as part of pretty much every PC sold in the retail market."

This is a very stupid thing to say. A hard drive comes as a part of pretty much every PC sold, so hard drives are free? What parts of the computer AREN'T free? Anything that comes with pretty much every PC is free?

 

If I said I'd give you Windows ME free if you buy a pencil, but charge $100 for the pencil, would you think the copy of Windows ME is still "free"?

When you buy a pc, the cost of that "free" operating system is already a part of that price you're paying for the PC. You're not getting it for free.

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My company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, then agreed to merge with another company, which also declared for Chapter 11 bankruptcy... should I be worried?

 

Of course, if the price of an off-the-shelf machine running Linux (or without an OS at all) is the same as the price of an off-the-shelf machine running a version of Windows, then the cost to the consumer for Windows really is "nothing" becase the price of the other components has apparerntly been lowered to offset the cost of the Windows OS.

But the thing is, it's hard to find a machine at a store that doesn't come with Windows (excluding Macs from this discussion), so I don't know that the comparison can be made.

Off hand, does anyone know of a company that sells computers and offers the same model with the option of Windows or Linux. And if so, what are the price differences between the machines?

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Houston Sports Board
Film Dallas.com

 

There are a few, but I don't know what they charge for it. A better comparison, at least in my case, would be I have a machine already, I build a machine, or have one built for me. Assume the hardware is the same for both Windows and Linux. How much does it cost to install Windows 98 on there? Let's say $100 or so. How much does it take to install Linux. Linux is free, so $0.

Based upon initial cost alone, Linux is cheaper than Windows. I can't see why the price of a PC may come down because Windows rather than Linux is on it. But then maybe someone here knows of such a situation.

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My company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, then agreed to merge with another company, which also declared for Chapter 11 bankruptcy... should I be worried?

[This message has been edited by Dr of Dunk (edited May 03, 2001).]

 

But DC's point was in regard to the retail market. Home brew computers are really a different issue since most of us will never build our own computer.

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Houston Sports Board
Film Dallas.com

 

That's a nice, polite way of making a point. I'm surprised that came from you.

Windows comes with pretty much every package. Of course it's part of what you are paying for. Yes, you can reformat the hard drive, find a copy of Linux or whatever, and put it on there. It won't save you money, because you already bought the Windows software with the computer. Most people don't, because an OS came with the system. It's not like you have to go purchase it separately, or that you have an option to have Best Buy install Linux and get a $80 refund for Windows.

On a pencil, I'd say it's more like the eraser. Most pencils come with an eraser, and lump it into the price. You can buy an pencil and cut the eraser off and use an eraser someone gave you. Or, you can search, and buy a pencil with no eraser. Neither choice will really save you any money. So you could say when you buy a pencil the eraser is essentially free.

It's a trivial point though -- so just forget about it.


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Stay Cool...

[This message has been edited by dc sports (edited May 03, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by dc sports (edited May 03, 2001).]

 

You don't need to build your own. You can call up any mom & pop store. They can talk you through what type of hardware you may need as well. Tell them you want no OS installed. You can do this online through configurators at any number of sites.

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My company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, then agreed to merge with another company, which also declared for Chapter 11 bankruptcy... should I be worried?

 

Actually, this is the best thing that Micro~1 could possibly do for us. This is the beginning of consumer distributed software, and this will mark the downfall of Micro~1's monopoly, which may be why they are actually dragging their heels on this stuff.

Think about it...NT is nowhere close to ruling distributed software. A Linux client is just as likely to run distributed software better, faster, simpler and more secure than a Micro~1 cient. This is why I bought IBM stock 3 years ago.

Bill_G~1 realizes that http clients can essentially usurp much of what his "OS" does for consumers, when consumers learn to trust distributed architecture. IBM is all over this, and this is why Bill_G~1 correctly refocused efforts around Internet Explorer and so vigorously grabbed all market share....ahhhhh, except for the servers!

Instead of thinking of Adobe rewriting their software for Linux, or Sony rewriting their games for Linux (which really is all about rewriting it for KDE and other gui desktops--not really Linux per se), think about Adobe creating a distributed object version of Photoshop supported by a hugely robust and secure IBM http client (not necessarily a browser). And that client will be open source and will be free and will be better run on Linux.

IBM wins because Adobe will buy huge centralized servers. Adobe wins because they get subscription based fees, and almost zero upgrade cost spikes in their annual profits (a big cost hit to software developers). And the consumer wins, because they can run this on any machine with the IBM client and can pay the software vendors on a per use model...and never worry about getting the last patches, etc...as it is all centralized and distributed per use....and the subscription will likely come with harddrive space on the server for backup, etc.

And ... and .... and ... Sony will put a client in your TV (or Tivo box), so you can move your computer fun away from the most uncomfortable desk in your house (your computer desk) to the most comfortable spot in your house (the entertainment center).

....aaaahhhhh vision of Micro~1 dying. IBM and Sony shall be our saviors, and Linux shall be their vehicle! IBM has already gone open source with most everything, and Sony has snubbed Micro~1's advances, and Micor~1 is even foooooooolish enough to declare war on Japan electronics with the X-Box and their Tivo challenger, which must use DirectTV (no?).

Challenging Japan electronics industry is very stupid for Bill_G~1 to do. He apparently refuses to bow down (figuratively and most likely literally) to the CEOs of the Japanese electronics companies, and they refuse to behave like Dell and Intel.


aaahhhhhh....we will have Vengeance!

 

But that's the point, it's not trivial. It's part of the basis of the entire monopoly trial vs. Microsoft!

Your eraser analogy is incorrect based upon my response to mrpaige above. It's fine that people can't build computers. It doesn't make them inferior. Hell, I can't work on my car and I'm sure a lot of you guys could. But the point is that if you are comparing what's cheaper, Linux or Windows, you can't just dismiss the fact that you can build the PC yourself and save the built-in fee for Windows. Or you can have it built with the aid of some mom & pop operation, too. People that end up getting screwed by the MS monopoly are the ones that insist on buying a Dell, a Compaq, etc. thinking that somehow those manufacturers use hardware far different than what mom & pop stores throw together or you can throw together on your own.

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My company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, then agreed to merge with another company, which also declared for Chapter 11 bankruptcy... should I be worried?

 

The point is that Micro~1 FORCES computer makers to buy one license per machine they sell. If they refuse to do that, they no longer will receive ANY Windows licenses and thus go out of busines.

We as consumers are FORCED to buy Windows whether we use it or not, but we are not forced to buy a Zip drive or a Diamond Steath card versus a competitor.

That's a trivial point though -- so just forget it.

 

You are most certainly not forced to buy Windows. You can buy a Macintosh. The problem is that no one in their right mind (with any interest in a wide array of applications) would not want Windows.

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"Of course, thats just my opinion, I could be wrong" -- Dennis Miller

 

Windows is an OS.
Macintosh is a hardware platform.

If price were ever a consideration as it seems to be in this discussion, the Mac platform would probably not even be in the running.

Plus, is there a Linux variant that will run on a Mac? I dunno. The entire discussion is Linux vs. Windows and would you switch.

Also, yes, if you're buying on an Intel platform, the Windows OS is pretty much shoved down your throat. If that weren't the case, the Justice Dept's/States' trial vs. Microsoft wouldn't have run as long as it has.

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My company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, then agreed to merge with another company, which also declared for Chapter 11 bankruptcy... should I be worried?

 

DoD,

Since you went off topic, here are a few links to Macs and open source:


http://www.webtechniques.com/archives/2001/01/webm/index.shtml

http://www.webtechniques.com/archives/2001/02/webm/index.shtml


..........now back on topic.

Mango

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Get it right or just don't do it!
Resistance is futile....you will be assimilated.

 

No way Mango, I didn't they did!

Besides your links are still on-topic - they actually discuss running Linux on a Mac.

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My company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy, then agreed to merge with another company, which also declared for Chapter 11 bankruptcy... should I be worried?

 

DoD,

My mistake.


Mango




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Get it right or just don't do it!
Resistance is futile....you will be assimilated.