[ubuntu-uk] Windows makes PCs cheaper to buy! ... we need to respond [Dell crapware]

[Mark Harrison]

A few responses to the various comments:

- It's no co-incidence that this message came at the same time that Macs 
are banging on about the same issue :-)

- I'm not convinced that leaflets are the right place for this.

- I agree with Matthew that this isn't the right "offensive message".

I'd intended this as a "pre-canned response" to anyone who is concerned 
about Crapware, or who (rightly) points out that the cost of a Dell PC 
with Vista is the SAME as a Dell PC with Ubuntu... we are going to get 
questioned about why Linux isn't cheaper, given that the Linux community 
has been going on about "how you save money" and using words like 
"Microsoft tax".


The reason I was bringing it up was that so we had a way to REPLY to 
these criticisms, as and when they come.



Where I disagree with Matthew is that I think most people DON'T think 
these things cost money on Microsoft. They think that they can get them 
free "off a mate" :-) Software copying has become the social equivalent 
of doing 80mph on a motorway!


M.


PS - I refuse to say "Software piracy" - I cannot accept that using a 
piece of software without licence is the moral equivalent of murder, 
arson and rape, though in this post-Disney world, maybe most people 
think that software pirates are Johnny Depp :-)