A consumer group opens pursuits against HP and 2 retailers
Posts: 37
Google translated
Assignment Computer and software: you will not bind!
UFC-QUE CHOISIR (French Consumer Association) assigns the companies Hewlett Packard, Auchan Bagnolet and Darty the Markets for illicit dependent sale.
When a consumer wishes to acquire a computer near a manufacturer or of a distributor, this one is systematically sold with software, at least an operating system and very often of the application software (office automation plays, continuations, encyclopaedias…).
It is impossible for the consumer to buy a “naked” computer and to then freely choose the software which it wishes to install on his material. However the consumer can be titular software licences and want to buy a naked computer, or quite simply to want to change software environment. He thus has legally the right to refuse the concomitant purchase of the useless software.
This practice of dependent sale has existed for several years but is not justified any more in comparison with the rise in the level general of data-processing knowledge. More and more of consumers are able thus to freely being able to choose their software environment.
This analysis is shared besides by the authorities through two ministerial answers of Mr Christian Jacob, Ministre in charge of consumption, February 22 and March 8, 2005. Beyond the question of principle, the economic stake is considerable since the software can represent from 10 to 20% of the price of a computer today.
UFC-QUE CHOISIR request with the manufacturers and distributors at the time of the purchase:
- to allow the consumers who wish it to be able to buy a “naked” computer without any pre application and/or operating software installed,
- to allow the consumers to make the choice of the software which they wish to install by buying them separately or by activating or not the pre software installed via the handing-over or not by the salesman of their key of activation.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....
Posts: 1634
When I buy a computer, that's exactly what I'm buying--A COMPUTER. I'll buy and install the Operating System myself.
I ran into microsoft's OEM tactics back in the 90's, when I was building systems and installing DR-DOS and GeoWorks instead of the ms-DOS/windoze mantra all the other integrators were chanting.
Before that time, it was the norm, to purchase a computer without an Operating System installed; or, to have to make an explicit Operating System choice at the time of purchase.
microsoft's anti-competitive tactics destroyed the freedoms we had, back then.
We have worked-around microsoft's tricks since that time; but it does add a layer of eye-rolling, hoop-jumping that we should not have to endure--simply to sell and support a system.
I'm in full-support of returning the computer purchase environment to the state of freedom of choice that we had in the late 80's and early 90's. Allow the customer to decide for themselves what they want installed on their computer, and charge a fair price for the machine and Operating System.
Until that time, we dance the dance of the intelligent whipping the snot out of the ignorant.
My occupation?
Well, computer geek-stuff, mostly. I could tell you all about it; but, then I would have to delete you.
Naked computers are available
Posts: 519
Last Feburary I went looked around Lincoln for a good laptop for my wife. She and I were at Circut City looking at their offerings when I saw an Acer 3404 laptop with two prices on it: $1399 and $699. I asked the salesman if that was a mistake. He said "No, but without Windows, anti-Virus, firewall, CD burner, ... you won't be able to do anything!".
But, "I can buy this for $699, can't I?" "Sure", he replied. "Sold!", I replied to him. The look in his eyes was a sight to see. "How are you going to run it?", he asked. "Linux!", I replied. Now his look was one of puzzlement. "It's Free!", I told him. Now he was really puzzled. His jaw dropped open when I told him that it is not affected by viruses, never crashes, and can run dozens of apps at the same time without slowing down.
A truly PRICELESS moment!
MEPIS 3.4.3 slide onto it like a glove. My wife has used it almost daily to do email, browsing, and geneology work since Last Feburary. Not one single crash, nary a virus, nada, nothing. It just works. She loves it! What makes momma happy makes me happy!!
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GreyGeek
GG, let me go shopping with
Posts: 1634
GG, let me go shopping with ya next time. I would have paid to see that.
Funny, I don't recall seeing the kind of dual-pricing that you're talking about, out here in CA. I do hope to see the day, tho'.
My occupation?
Well, computer geek-stuff, mostly. I could tell you all about it; but, then I would have to delete you.
Naked?
Posts: 11
Wish I knew about a deal like that with Acer - my son would have grabbed one naked in a heartbeat.
But then this whole thread only reinforces the idea that if you are really into computers and alternative OS's like Linux - you should really be building your own system! Besides being fun and less expensive than buying something - you have the satisfaction in knowing you built the thing yourself!
I wonder how far it will get?
Posts: 959
I read about 6 months back that it is now illegal to supply or purchase a naked (new) computer in China because of the proliferation of illegal software - namely microsoft. The legislation apparently referred to not having a windows system installed on the PC and does not take into account that Linux is a perfectly legal and viable system, but to be fair, there is so much pirating going on over there that it is affecting the rest of the worlds users by microsoft clamping down, and I say let them do it. Hopefully, this will bring linux into focus a bit more and give ms the big raspberry.
My statements may be somewhat in-accurate and or out-dated as I can not find the original document in the few minutes I have before going to work, but I did read it on a technewsworld bulletin
Mike P
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Life may not be the party we thought, but while we're here, we may as well dance.
Break M$'s shackles from your feet and free yourself with Mepis