🚀 go-pugleaf

**>
**>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.
**>


Oohhh. Not so my friend. The larger vendors have signed exclusive
agreements with Microsoft that forbid them from selling a PC without
the OS, or from selling an OS other than Windows.

That doesn't apply to the smaller guys, and one or two biggies may not
be playing along, but the majority of high end sellers are in bed up
to their ..... with the license agreement that M$ makes them sign.
This is not made up. Ask their sales people if you don't believe me. I
have, and I was stunned at them all using the same word: "forbidden"

Talk to the Attorney's General in Texas. They are trying to find those
papers and agreements in order to prove anti-trust and anti
competitive, but many of the companies are telling the attorneys that
they cannot show the NDA's to anyone unless they get permission from
Microsoft. Its a mess. M$ has more lawyers than all the states and DOJ
put together. 

Tomorrow, Dec 5. A day that will live in infamy. One way or the other.
(although it will likely drag on for months)

John