EeePC - a success for Asus, Linux, and Microsoft wants some.
Given the vocal stance Microsoft has taken about the end of Windows XP’s life cycle, one might be surprised to hear that you can get one of Asus’ EeePCs with the venerable OS pre-installed.
However, that would be naive.
The EeePC is a tremendous success - a small, compact PC with a Xandros-based Linux distribution pre-installed from Asus. The device fits into a niche that, apparently, people are very interested in filling. And this terrifies Microsoft.
After reading this article, I’ve concluded that everyone on the planet has forgotten just how much Microsoft spends to get a company to put their OS selections on new computers. They spend nothing. There are remarks that this will cost Microsoft hundreds of millions of dollars, and I can’t see it. Sure, they’re forfeiting the potential profit of what Linux users have called the Windows Tax. However, they can’t do that…
It would cost them much more (in terms of user-base) if they allowed any Linux variant to remain installed on a popular machine. Hence, their reaction.
Now, Asus offers an XP version of their EeePC in retail outlets and the Linux version available from “computer resellers”. (Notice the user segregation? Technical users from one vendor, everyday users from more “public” vectors.) To top off the deal, Microsoft has somehow made it cheaper for Asus to sell their version of the EeePC than a Linux version. (I probably have that logic backwards - they’ve probably made it much, much more expensive for Asus to ship a Linux-equipped EeePC.)
Regardless, it appears that Microsoft is really feeling the pinch. Vista’s nowhere near the numbers they need. Linux desktop use is surging ahead. Macs have gained significant market share over the last 2 years. Must be a rough time for the near-monopoly.
Keep doing what you’re doing, folks - buy machines based on their utility for your uses. However, I only ask that when you see this flailing behemoth strong-arm other companies into changing a highly successful line of hardware, remember that they’re doing this at the cost of innovation. They aren’t interested in the utility machines present you with. They’re interested in maintaining their strangle hold on the software market.
And that’s just what they’ve done with the Asus EeePC.
One Response to “EeePC - a success for Asus, Linux, and Microsoft wants some.”
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Yeah, commenting on my own post seems naughty, however…
It appears that Microsoft’s doing what it can to protect it’s Vista investment by limiting the power and utility of ULPC’s.
I can’t think of a more clear example of how this juggernaut is squashing innovation in service to its own agenda.