Having worked in Microsoft's Systems div. back in the late 80's to early 90's, I can offer a simple explanation about the contracts. And this goes to many of the other posts here on/., I just don't understand why so many supposedly smart people just don't get it.
It's called VOLUME LICENSING kiddies...
If a licensee ships 1MM boxes with Windows preinstalled they pay $x.xx per copy of Windows.
If a licensee ships only 500K boxes with Windows preinstalled, they pay substantially more.
This is a normal business practice among THOUSANDS of supplier relationships in business. The DoJ trial really didn't change the nature of this type of contract between MS and licensee, just the variances in the per-copy price MS could charge between different manufacturers (as well as restricting draconian "You Must Include Our Product _____, and exclude competitor ____" clauses).
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Having worked in Microsoft's Systems div. back in the late 80's to early 90's, I can offer a simple explanation about the contracts. And this goes to many of the other posts here on /., I just don't understand why so many supposedly smart people just don't get it.
It's called VOLUME LICENSING kiddies...
If a licensee ships 1MM boxes with Windows preinstalled they pay $x.xx per copy of Windows.
If a licensee ships only 500K boxes with Windows preinstalled, they pay substantially more.
This is a normal business practice among THOUSANDS of supplier relationships in business. The DoJ trial really didn't change the nature of this type of contract between MS and licensee, just the variances in the per-copy price MS could charge between different manufacturers (as well as restricting draconian "You Must Include Our Product _____, and exclude competitor ____" clauses).