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:2006-06-03
Member since:2005-07-06
That is the point, they (Microsoft) can't be even selling it for $0.00 dollars per copy if the XP machine is cheaper than a Linux install which already is free from day one.
Somewhere Microsoft is paying money to ASUS to put out a cheaper machine than the Linux one. The lack of a 12GB Linux machine is also telling.
Why not bring out a 12GB Linux machine after-all? Why lose a possible market share by being cheaper than the competition?
If ASUS is paying even one cent per machine to Microsoft for the XP version then a Linux machine with the same specs would come out a number of dollars cheaper per machine (handling costs, paper work, serial number tracking, etc.)
The fact is, if the hardware is already fully supported by an Free-Open-OS, then a Microsoft version on that same hardware must always be a more expensive machine unless Microsoft is paying to have their OS installed.
Member since:
2005-11-10
How is Microsoft losing money on this - I mean, how much does it cost MS to make copy of XP?? Like.. $1 or even less? Even then.. How exactly ARE they losing money if they are selling it for like $0?
It's not like with XBox 360 or PS3, you know, where they have hardware and manufacturing expenses.
Anyway, if you're buying XP model just because of that, you should see psychiatrist.
Edited 2008-05-07 21:32 UTC