This is a good article that gets right at the core of how deeply
entrenched this Monopoly is. Too bad for BeOS but Linux can't expect
any better fate in the desktop OEM arena unless OEM's find it worthwhile
to fight the MS license en masse. Will offering dual-boot machines
provide a new revenue stream from additional sales or reduce cost due to
competition? Probably not enough to warrant a full-scale attack on
their MS OEM license. Again, it may come down to consumer complaint or
the work of organizations like EFF to get any push for legislation that
would release the vice-grip that the MS OEM license has over a good,
competitive environment. But don't expect anything from our legislature
if the courts won't even begin to address the issue. Too bad the
current legal hassle facing MS became so narrowly focused.
-Robert
Paul M Foster wrote:
>
> Here's a link from another list that I thought very interesting when I
> read the story.
>
> http://www.byte.com/documents/s=1115/byt20010824s0001/
>
> The short version is that Microsoft's OEM license, which is confidential
> and is labeled a "trade secret" prohibits OEMs from shipping dual boot
> machines. If you're going to ship Windows, there can't be any other boot
> options for other OSes.
>
> Must be nice to be a monopoly.
>
> Paul
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