[Ilugc] total failure to find a netbook with linux
- From: kapil@xxxxxxxxxxx (Kapil Hari Paranjape)
- Date: Thu Sep 17 06:52:09 2009
Hello,
On Wed, 16 Sep 2009, Mehul Ved wrote:
Would it really be the case? From what I am aware, most manufacturers
will load the Windows machines with trial software from *reputed*
vendors, which lowers the cost of the machine setting back some of the
higher cost. So, now the machine isn't priced too high as compared to
the Linux/DOS offering.
This may be the case for machines that cost 30K and more. Most of
this trial software is games etc. that are not very likely to be
activated by those who buy netbooks.
When the MRP of netbooks _could_ have dropped to about 15K or even
less (for example, see the Norhtec page referred to earlier), the
manufacturers have added "features" to raise the price to the 25K-30K
range. One of these features is the inclusion of Win XP which by all
accounts they are getting from MS at about $20 or less.
Now, all of these taken individually seem like common business
practices:
1. Not selling ultra-cheap goods. (OEM's)
2. Adding features to raise prices and margins. (OEM's)
3. Under-pricing a value addition so that it can be bundled. (MS)
However, put it all together and it feels a monopolistic trade
practice designed to keep competing products out. At the same time
there is a business opportunity for someone to come in and sell
significantly cheaper computers exactly as Asus did about two years
ago.
Regards,
Kapil.
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