On Sat, 2007-02-03 at 21:34 -0500, R. G. Newbury wrote: > Subject: Re: Dell's w/o OS - where? > To: "For users of Fedora" <fedora-list@xxxxxxxxxx> > Message-ID: <41653.::1.1170522979.squirrel@localhost> > Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1 > > "They do not list them on the "Home/Home Office" part of their website, > but if you go to the "Small Buisness" choice you can then choose under > desktops or laptops either "Open Source Desktops" or "Open Source > Laptops" they apparently come loaded with FreeDOS (for free, I think so > they can boot and test them)" > > During testimony in the Microsoft anti-trust trial, it was explained > that Dell had a locked in contract which requires (required) that every > machine it sells, must be sold with an OS. So Dell provided bare > machines, with an enclosed FreeDos floppy disk. This complied with the > terms of the contract. M$ of course expected that every machine would be > sold with an M$ OS for which it would be compensated. > > (This was referred to in a comment post on Groklaw about 2 years ago, > and the relevant testimony linked to on that site.. I read the > testimony, but I have no idea how you would find it now). > > Geoff > > That is interesting. Less than a year ago I asked the Dell sales staff whether they would sell me machine with out Windows and the answer was no. -- Aaron Konstam <akonstam@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
