Russia Gets It at Robert Pogson

Russia is going after OEMs who supply only that other OS on notebook PCs, stifling competition. How about that? Russia gets it that pre-installing that other OS gives it an unfair advantage. It looks as though Russia wants choice of OS to be separated from choice of hardware. If that catches on, it is the end of Wintel. Purchasers of PCs will see something like:

OS
- that other OS Add $100
- GNU/Linux Add $0
- MacOS Add $50
- OpenSolaris Add $0
- FreeBSD Add $0

M$ has stated they do not require OEMs to install their OS and that they will make sure that purchasers can get a refund for an undesired OS on a PC…

M$ must be ticked.

The case against the companies was initiated on 4th June 2009 for the elements of violating Clause 5 Part 1 Article 11 of the Federal Law «On Protection of Competition». It is suspected that the notebook manufacturers were engaged in concerted actions by pre-installing the operational system of the same vendor on the notebooks sold to consumers who in most cases did not have a possibility to choose and buy the required notebook model without a pre-installed operational system or refuse to use the product tied to their purchase (the operational system of the «Microsoft» Corporation).

see this announcement from FAS

My Mission

My observations and opinions about IT are based on 40 years of use in science and technology and lately, in education. I like IT that is fast, cost-effective and reliable. I do not care whether my solution is the same as yours. I like to think for myself.

My first use of GNU/Linux in 2001 was so remarkably better than what I had been using, I feel it is important work to share GNU/Linux with the world. I have been blessed by working in schools where students and school systems have benefited by good, modular software easily installed in most systems.

I have shown GNU/Linux to thousands of students and hundreds of teachers over the years and will continue in some way doing that until I die in spite of the opposition.