Selling laptops with Windows is a monopolistic practice:PL

[LinuxMint-4]

Poland’s Office for Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) claims that selling laptops with obligatorily preinstalled Microsoft's Windows operating system constitutes a monopolistic practice and is restrictive to competition.


http://www.polskieradio.pl/thenews/business/?id=89689


The antimonopoly regulator (UOKiK) has conducted an independent investigation of the terms and conditions on which producers of laptop computers sell their products. UOKiK will submit the results of the inquiry before the European Commission and the investigation may spread around the entire European Community.

The investigation, instigated in December 2007, as a result of many complaints filed with the UOKiK by Polish consumers, has revealed that breaching antimonopoly principles in commonplace among computer hardware and software producers.

"[Consumers] complained that they could not make their own choice of an operating system when buying a laptop", Malgorzata Cieloch, UOKiK's Spokesperson has told Gazeta Wyborcza.

The regulator informs that it suspects Microsoft of working in collusion with computer manufacturers, granting them rebates depending on the number of computers with the pre-installed Vista operating system sold, or even banning some from selling ones without Microsoft's pre-installed software.

In the case of a company holding a dominating market position, such as Microsoft, in the sector of computer operating systems, such practices can be deemed as breaching the antimonopoly law, claims the Polish regulator.

UOKiK's spokesperson has not revealed what evidence the regulator has gathered during the investigation, but she has said that many businesses admit that the terms and conditions of co-operation offered by Microsoft are attractive enough for them not to bother to look for alternative operating systems, such as Linux or Apple's OS X.

The market research company IDC says that out of a total of 1.5 million laptop computers sold in Poland in 2007, 96 per cent had Windows pre-installed as a compulsory option. (mj)

[allix]

Its interesting that its coming from a consumer group.
That's the type of support the world needs to get this in motion.

[eddie]

The only thing I can say good about a computer already having an os on it is that at least you know everything usually works out of the box. Though I would prefer the os to be an open source one. If I buy a car, I should not have to load the software for the car computer. I just want to drive it, The same thing goes for most appliances. However if their is a way to improve my car through open source, I am all for it.

[Tsuroerusu]

The only thing I can say good about a computer already having an os on it is that at least you know everything usually works out of the box. Though I would prefer the os to be an open source one.

I generally don't mind manufacturers and stores selling machines with Windows pre-installed, but the fact that the consumer often can't choose to not buy Windows is seriously anti-competitive. If you ask me, I think this practice should be outlawed, but that's just me.

[spotslayer]

[/quote]I generally don't mind manufacturers and stores selling machines with Windows pre-installed, but the fact that the consumer often can't choose to not buy Windows is seriously anti-competitive. If you ask me, I think this practice should be outlawed, but that's just me.[/quote]

I concur in general. I have not seen a computer with a real install of windows(spit), most only have an image that is put on by manufacturer. Not to mention all of the crapware that is installed along with a proprietary image. I have not heard of anyone getting a brand new original cd of the os in a very long time.

David

[Wally Balljacker]

The only thing I can say good about a computer already having an os on it is that at least you know everything usually works out of the box. Though I would prefer the os to be an open source one.

I generally don't mind manufacturers and stores selling machines with Windows pre-installed, but the fact that the consumer often can't choose to not buy Windows is seriously anti-competitive. If you ask me, I think this practice should be outlawed, but that's just me.

As far as I'm concerned, if a consumer is knowledgeable enough to actually want an alternative to Windows, then it should be no problem for them to either, A.) buy a computer from Apple, B.) buy a Linux notebook from Dell, Lenovo or some other vendor, or C.) do a Linux install and get a refund for Windows. Seriously, what percentage of the population wants to use Linux? It's like 0.5 percent. It's laughable.

[eddie]

I used to work in a small computer store and vendors (middlemen) leaned on the owner to carry only Microsoft products and certain name brand computers. He tried to carry competing products as he could because we had a varied clientèle. I have not been by there in a few years. I know he moved from the mall because the rent was so expensive. I think he moved to a less expensive small strip center. Who knows he may not even be in business anymore.

[Tsuroerusu]

The only thing I can say good about a computer already having an os on it is that at least you know everything usually works out of the box. Though I would prefer the os to be an open source one.

I generally don't mind manufacturers and stores selling machines with Windows pre-installed, but the fact that the consumer often can't choose to not buy Windows is seriously anti-competitive. If you ask me, I think this practice should be outlawed, but that's just me.

As far as I'm concerned, if a consumer is knowledgeable enough to actually want an alternative to Windows, then it should be no problem for them to either, A.) buy a computer from Apple, B.) buy a Linux notebook from Dell, Lenovo or some other vendor, or C.) do a Linux install and get a refund for Windows. Seriously, what percentage of the population wants to use Linux? It's like 0.5 percent. It's laughable.

Well, here in Denmark, there is N O mainstream stores that sells machines with no operating systems on it. I find it ridiculous that I as a consumer have to jump through hoops to not have to pay for Windows. And you know I once tried to get a refund, boy did that totally NOT work. I tried calling Microsoft, they said to go to Fujitsu-Siemens, I called Fujitsu-Siemens, and they said to call Microsoft. I think your logic is totally flawed, because you're essentially saying that the consumer shouldn't have any choice in the matter because he or she might not have much technical knowledge about computers. What a ... delicious excuse for eliminating any competition in the OS market! Because now another company can't simply market anything without first having a preload deal, because consumers can't buy computers without Windows, and they aren't gonna get a preload deal until they are pretty popular. And oh, Dell doesn't sell Linux machines in other European countries than the UK, France and Germany, they might have, or is close to, adding Spain, but those are the only countries. Europe is a lot more, than just four countries.

[allix]

And oh, Dell doesn't sell Linux machines in other European countries than the UK, France and Germany, they might have, or is close to, adding Spain, but those are the only countries. Europe is a lot more, than just four countries.

Well said, I would like to add my post that has had no replies about the actual popularity of linux , just because Americans seem to be ignorant of anything that's not windows , does not mean the world is.

http://royal.pingdom.com/?p=340

Nobody take that personally, the facts are they that India, Cuba and Russia, Czech republic, Germany use linux quite a bit.

[eddie]

Linux is used quite a bit in Italy also. Down here in Texas we use a lot of linux, but keep quiet about it, because of all the alleged Microsoft fanboy gestapo former KKK types running around. Touting linux down here is almost like having the wrong skin type. I have seen people lose their job over pushing linux.

[allix]

I have seen people lose their job over pushing linux.

*ouch*

I guess it was over a lack of windows experience

[eddie]

It management only thought they knew more about windows.

[adragontattoo]

The only thing I can say good about a computer already having an os on it is that at least you know everything usually works out of the box. Though I would prefer the os to be an open source one.

I generally don't mind manufacturers and stores selling machines with Windows pre-installed, but the fact that the consumer often can't choose to not buy Windows is seriously anti-competitive. If you ask me, I think this practice should be outlawed, but that's just me.

As far as I'm concerned, if a consumer is knowledgeable enough to actually want an alternative to Windows, then it should be no problem for them to either, A.) buy a computer from Apple, B.) buy a Linux notebook from Dell, Lenovo or some other vendor, or C.) do a Linux install and get a refund for Windows. Seriously, what percentage of the population wants to use Linux? It's like 0.5 percent. It's laughable.

Until about 2 years ago, it was nigh impossible to actually buy a machine that did NOT have an OS installed. Personally while I like the look of the Mac, I dont really want to spend 2x the cost for a comparable machine.

Choice is nice, but robbery coupled with a "take it or leave it" choice is not.