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HP Will Ship Systems With Novell Linux Desktop

Posted by timothy on from the supported-is-nice dept.

Ted Haeger writes "Two weeks after Novell ships the Novell Linux Desktop, HP announces that they are certifying their hardware and allowing customers to order systems with NLD pre-loaded through HP "Factory Express.""

20 comments

  1. I wonder how.. by Creepy+Crawler · · Score: 1

    They get past the Microsoft Tax? Do they declare them as "mainframes" and not pay the WIndows fee associated?

    If not, I'll take a copy of Windows if i MUST pay for it.

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    1. Re:I wonder how.. by MrResistor · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty sure HP builds the machines themselves. Who, exactly, would be imposing the MS tax on them?

      --
      Under capitalism man exploits man. Under communism it's the other way around.
    2. Re:I wonder how.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      The Microsoft tax was created when Microsoft started selling bulk licenses to computer manufacturers. They gave the manufacturers cheaper rates if the manufacturer would pay Microsoft for every computer the manufacturer sold, regardless of whether it actually shipped with Windows or not.

      So MS goes to HP and says "You can either pay us $20 for every non-mainframe/server you ship, or you can pay us $50 for every machine you ship Windows on."

      It used to be worse. MS used to say "You have two choices: You can pay us $20 for every non-server and promise that every non-server ships with Windows, or you can pay us $70 for every machine you ship Windows on."

      The promise of every machine shipping with Windows (and locking out competition) was part of the DOJ anti-monopoly suit against Microsoft. It meant as soon as you shipped a machine with linux installed you lost the cheaper rate for Windows on all your machines (which would often drive your price up to the point of being uncompetitive)

      So manufacturers who want to ship Linux machines still often end up paying Microsoft for every non-server they ship, even if the machine does not ship with Windows. This is called the "Microsoft tax".

    3. Re:I wonder how.. by Creepy+Crawler · · Score: 1

      Thank you, Mr AC.

      Wonder what that parent thought what the MS tax was? Government payola?

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    4. Re:I wonder how.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about MS saying "you arn't distributing windows on these machines, no more windows discounts for you guys! Bye bye profit margin!"

  2. Baby Steps by miyako · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This looks like another step in the right direction, having workstation PCs available from a known and large company can only help linux on the desktop at the business grow. It's still a baby step, I think when we see a big company release a consumer level PC running Linux that it will really be something to get excited about. As it stands right now, I don't think this is going to be happening. The reason for this is that the people interested in Linux are not going to be interested in buying a "consumer level" PC, they are going to either build a machine, or buy a high level prefab.

    --
    Famous Last Words: "hmm...wikipedia says it's edible"
  3. Die MS Profit Margins Die by BortQ · · Score: 1
    It took a while for hardware to become commoditized. Likewise it will take a while for the OS to become a commodity. It will happen eventually though.

    I don't think that MS Windows will die completely, but their profit margins are going to go way down for sure. For that, I give a "Huzzah!"

    --

    A Multiplayer Strategy Game for Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux
  4. nothing really new by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

    you can buy hp desktops with mandrake for a while already.

    --
    Conservatism: The fear that somewhere, somehow, someone you think is your inferior is being treated as your equal.
    1. Re:nothing really new by Dot.Com.CEO · · Score: 1

      Mandrake is hardly an enterprise-ready desktop.

      --
      Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
  5. Great News by salesgeek · · Score: 1

    I'm convinced that Linux is ready for prime time on the desktop, especilly for enterprises that rely primarily on browser based software. Where GNU/Linux is short is thick client or .net style business software. Java is the best thing we have right now in this arena.

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    -- $G
  6. This is what's new by base_chakra · · Score: 3, Informative
    nothing really new.... you can buy hp desktops with mandrake for a while already.

    If you had read the article, you would've seen this:
    "In the past, HP shipped Linux desktops from Mandrakesoft SA and Turbolinux Inc. Those programs will be phased out, and the Novell product will become HP's Linux desktop offering."
    Most of the Mandrake and Turbolinux sales went to Asia and (to a lesser extent) Europe, and not all HP hardware was Linux-certified. The Novell program extends to workstations, desktops, and laptops. HP is also taking more steps to address demand in the US market. I bought an HP Pavilion notebook less than a year ago, and all sales people explicitly told me that Linux was not an option.

    The Novell program also gives Linux customers another indemnification protection option as an alternative to HP's.

    I would really like to know how much of a savings is available to customers who choose Novell Linux Desktop over Windows XP Home Edition. I resold the OEM copy of XP that came with the Pavilion, so if there's more than a US$75 price difference, it would be a win-win situation.
    1. Re:This is what's new by dunkelfalke · · Score: 1

      i see.

      i am actually from europe and the company where i work also sells hp desktop pcs. some of them still come with mandrake - for the internal use, because we have more than enough windows licenses.

      --
      Conservatism: The fear that somewhere, somehow, someone you think is your inferior is being treated as your equal.
  7. Excellent by invisik · · Score: 1

    I was just asking my Novell rep when this would happen, finally! Now we can get down to business!!

    Just if IBM would do the same.....

    -m

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    http://www.invisik.com
  8. No Boxed Retail Package by reallocate · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I checked with Novell Customer Service: NLD isn't marketed as a boxed retail package. Pity. I wanted to buy it.

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    -- Slashdot: When Public Access TV Says "No"
    1. Re:No Boxed Retail Package by Dot.Com.CEO · · Score: 1

      You can buy it online at novell.com for 50usd iirc.

      --
      Mother is the best bet and don't let Satan draw you too fast.
  9. Big step for corporate desktop by plasticsquirrel · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This may not be a big step for Linux as a whole, but it is a huge step toward a Linux that is viable for corporate desktop users. In the past, Linux vendors seemed to believe that a full Linux install (everything but the kitchen sink) was fitting for any sort of desktop install. Increasingly, though, we see the sort of features like real manageability and simplicity that are necessary for large deployments.

    Red Hat started moving in this direction, but their corporate desktop distro, Red Hat Desktop, was very (IMO) half-assed both in implementation and the way they marketed it (or failed to market it).

    Sun's JDS is a nice corporate desktop Linux distro, but it will most likely only find a home with current Sun customers, unfortunately (or fortunately, if you have a beef with Sun's treatment of Linux like I do).

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    Systemd: the PulseAudio of init systems
    1. Re:Big step for corporate desktop by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      That's OK. You'll soon be able to choose Linux or Solaris (x86, AMD64 or SPARC) to run JDS upon.

      Oh, and another thing...

    2. Re:Big step for corporate desktop by plasticsquirrel · · Score: 1
      That's OK. You'll soon be able to choose Linux or Solaris (x86, AMD64 or SPARC) to run JDS upon.

      And my quote will still be valid, that JDS will most almost certainly not stray far from Sun customers, as Sun does not have a great history of marketing operating systems on x86.

      In regard to your citing of a "community response" written by a single admittedly-tired nerd, I don't think many people other than yourself are interested in hearing one more geek bitch about an exec trashing the opposing company's Unix.

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      Systemd: the PulseAudio of init systems
  10. Profit margin by Pervertus · · Score: 1

    Is it possible to use the profit margin for sex?

  11. Guess what? by Pervertus · · Score: 1

    I've just downloaded a porn movie with eMule!
    Who's the man?