[CLUE-Tech] HP laptop

[Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier]

On Wed, 16 Jan 2002, Grant Johnson wrote:

> Kevin Cullis wrote:
>
> >Ed,
> >
> >And the REALLY bad part is that the salesperson on the phone told me
> >that I had to have an OS on it for "Quality Assurance" to ensure that it
> >works before it goes out the door. Sheeesh.....
> >
> >However, there is one issue that we may not have thought of: would you
> >by a brand new car without an engine?  Just to put your own in?
> >Essentials are required, accessories can be left off and thus lower the
> >price.  That may be their comeback to our arguement.
> >
> >Kevin
> >
> Why don't they simplify this, and just charge the chipmakers the OS fee
> for every chip they produce?  That would remove the need for the builder
> to deal with it.  There would also be no pirated software, since Windows
> and Office were already paid for as part of the price of the chip.  To
> ensure that a propper fee has been paid, make sure to charge for the
> most expensive versions of each.  If the chip makers don't agree to
> this, simply put in code to disable the software on their chips.

DO NOT give Microsoft any ideas. We already pay a tax for every blank
CD-R, CD-RW, DAT and so on -- regardless of whether we will use them
to copy copyrighted music or data or whatever. Using the same logic
I wouldn't be shocked if Microsoft, Adobe and every other money-grubbing
proprietary software company could find a legislator willing to pass
a similar bill for CPUs.

Zonker
--
Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier -=- jbrockmeier at earthlink.net
http://www.DissociatedPress.net/
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"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My
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so both of them together is certain death." -- George Carlin