🚀 go-pugleaf

On Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:45:14 -0700, in
<4c4464f2$0$22180$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>, SMS
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

>On 19/07/10 1:15 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
>> On Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:41:33 -0700, SMS<scharf.steven@geemail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I know that Dell has (or used to have) a way to buy their machines
>>> without any OS and the price was reduced slightly.
>>
>> It's still there as an N-Series PC with FreeDOS in the box (not
>> installed):
>> <http://www.dell.com/business/desktops#subcats=&navla=&a=80770~0~1791343>
>> The problem is that some of these machines cost more than the
>> equivalent with Windoze installed.
>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_n_Series>
>
>You can also get some Dell models with SUSE Embedded Linux 
>pre-installed, rather than Windows. I.e. the Optiplex FX160 is Dell's 
>rather weak answer to the thin client business that they chose not to 
>get into with a fanless system with a low-power X86 SOC).
>
>HP offers systems with Debian Linux, Windows Embedded, FreeDOS, or their 
>own OS (or Windows). I was heavily involved with the design of those 
>thin-client systems.
>
>These systems, despite the lower hardware costs, can be a PITA for the 
>manufacturers, and have lower margins than their "standard" mass market 
>machines. HP offers them because they really want to sell servers and 
>system management, plus they often sell them in very large quantities at 
>a time which helpss makes up for the lower margins.
>
>If you've ever seen the assembly line for desktops or laptops in Asia, 
>and how they do the low cost systems sold in mass market 
>retailers--there are no choices, you get what you get with the OS and 
>the hardware. If you order from Dell or HP on-line, and are willing to 
>wait a bit longer, then you can pick and choose, but it'll cost you more.

Wrong again:  Multiple configurations go down the same lines.
(As you might know if you had any actual experience.)

-- 
John

"Assumption is the mother of all screw ups."
[Wethern�s Law of Suspended Judgement]