Glad to see non-Windows machine actually cheaper. [LWN.net]

Glad to see non-Windows machine actually cheaper.

Posted Jul 10, 2003 2:10 UTC (Thu) by StevenCole (guest, #3068)
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When Dell was supposedly selling desktop machines with Red Hat Linux pre-installed, the price for a Linux machine was always at least $100 more than an identically configured Windows machine. Even so, I ordered a Dell Precision 420 with Linux. It came with Windows anyway. So much for their completely meaningless sales figures.

When the Dell sales reps visited my site about that time, I asked about the price differential and why it was in the "wrong" direction. The Dell answer was "It costs extra to certify those models for Linux, and that cost is reflected in the price." Well my buying habits are reflected in the price too, so I've bought no more Dells in the past three years.

Bravo to HP for this. Next time I write a purchase order for a PC, this Steven will be saying I'm getting an HP! Sorry Dell dudes, you lose.

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Glad to see non-Windows machine actually cheaper.

Posted Jul 10, 2003 3:08 UTC (Thu) by thompsot (guest, #12368) [Link]

You go, Steven. I was very disappointed that Dell let MS's typical veiled threats deter them from their Linux offerings. It's time for hardware vendors to sell hardware based on CUSTOMER needs/wants, not software vendors' needs/wants (especially convicted illegal monopolist software vendors, widely known for bullying hardware vendors into exclusive contracts). If software vendors want to sell products to the customer, they need to sell them based on the quality of the product and customer demand. MS has piggy-backed on hardware vendors since the release of DOS, and they don't want to have to start earning their keep the old fashioned way now. It's going to be up to hardware vendors to swat MS off every now and then, and give customers the choice... then we'll truly see market demand in action.

I don't think HP and Dell would be gingerly tiptoeing into this market so slowly if there weren't some "consequences" they'll have to pay. IBM is diversified (and big) enough to tell MS Special Ops to take a hike... hopefully HP is now in enough markets that don't depend on MS software to do the same...

- T