How to increase the value of a $100 PC to $250 and make it unaffordable

[Scott Elcomb]

On 12/6/06, Madison Kelly <linux-5ZoueyuiTZhBDgjK7y7TUQ at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> Peter P. wrote:
> > I once said that Linux could be the foot in the door for some businesses who do
> > not really want to switch (why they do not want to I will not discuss here -
> > everyone has the right to be pointy headed at some time or another), allowing
> > them to negotiate lower license fees for other types of software. Now I have
> > lived to be sorry for having said that:
> >
> >   http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2170209/microsoft-looking-windows-olpc
> >
> > Peter
>
> I think MS is terrified of having a generation of kids in emerging
> markets growing up learning *nix skills. Scared enough that they'd
> likely rather give MS Windows away on these machines if they have to.
>
> Call me crazy...

Not crazy at all.  I Remember Microsoft giving a number of countries
very significant discounts (70%+ off) to ensure they're using Windows
and not Linux.

Not sure what the pricing schemes are for Vista, but I remember some
rumors a couple months back that MS might make the basic home version
of Vista free to compete with FOSS alternatives such as Linux.  (Of
course the user wouldn't be able to do much productivity-wise, but hey
- one can always buy additional licenses and/or upgrades!)

-- 
Scott Elcomb
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