[LINK] Apple's Intel Desktop Move Threatens Linux Desktop, Longhorn

[Deus Ex Machina]

Eric Scheid [eric.scheid at ironclad.net.au] wrote:
> On 11/6/05 9:22 PM, "Deus Ex Machina" <vicc at cia.com.au> wrote:
> 
> > I am pretty sure the original point I was making was that no licence
> > fees is what prevents retaillers from being interested in linux.
> 
> no license fees means no supply side cost to retailers..

0 + x% = 0

> > no licence fee, no margins... we were talking about the desktop
> 
> no license fees = 100% margins to the retailer
> 
> (well, except the cost of media, but c'mon!)
> 
> Now, you might argue though that the potential customers could very well
> simply download the software themselves. Yep, and that?s why bakers went out
> of business ever since shops started stocking flour, and pity those poor
> restaurateurs because *everyone* eats at home these days. Right?

shops dont stock free flour. customer are not going to go back to
retailers that charge for something that is free. 

if you are going to sell it for the cost of the media plus margin then its hardly
worth it to the retailer. I dont know what margin XP has but its enough
to be on the shelves.

the reality is simple, linux has made bugger all inroads into the desktop
in the last decade.  its so low that I have read that the leading measurment
of desktop marketshare dont bother including linux.

being open source is of no value to home users. 

Vic