🚀 go-pugleaf

Terry wrote:
> 
> In article <664nrq$7i$1@excalibur.flash.net>, mscooper@flash.REMOVE.net
> says...
> > >Mostly correct - only oem's are allowed to buy the software.  Even then,
> > >they are only allowed to sell it installed on a system.  Most which
> > >appears at computer shows, of the oem version, is probably pirated,
> > >especially when you see prices under $90, which is about what oem's pay in
> > >small quanities.  I've seen it at shows for $55.00.  I know its piriated
> > >from somebody, because even myself as an oem, can't purchase it at that
> > >price.
> >
> >
> > Hey....
> >
> > You're the person to ask then....
> >
> > If someone comes in and asks you to sell him a system without any OS on it,
> > do you charge them the same price as if it had Win95 on it?  And does M$
> > make you install the software whether the buyer wants it or not?
> 
> MS can't "make" you have their OS on the system, they do however pay most
> of the distributer out there to install it. So basically why is the
> distrubuter going to offer you a choice between OS/2 and 95, when MS will
> pay them if 95 ends up the system, but IBM won't if OS/2 does. It is all
> a matter of money.
> 
> --
> ---
> Terry

I could be way off base here, but my understanding of the way things
work with hardware distributors was that they paid MS for every computer
they sold for the privilige of installing windoze on their new machines,
whether they installed it or not.  In exchange, they got discounts on
the OS.  I heard a story of one such distributor that also wanted to
distribute OS/2 on their boxes and offer users a choice between the two
the first time they boot.  They eventually discontinued the OS/2
installation option because they had to pay for the windoze licenses
anyway whether it was used or not.  Have I got this completely wrong?

Either way, it's a pretty scummy way to negotiate.

- Marty