In MHO, we have a PC war going on as follows:
- Dell wants market share so tries the red shed as an outlet
- Tosh also wants market share so tries the blue shed
- Acer wants to lead the pack so adds another retailer to widen its grasp
and backs existing partners.
- And now, Packard Bell is trying to fill the gap HP/Compaq have left the
channel in (old stock)
So all this pressure in a really small market like NZ = international
vendors can afford to sell for cost or below just to gain market / brand
dominance. The volume going out the retailer doors is in sub $1000 inc GST
boxes. Volume + brand name = mind share. So please don't kid yourselves in
thinking that MS OS pricing has dropped so much that they are shipping it
for $0 - its simply not so. I personally think MS has nothing to do with
what we are seeing now. Hardware mind share today = notebook purchase
tomorrow = real big $$ for winning vendor over time.
- Linux still is and will remain a hot item - the rule is, if it has our
brand, it should work with Tux or find something that does. That said,
there are the odd bits that take a bit to get going or don't go (and don't
get the Tux logo). BTW - If you read this far and know about NZOSS and
their proposed HW certification program, please give them a hand to get it
of the ground - then if it has a NZOSS Tux and doesn't work, it won't be my
fault and I'll sleep better :-)
- Yep, playing with some cool Arm based router stuff that runs BusyBox..
...wadam I doing - not here to sell.. - Please wait until it is happening
before gossip sets in
- Do not believe the press - if its not a crunchy headline, it won't sell
the rag! I must remeber to keep my trap shut...
.. and I'm a top down e-mail guy - shoot me!
Rgds, Chris...
(the guy and not the company)
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Dick Smith shelves Linux PCs for now
Date: Tue, 10 Feb 2004 08:45:37 +1300
From: Yuri de Groot <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: CLUG <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
References: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 06:34, you wrote:
> On Mon, 2004-02-09 at 19:41, Jason Greenwood wrote:
> > Dick Smith shelves Linux PCs for now
> >
> > <http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,2808179a6022,00.html>
>
> Yes, but this is only temporary, and they're looking at doign a laptop
> too. Currently you can buy a distro-free PC and add your own. Soon
> they'll be giving away Linux CDs. They will also be giving out Linux
> distros to run on their new routers. It would be a mistake to think that
> this means they're giving up on Linux.
It is also interesting to note that one of the factors for putting Linux
PCs
on hold is that there is now little price difference between an OS-less PC
and a Windows(tm) PC due to the competitive PC market.
This means that either:
1) the suppliers are still charging for Windows(tm) even if they don't
include
it, or,
2) the price of Windows(tm) to PC manufacturers is close to $0.00
If it's the latter, then my grudge against Microsoft is almost over.
Mostly, all I ever resented was having to pay for an OS I didn't want.
Yuri
--
regards
Ian Burgess
The Total Team
PO Box 20226
Bishopdale
Christchurch
[EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Ph 0800 TT Team
Ph 0800 888326
cell Ph 027 246 0592
www.totalteam.co.nz <http://www.totalteam.co.nz>
www.3tserver.co.nz <http://www.3tserver.co.nz>
