On Fri, 2004-03-12 at 16:39, Grainge, Derek wrote:
-----Original Message----- From: ian [mailto:ian.lynch2@ntlworld.com] Sent: 12 March 2004 16:29 To: adrian.wells Cc: suse-linux-uk-schools@suse.com Subject: Re: [suse-linux-uk-schools] Upgrade Question
I can't really see why DELL should worry too much about upsetting MS. If MS actually tried to put pressure on them it would be illegal and they just need to squeal to the OFT. I think its more likely just a mindset. If we keep tapping away it will eventually shatter.
The OFT is investigating pricing structures in schools because we have to include all machines in the count, MS based or not. I guess MS will be guilty.
MS have contracts with almost all suppliers. That implies that windows will be on the hard drive whether you want it or not. When the OFT started their investigation and asked for responses I suggested they needed to look at that as well. Their reply was (I paraphrase) that yes they knew about that but wanted to knock off one problem at a time. So yes Dell will worry because - if I understand correctly - should they shift empty boxes they could lose their discount pricing on Windows or have their contract cancelled completely. It's an equitable life.
But we were talking about Office. If they have a discount agreement from MS it should be on volume not on condition that every machine carries Windows. I guess the latter would be illegal too. However, even so, Dell do not have to install MS Office on every machine and indeed they don't, so they could by default put OO.o on their machines and say if you want MSO its X amount extra. If MS made some conditional link between Windows and MS Office, it would again be illegal. I guess Dell are of the mentality that if they sell MSO they make a margin, if they give away OO.o they don't, but that misses the point that the overall cost of the machine would be lower with OO.o and they are adding value compared with a competitor who puts say MS Works on their machines. We just need one of the big players to see this and gain a bit of competitive advantage and then they would all have to do it. HP would be a good one to do it. -- ian <ian.lynch2@ntlworld.com>