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. -- _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, email [email protected] with "unsubscribe <password> <address>" in the subject or body of the message. http://www.ae.iitm.ac.in/mailman/listinfo/ilugc
