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> http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/09/24/globalisation_institute_windows_bundling/ > Tom te tom te tom I'd love to see this, has the potential to see a massive rise in the number of PC's running Linux, especially those not destined for gaming (until the games industry catches up that is) - however, I can see m$ using its cash to make sure that companies like PC world push consumers towards its products rather than the freebie offerings from Linux. I have worked in consumer sales before, sales people are offered incentives by both their employers and manufacturers to sell their stuff. They are also trolled very effectively if they don't toe the line - which is why sales staff always go on and on about warranties (for instance) - they know if they don't sell enough, they're getting a beating from management. A beating which is reviewed at times on an hourly basis (note to all, don't ever get a job in comet or curries - consumers hate you for selling them warranties, management hate you for not selling warranties). Anyway, back to unbundling - just how free would "in-store" Linux remain? Who pays for the disks? What support will be on offer? Will consumers be offered the choice of the m$ bundle of the day or just walking out with a pc that doesn't have an operating system, and be expected to go find one? Its a great and simple statement to say "stop bundling windows", but as ever with any problem, it's more complicated. I know for experience, and non-techies browsing out there in PCworld will want a PC that "just works", and will pay to make sure thats the case. I think that any such unbundling needs to be handled correctly from the off, including educating the masses as to what open source means to them, and why it is worth going the extra mile to use it. -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html