Re: [LUG] Re: today's meets and some observations etc.

[Julian Hall <linux@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sadie Brinham wrote:

> Does anyone have firsthand experience of this?I'm not an industry-insider,and 
> all I can do-aside from experiment-is refer to vague allusions of corruption 
> on the 'net.Oh..and phone the blokes!
>
> Sadie
>
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Not first-hand, but I'm willing to bet that a discrete inquiry or two 
with the major electrical retailers and PC outlets in the UK will bag 
you an answer.  I'm pretty much convinced that MS in some cases 
subsidise the wholesale purchase of hardware by retailers on the 
understanding that the resultant PCs are preloaded with an MS operating 
system.

For an indication if this is a valid suspicion I would suggest watching 
the street prices of HP computers.  If they start a slow climb over the 
next few months it could be a result of HP bucking MS by preloading 
Linux on some of their PCs.  No doubt if the suspicion is valid MS would 
retaliate by revoking the subsidies paid to retailers selling HP 
hardware.  Come to think of it a few months ago I was considering buying 
an HP 9005 laptop.  Price then was around £650-700 inc VAT and dely.  I 
got that price from www.kelkoo.co.uk.  A quick search this very minute 
now shows the price of the same kit as £850.  Um, shouldn't that be 
going DOWN with the release of later models?

Maybe coincidence?  Up to the individual to make up their minds, but I 
know what I think :)

Kind regards,

Julian

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