On Sat, 25 Dec 2004 00:01:12 -0500, stan wrote: > I bought a machine with Linspire preloaded on it today. Nice machien, and > cheaper than I could build it. A bit short on RAM, and the CD is a reader > only (no CD writer or DVD). But great value for the $299. > > Reading through the manual that comes with it, I find no information as to > how to use the preloaded software, but quite a bit of nformation relative > to wiping it and installing various flabors of M$ OS'es. > we may not like it, but the overwhelming majority of desktop users run MS, and most folks probably have a few copies floating around
> Here's my concern. It appears that the promary intent of this is not to > encourage the new users that might buy this amchine to learn to use > Linux, but instead a way to sell them a machine W/O the M% tax, and > encourage them to load a pirated copy of a M$ OS on it. > if that was the motive, why go to the trouble of installing *anything*? By your logic, all non-Windows-preinstalled boxes are similarly suspect. But perhaps I don't have enough info: 1. is there a law in your jurisdiction requiring preinstallation of an OS? 2. does Fry'$ have a policy prohibiting sale of bare-bones systems (no OS included)? If yes, there's FreeDOS & Debian (probably Ubuntu <g>) 3. is there a proprietary feature of Lin$pire which lends itself to pirating commercial software? 4. what was the Lin$pire tax, IOW, could you have purchased the same setup for less sans Lin$pire (not necessarily at Fry'$)? (also see #2). If you believe Lin$pire was "free", perhaps you should inform Lin$pire of your suspicions 5. <Perry Mason voice> is it not true, stan, that Lin$pire desktop comes with "online help at you fingertips"?</Perry Mason voice> (hint- lower left of 1'st image) http://images.linspire.com/losshot-big.gif http://images.linspire.com/screenshots/ss_tutorial1_big.jpg 6. doesn't Fry'$ also sell commercial software? Why would it be in their best self-interest to promote pirating? > This really seems like a bad light to cast the Linux comunity in, IMHO. > depends on the color of your glasses IMHO > What are otheres prespective on this? > huh? -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
