[kwlug-disc] Linux tax

[Khalid Baheyeldin]

On Tue, Jun 8, 2010 at 3:20 AM, Paul Nijjar <paul_nijjar at yahoo.ca> wrote:

> It finally happened:
>
>
> http://www.pcexchange.com/Dell-Optiplex-GX260-Small-Form-Factor-p/2000-dell-gx260-s631.htm
>
> Scroll down a bit until you get to the "Operating System" section.
> Note the difference between getting a system with WinXP Pro and
> getting an "Ubuntu Linux Desktop".
>
> - Paul
>

I think this partially has to do with all the add ons that they put on
Windows
(AOL, Anti Virus, and all other sorts of crapish stuff) and get kickbacks
from
the vendors. That helps defray the cost of Windows, so effectively it is
zero
for the system integrator.

On Linux, there are no such add ons, and hence they charge the cost of
labor, be it to install it, or to support it (given that it is more
specialized and
finding support people for it is harder).

The above dynamics may be true for new equipment by Dell, HP, ...etc.
Not sure how much they play on refurbished stuff. Specifically, not sure
if they still load the add ons on refurbs, or do they do support for these
systems at all.
-- 
Khalid M. Baheyeldin
2bits.com, Inc.
http://2bits.com
Drupal optimization, development, customization and consulting.
Simplicity is prerequisite for reliability. --  Edsger W.Dijkstra
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. --   Leonardo da Vinci
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