XP cheaper than Linux on new Eee PC 900

Quoting: The XP version of the Eee boots quite speedily for a Windows box

I'm sure it does, until the antivirus brings it to a screeching halt, finds some incompatibility with the filtering software, and renders the entire thing into a big paperweight. The biggest clue is "for a Windows box", which only implies that it's not a big stinky turd, it's just a little stinky turd. Poop is poop.

Ahh, Asus.....

To paraphrase Pedro Cerrano from Major League:

"F*** you, Asus, I do it myself!"

I never wanted the little thing, seemed like too much money for something that wouldn't do what I wanted it to, but people seem to be happy with it. Asus seem to have reaffirmed who their master is...how long before the Linux version is not available at all?

Quoting:how long before the Linux version is not available at all?

As soon as it loading Linux on them becomes "Financially inviable" Due to the money that MS gives them to say that.

The Linux version of the Eee PC sold well, better than Asus expected. Manufacturers will take note of this.

Even if MS can pressure Asus into killing the Linux version, someone else will start selling other Linux sub-notebooks. Heck Asus might even create an off shore subsidiary in mainland China that does it.

If the notebooks sold well with Linux on them, manufacturers will sell them with Linux on them.

MS will tilt at windmills, cause grief in the channel and continue to waste stockholder's money fighting against the inevitable. I keep hoping the stock holders will set things right. Maybe MS is just too closely held by employees and former employees and they are making decisions out of emotion more than wisdom.

Attention venture capitalists:

Surefire returns on limited investment:

1. Design a passable usable notebook that's light weight, marginal performance with cheap components. Load the Linux desktop and begin shouting about the massive interest.

2. Be selective and build sales volume (let it be known the sales level is beyond expectations).

3. Initially be firm, but polite when MS comes calling with special deals, e.g. loading XP on your model. Say on this model it's a non-starter, but you are building a more muscular model with desired features at a higher price point. Come see us then and we will try your OS non-exclusively.

4. With expectations building and with XP as an option note that Linux will essentially be the cheaper choice by being given additional hardware at no cost.

5. Sell out to all the bribes offered, even suggest a few they haven't thought to offer. Draw the process out and appear reluctant. Then claim long term relationships with MS to seem to offer XP (or whatever MS wants on the box) at a lower price point. Announce sales volumes.

6. Sell the company, take the design and start a new company; repeat the process.

7. For the daring, when you are prepared to let the scheme go public, sell MS stock short (be very careful, you could get burned here. Assume a loss, go no deeper. Open a high percentage investment account to grow your ill gotten gains.)

5.5 Cancel negotiations randomly. cite rising fuel prices, credit rate instability, rising labor costs, chip manufacturer delays. Tell Microsoft "We've re-run the numbers in the light of [rising labor costs]. We cannot turn a profit with WinXP on the box, its Linux or nothing." Go back to point #5 and repeat this cycle as often as possible before moving on to point #6

Well quality is usually more expensive.

True, TA. The manufacturers with the highest quality overall? IBM and Apple. Consequently, their hardware costs quite a bit more.

Quoting:Asus seem to have reaffirmed who their master is...how long before the Linux version is not available at all?

Better get the Linux version while it's still possible.

So I'll just buy the XP version for $150 less outlay, and immediately wipe the XP without ever agreeing to the EULA.

I'll then install Mandriva 2008.1 onto the wiped machine, so that I get a faster machine which does not need (and hence won't be slowed by) anti-virus, and I'll also get a full suite of applications for zero extra cost.

http://wiki.mandriva.com/en/2008.1_What's_New#Asus_Eee-frien... http://wiki.mandriva.com/en/Image:20081_eee.jpg

Since I did not agree to the EULA, then according to that same EULA I should be entitled to a refund from whichever mass-market retailer I buy it from.

If you're gonna buy it, buy the Linux version, the hdd is 8gb larger.

Good luck on the refund, LOL.

"If you're gonna buy it, buy the Linux version, the hdd is 8gb larger."

I can buy an 8GB SD card for less than $150.

http://www.cheapchips.com.au/memory/lexar-sdhc-card-8gb-with... ($59.95)

"Good luck on the refund, LOL."

I might take pictures of myself opening the box and refusing the EULA. I'd bet that the mass-market retailers in Australia do not even know that the XP EULA says that if I don't accept the EULA, they owe me a refund.

Certainly Asus Australia seems to be betting that people don't know that.

Your card will cost you $9.95 more than the Linux version. It's only a $50 difference, not $150. And if you're like me, you'll lose the dang SD card the first time you take it out of the PC.

"It's only a $50 difference, not $150."

Sorry, you are quite correct, I was getting carried away ... I thought I had spotted a bargain there.

The extra 8GB of memory in the Linux version is costing you more than that $50 difference however ... the XP version has about $50 worth of XP license (aka Microsoft tax) thrown in that a Linux version should not have ... so that 8GB is costing you in reality $100.

So why can't I buy the machine with the smaller memory but with Linux installed for $549 ? Or even with no OS ... I do have a Mandriva 2008.1 LiveCD already, and from that I can make a bootable USB memory stick. These are the options I would very much prefer to be offered.

I might even put this question to a store manager ... just for interest's sake. Show them what the EULA says. Ask them if I can have it for $549 after we wipe the disk of XP right there in the store. Otherwise it would be a story on Today Tonight ... they might even agree just to keep me quiet.

Quoting:I might take pictures of myself opening the box and refusing the EULA. I'd bet that the mass-market retailers in Australia do not even know that the XP EULA says that if I don't accept the EULA, they owe me a refund.

Problem: MS recently changed the EULA. If you refuse it and want a refund from your OEM, you have to return the whole system. No more returning just the OS and keeping the machine.

I don't know if and how any local tied-sales laws (whats the proper word again) would impact this.

Sander -

I would be interested in that too. I'm betting no tied sales laws because the tied products don't come from the same source and nobody is claiming that PC vendors are monopolists.

Go for it mark_oz, I'll even watch Today tonight just to see your complaint get aired.

So what are they going to do when the Linux version sells better than expected? "Kwazy ppl pay more for less?"