Linked by Thom Holwerda on Wed 7th May 2008 18:11 UTC, submitted by Dan Warne
As we all know, the Eee PC, running a modified Xandros, has been a major hit for Asus, and because of that, also a major hit for Linux. The device proved that a computer with a pre-installed Linux distribution can still be s successful machine, and many hoped that this would push Asus and other vendors to produce more computers with Linux pre-installed. This hope could be in vain after all if the new Windows XP-based Eee PC has anything to do with it.
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Member since:
2007-02-17
I don't care. I have at least two solid lines of complaint to present to the ACCC, which the ACCC's own web pages say are valid things to bring complaints about.
The first is discriminatory pricing, or predatory pricing. In every other country it appears that the price of the Linux version with 20GB storage is the same as the Windows version with 12GB storage, but in Australia alone there is a differential.
The second complaint is product tying. If I want the 12GB model ... I am forced to buy Windows. If I want the Linux version, I am forced to buy the 20GB model. I'm not yet sure if I can get Windows on the 20GB model or not ... but either way there is certainly a case to present a claim of product tying.
So, when I am sure these announcements are official ASUS policy, then I will prepare a letter of complaint to the ACCC pointing out the ACCC's own policies and rules and how this product line is breaking them.
I will also send a copy of my letter of complaint (for their information) to a few suitable organisations:
http://danny.oz.au/free-software/
http://www.osia.net.au/
http://www.linux.org.au/
http://www.osv.org.au/
http://www.opensourcelaw.biz/
... and see what develops from there.
At the very least, it should prove interesting.
Edited 2008-05-10 06:26 UTC