Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

Bruce Perens

Tue May 13 09:42:55 -0700 2008

MS just insisted that the Linux one cost more. So the Linux one has 8GB more FLASH for $50. But the unfortunate part is that you'll have to mail-order the Linux box, while the Windows one will go to retailers. I'm sure MS gave them a sweetheart deal, they're probably paying those guys to put Windows on their systems, and expecting to make it back at upgrade time.

Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

maethorechannen

Tue May 13 10:15:16 -0700 2008

they're probably paying those guys to put Windows on their systems, and expecting to make it back at upgrade time.

But when is "upgrade time"? These machines will never run Vista, so they'll never be an upgrade that Micorsoft can make money from. While I half expect that MS is paying Asus to install XP on the eee (making Windows the ultimate in "crapware"), I think it's all about keeping market dominance, even if they never make a cent out of the eees and similar laptops. I think they're worried the Linux will hit them from the bottom up, so it's worth it to them to just give the OS away at the low end.

Though you have to wonder how long MS can afford to fight Linux this way.

Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

disco

Tue May 13 11:29:09 -0700 2008

> I'm sure MS gave them a sweetheart deal, they're probably paying those guys to put Windows on their systems, and expecting to make it back at upgrade time.

Asus sells more than just eeePCs, so I'd guess that the sweet-heart deal is Windows discounts across Asus's entire product line. These low-end ultra compact laptops are a huge threat to Microsoft. Chipping away at the bottom is the start of the end for many corporations. It is how Japanese motorcycle manufacturers dominated Harley Davidson, it is how the Japanese car manufacturers now rival Detroit, it is how Intel/Dell/Compaq along with Windows/Linux killed DEC and now dominate all the other huge server-side players of the 80s/90s. They start with chipping away at the bottom-rung of the market, and once they get a decent market share in that segment they move up the value chain, taking the high-end business away from the established firms. eeePC is the first ever popular Linux desktop machine. It is one of the biggest threats to Microsoft's long-term existence. I'd be throwing cash at Asus too if I were them.

Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

Michael Smith

Tue May 13 16:45:29 -0700 2008

Well, linux is better, after all.

Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

tqft	Tue May 13 19:32:47 -0700 2008

Australian computer users getting ripped off is not news - even if the machines were identical and Windows was free I am sure they would be able to find a reason to charge extra for the linux version.

As others have pointed out MS needs to maintain its strangle hold as any significant inroad could be fatal to their business model over the long term.

In Australia very many businesses are MS only, so that is all everyone sees and gets access to.  Break that and MS will have to fight it out on quality, security and value for money.

 

PS new.technocrat.net is broken for me - can't login so can't post there - IE6 Win XP

Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

Cameron

Wed May 14 00:43:01 -0700 2008

I saw the Wind PC from MSI with 2 options. Linux no bluetooth, XP with blue tooth more expensive.. I have to wonder is it the case that Linux does not have a blue tooth stack or a similar sort of arrangement.

Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

tqft	Wed May 14 01:57:18 -0700 2008

I used bluetooth on my linux pc (ubuntu hardy) last week to transfer pics to my wife's phone

Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

andy rock

Wed May 14 13:31:39 -0700 2008

yeah, i got good results out of the KDE implementation a good year or so ago. it seemed (as is always the caveat with tux) that you needed to make sure the chip was a CSR-derived one. i even managed to hook up my nokia phone to use GPRS when you could only use it as a dial up modem in XP. i was very pleased, even if the cost was astronomical.

Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

andy rock

Wed May 14 13:32:31 -0700 2008

"(as is always the caveat with tux)"

this meant driver support, of course. :-)

Asus eePC More Expensive with Linux than XP in Australia

Jyri Sillanpaa

Thu May 15 07:34:36 -0700 2008

Yes it does, it just hasn't got driver support for all devices out there (my Samsun R20 laptops chip being one of them even when the same chipsets WiFi works flawlesly) (Debian testing, kernel patched and compiled by me).

For my desktop (Ubuntu) at office I use small Coneptronic CBTU2 usb adapter, it works out of the box :-)