Quote from story from NY Times on HP buying Compaq...
"Both Hewlett-Packard and Compaq have been hurt by price wars
in personal computers, where it has been difficult for makers to
differentiate themselves when all except Apple Computer are
offering operating systems from Microsoft."
Linux is a differentiating factor.
(However, once world domination is achieved, it won't be.
Any monoculture is bad.)
Of course, the real problem for Compaq, et al is commoditization of the
PC.
More OS choices might help, but they could be commoditized too. With
Linux, et al, however, you have more ways to configure the desktop. This
reduces the commodity aspect, and could return some semblance of brand
perception.
We provide general tech support. Quite often when we ask what type or
brand of computer a client has, they don't know or they're wrong. (They
say they have a HP, but they have a Gateway, for example. Or they just
say Windows.) I feel most users don't really distinguish the different
makers or care. (Of course, I never have a Mac or Linux user get it
wrong.) Since the user doesn't care who makes it, they just buy the
cheapest.
Linux ought to win there, but that's another story.
--
Dan Jenkins ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Rastech Inc., Bedford, NH --- 603-627-0443
*** Technical Support for a Quarter Century
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