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The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
byedivad ( 1186799 ) writes:
Choice, many times becomes really fast synonym of fragmentation and lack of standard.
And this is just a bright example. The situation described is 100% conforming to reality, as far as UI kits and sound infrastructure.
bySantana ( 103744 ) writes:
PC vendors are missing a gold opportunity here. They could adopt a GNU/Linux distribution and make it attractive to the masses, just like Apple did with Nextstep. That would really challenge Microsoft and Apple, but require a dedicated software development department, something that many of them don't know how to do or don't want to take the risk at.
Even though it's disappointing, It's not unexpected. They only know how to brand a PC and sell it.
byBlakey Rat ( 99501 ) writes:
PC vendors are missing a gold opportunity here. They could adopt a GNU/Linux distribution and make it attractive to the masses,
And that benefits them... how?
Yes, you're correct, they *could* do that. (If you're just looking for confirmation.) But why would they? What's the business case for it?
bySantana ( 103744 ) writes:
You've hit the problem: they don't see a benefit. But because they're short-sighted or risk aversed.
PC vendors would love to have Mac OS X on their PCs, and take Microsoft's foot off their neck. Apple won't allow that anytime soon.
What else can they do to differentiate their products and be able to compete by quality and not just price?
byKjella ( 173770 ) writes:
Welcome to one of the issues with the service and support model - it needs to be profitable almost from day one, because tomorrow the user might no longer want service and support.
So one of the PC vendors get behind Linux heavily, probably burning a lot of cash in the process. Let's just assume that it's a stunning success, though I have my doubts on that too. What's going to happen? Well all the other PC makers will see it too and also put Linux on their computers. Ok maybe the first one out will have a "brand name" Linux but you know as well as I do that a Gnome desktop or a KDE desktop looks very much the same anyway - if you've first gotten people to use all the Linux apps they'll have no issue using a different distro as long as it too is preinstalled and all the drivers work. Not to mention that most of the rebranded Linuxes have been terrible and most ask "Why not just put plain Ubuntu on it?", but I'm assuming this one would be different. So they're all again selling the same product but the one who broke new ground got very little advantage, little price premium opportunity and thus no return on investment.
Face it, "compete by quality" would in reality have to translate to "educate the masses" to sell Linux. Can you imagine how many zillion phone calls they'd have to take with "I used to do X on Windows, but this 'Linux' you've sold me doesn't work" to really sell Linux? There's a reason the warnings are basicly screaming at you "This is not Windows. This is not a normal computer. If you don't know what Linux is, you don't want this. Are you REALLY, REALLY sure you want to buy a Linux computer?" It's not because they're pro-Microsoft. It's because most people have no idea of the relationship between hardware and OS. To the degree they know anything, they know that there are special Mac boxes, which are different from "normal" boxes - generally while plastic design stuff. If Apple sold a Mac that looked like a PC, people would ask why they can't run Windows apps on it. Seriously. People's understanding of computers is that shallow.
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byjack2000 ( 1178961 ) writes:
It truly is and that makes me want to tear my heart out.
bySantana ( 103744 ) writes:
The way you put it sounds disheartening.
But maybe, just maybe, netbooks could be that proverbial Troyan horse.
And guess what: HP is already trying [hp.com].
Let's see how it goes
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