As someone who manages a computer store (we are actually heavily service based rather than sales), I agree in principle (our customers can choose freely what OS they like, or none). But I think the major problem is not at this level. The real problem is the big manufacturers who pre-install, mainly on notebooks. Of course I'm talking about the likes of HP and Dell etc... If a customer buys a HP notebook for example, we can't un-bundle Vista - its part of the package as a whole that comes from HP. We can install a different operating system if the customer requests it, but you will still pay the Microsoft tax - If you don't want to then this is something you must take up with HP. Of course its possible to do a special order from System76 or Zareason but with regard to the major manufacturers, they must come to the party themselves.
I'm not suggesting that small businesses like yours should be required to unbundle that which was bundled by other companies, like HP. The main target of this poll is those OEMs which conspire with Microsoft to exclude alternatives, since AFAIAC that amounts to little more than a racketeering operation.
BTW: I applaud you for supporting more than just Microsoft's software.
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Should PC retailers be required to unbundle Microsoft Windows?
As someone who manages a computer store (we are actually heavily service based rather than sales), I agree in principle (our customers can choose freely what OS they like, or none). But I think the major problem is not at this level. The real problem is the big manufacturers who pre-install, mainly on notebooks. Of course I'm talking about the likes of HP and Dell etc... If a customer buys a HP notebook for example, we can't un-bundle Vista - its part of the package as a whole that comes from HP. We can install a different operating system if the customer requests it, but you will still pay the Microsoft tax - If you don't want to then this is something you must take up with HP. Of course its possible to do a special order from System76 or Zareason but with regard to the major manufacturers, they must come to the party themselves.
The problem is Microsoft's "channel partners"
I'm not suggesting that small businesses like yours should be required to unbundle that which was bundled by other companies, like HP. The main target of this poll is those OEMs which conspire with Microsoft to exclude alternatives, since AFAIAC that amounts to little more than a racketeering operation.
BTW: I applaud you for supporting more than just Microsoft's software.