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Will Microsoft Subsidize WinXP For Lindows Buyers?
kinema writes "Ars Technica has an interesting little article about Microsoft's alleged "dumping" of Windows XP. It seems that Microsoft is selling XP through TigerDirect for only US$50 to customers who have purchased a Lindows computer." Note that Tiger says nothing like this on their site (No, you can't buy WinXP for $50 there); Lindows CEO Michael Robertson says (in the linked column) that "Microsoft's latest offers to TigerDirect are extremely lucrative and I wouldn't be surprised if they ultimately cave to Microsoft's pocketbook." PR ploy or reality, you decide.
.. this is the kind of stuff that's illegal in EU and there's no Bush here to save you in court.
Is the US market enough for you, Microsoft? Because that's where you're going to end up owning your monopoly - and only there.
it's in my head
Price dumping implies Microsoft is selling it below cost. It costs far less than $50 to produce a WindowsXP CD.
You're right, the actual name for this is predatory marketing, and it too is illegal.
Not that we should expect the Bush administration to care.
Have you got your LWN subscription yet?