By David Meyer, 24 September 2007 15:42
NEWS
Computers should be sold without an operating system in order to foster competition and bring down prices, a major European think tank has recommended.
In a submission to the European Commission, the Globalisation Institute claimed the lack of choice in desktop operating systems is a more central issue than that of bundled media players - the issue that sparked the Commission's antitrust action against Microsoft.
Alex Singleton, the Globalisation Institute's president, wrote in the submission: "The vast majority of computers sold are commodity products. While manufacturers compete on styling and brand reputation, in addition to specification, no manufacturer or component manufacturer is the sole choice for consumers. There is no reason why there should not be diversity in operating systems, too."
Singleton suggested most people are unable to easily purchase a computer without automatically paying for Windows. "The result is that consumers who, given the choice, would opt for a cheaper operating system, find themselves automatically buying the market leader," he said. "There is no meaningful competition between operating systems for commodity computers."
He said the institute's analysis excluded Apple's OS X because the Mac is a "premium, niche product, like a Bang & Olufsen television, which is difficult to justify in the business world outside of the publishing sector".
He wrote: "Microsoft's dominant position is not in the public interest. It limits the market and has slowed technical development to the prejudice of consumers. Yet operating systems are not a natural monopoly. Just as evolving standards in hardware allow the combination of competition and compatibility, in a competitive operating-system market, there would be broad compatibility between different competitors' operating systems. Competition would encourage open standards and interoperability, as vendors would, for competitive reasons, want their products to interact with other vendors' products."
Singleton claimed the Windows monopoly "imposes an extra cost on virtually every EU business", due to the lack of competition, as well as higher support costs associated with Microsoft's platform.
The institute examined several options for breaking Microsoft's monopoly but settled on the so-called "naked PC" option because offering customers a choice of bundled operating systems would be logistically impossible on the high street, and offering a rebate to customers who choose not to activate Windows when they first fire up their new purchase could be bureaucratic.
He wrote: "We decided that the best way to approach competition was simply to insist that operating systems are purchased separately from desktop and laptop computers. Price-conscious consumers, including many students, would opt for cheaper operating systems. We do not believe this would add complexity for consumers. Consumers would simply be asked to insert an operating system DVD when they first turn on a new computer, which would then automatically configure itself."
Neither the European Commission nor Microsoft could offer comment on the institute's proposals at the time of writing.
David Meyer writes for ZDNet UK
Comments
There are 14 comments. Join the discussion
1. Dale Beutel
Obviously the members of the EU commision have never attempted to install an operating system themselves. I believe the vast majority of PC's purchased are for users who operate them, which is a far cry from understanding them.
IT personnel who are buying computers for a non Windows company will buy them without the OS and therefore will not pay for the bundled OS. These people are well equipped to handle the installation and support of their OS of choice.
Simply put an OS must be offered pre installed for most consumers and many small companies. Yes, a choice should be available but the choice will most likely be Windows or nothing. This is primarily because the support of a bundled OS is up to the manufacturer.
Several large PC manufacturers are offering alternate OS options but it remains to be seen what the level of support is. It will be the support of the operating system provided with the computer that will matter most. If the user cannot contact the pc manufacturer and recieve useful support for their OS, then that manufacturer/OS combination will fail. and the problem will reduce to Windows or nothing.
2. David Fletcher
Whatever his salary is, I'd say Alex Singleton is earning it.
This is a damn fine idea and should be supported by all.
3. Tim Jackson
That solution doesn't work.
If naked PCs can be initialised to Windows from a DVD, then most price-conscious consumers will share one DVD among many computers. Microsoft will not be impressed.
I do find it incredibly annoying to have to buy Windows and discard it when I build a Linux computer, and agree that something needs to be done about this enforcement of monopoly, but I do accept that any solution must also allow enforcement of Microsoft's (and anyone else's) software copyright.
4. anonymous
In the early days of personal computers there were lots of operating systems - and the ability to share documents was poor. The near ubiquitous use of Windows has meant that files can be shared across the world, between home users and business users. Software developers can develop code for one system rather than for many - so the cost of entry has been lowered and innovation helped.
Liniux is not a laymen's sysyem. And though there is some degree of file sharing between Apple's OSX and Microsoft Windows, it is not totally trouble free and faultless.
So today's 3 systems are OK - and if there are more, so be it, but don't try to remmove the convenience of buying a PC with its operasting system installed because Mr Joe Public wants simplicity - to take his PC home, switch it on and use it to access www, play games, watch videos, send email. He doesn't want to perform a black start installing the OS and then each piece of s/w that was previously pre-installed to make his experience easy and enjoyable.
5. Gareth Evans
Considering this report is supposed to come from a so-called expert it is somewhat bewildering that they miss the point that PCs bought from say Dell are specifically configured withh all the right drivers for that particular build of PC and often install additional bits of software that make the users life easier.
By far and away the bulk of people buying a PC don't want the bother of installing the operating system on a new PC. They are never going to choose some silly piece of geek software. They just want a simple life and have Windows pre-installed.
6. Simon
Firstly, to all those whingers - the proposal does NOT stop a vendor offering a "pop the disk in wait, boot into working system" install disk for whatever OS(s) they decide to support. Lets face it, that's actually more or less what happens now with many PCs, they boot from a system image partition and automatically install the manufacturers image. At least the user would be left with a usable system restore disk, unlike with most vendors these days that can't be bothered spending the 20p or whatever to provide one with the machine.
In response to Anonymous from Derby - the point is the other way, I think you missed it completely !
"In the early days of personal computers there were lots of operating systems - and the ability to share documents was poor."
And Windows/Office did what ? It is still NO EASIER to share documents now than it would have been without the ubiquity of Windows UNLESS you only use Microsoft software. The "ease of sharing" is down to two factors - the development of networks that make it easy to transfer files (unless you are in a mixed environment where Microsoft makes a point of avoiding openness), and the ubiquity of one program (unless you dare to not shell out time and time again to keep up on the upgrades treadmill).
Ease of sharing (as people perceive it now) is a MYTH, it only works because Microsoft have got to the point where they can force people to keep upgrading. Each new version of Office brings with it yet another new and incompatible file format. Just look at how keen Microsoft aren't to support an internationally agreed and open standard that REALLY would allow freedom of sharing - they WON'T because they know it would break their lockin on users.
Had Microsoft never got a dominant market position, then we would have seen standardisation a long time ago, and we'd be able to pick and choose our applications based of price, features, our thoughts on the ethics of the vendor, or any other criteria you fancy - but they would all be able to handle a common file format. No vendor would be able to FORCE users to pay for upgrades or to use proprietry formats, users would simply tell them where to go and use a different product - and THAT is what would create truly sharable files.
Right now there is NO choice - you use Microsoft Office or you don't get to share easily. Some of us saw this coming a decade ago, but would anyone listen ?
And don't get me started on the "one platform to write for" crap - There's been (in a little over a decade) at least EIGHT different OS's in common usage, all called "Windows"* and each one has been different enough from the others to require at least some OS-specific handling. And again, this constant change for the sake of breaking things has been 'accepted' because Microsoft has not allowed a choice in the matter.
* To my reconing, vendors have had to support Windows 3/3.1, 95, 98, NT, 2000, Millenium, XP (3 versions with SPs), Vista, and several mobile versions.
7. Jeremy Wickins
There is a huge difference between *being able* to buy a naked PC, and *having* to buy one, and I'm not sure that there is much call for naked PCs. Home computers have crossed the line into consumer goods, and therefore they have to meet the criteria of such things - ease of use, plug-n-play (in every sense of the term. I don't know how a digibox works - I just want it to work. However, I can have a naked PC every time I need a new desktop system, because I build my own, as do a lot of others. If a piece of hardware doesn't work with Linux, I don't buy it, and let the manufacturer know why. Sure, I'd like to see a bit more support for Linux flavours (at least the major ones), and anything that irritates Microsoft is just fine by me, but it seems that this idea might just work against the consumer who just wants something that does a job.
8. Graham
To separate the cost of Windows from that of the hardware, without compromising Microsoft's ability to collect their dues, all they need do is preinstall Windows at no charge, but require payment to activate it. They're practically there anyway with the way Vista can be upgraded. Other OS's could be added, or preinstalled, and activated in a similar way. This would obviate the need to have a cashback option for those who didn't want Windows, or to sell separate naked PCs. If there's a genuine clamour for choice, system builders will then be able pre-install Linux, etc alongside Windows with no impact on their pricing model.
9. MusicFan
The only people who care about an operating system and even know what one is, are those of us with the knowledge to install and experience of different platforms.
On a consumer level its like asking my mum if she is bothered that her TV comes pre-installed with "that make of tube". To which i would get a very blank stare, this would be no different if i asked her if she would prefer linux over windows. The question would be "whats linux, probably followed by "whats windows, ahh thats that word that flashes up when i turn the pc on isnt it".
Its only us "geeks" that are bothered about this issue. Who really cares as long as it works when you flick the power switch.
The platform war was won years ago, move on, forget about it, its not important!
10. anonymous
Whilst many comments made are true, it's all been done before...
My desktop PC at work still has the sticker on it stating that that there's a one-time choice of activating Windows 2002 or XP. Manufacturers simply need to add 'Linux A, Linux B, Linux C, None' to the list, and the job is done.
People who want a naked PC are being penalised, and having to pay for Windows they don't want, becuase manufacturers won't supply naked PCs in fear of upsetting M$. The price we get charged for pre-installed s/w is much higher than they pay for it, so is a good source of markup. If they start selling naked ones (in bulk), their markup will be eroded by M$ charging them more...
Why do you think Dell only sell Linux/naked on one or two models, not across the whole range?
If you think the answer is a technical one, wake up!
11. James
From reading this there are so many questions that I would like to put to Alex Singleton (or should that be simpleton).
Take 6 people off the street and sit them down in front of a PC with an operating system (whether it be Windows Mac or Linux) and they would be able to use it to some degree with a minimum amount of fuss. Take the same 6 people and sit them down in front of a PC with no operating system, just an install disk for each OS and how many would be able to use the PC within 20 minutes.
A pre installed OS is essential to any new pc.
12. James
David Fletcher - Software engineer
You and I can both easily install an OS onto a PC with no problems (regardless of which OS it is)
Would Aunty Ethil (or Uncle Berty) be in the same position, would she even know what the difference in OS's is or even want to know.
13. Paul Shrimpton
I know of at least one onine retailer who has been selling 'naked PCs' for years - every PC or laptop they sell has a 'no OS' option, as well as several (mainly windows) pre-installed options.
This isn't anything new. All that needs to happen is for retailers to offer the option of purchasing a PC without an operating system, then it's all down to consumer choice - do you want to buy Windows or not? If the answer is yes, then the retailer preinstalls to make it easy for their customer. if not, then you get the PC and it's then your challenge.
True, most non-IT savvy people will choose to preinstall with windows, but the choice is there, and in their hands. That for me is the important thing.
14. David Fletcher
James,
A couple of weeks ago my 12 YEARS OLD son installed Linux - Kubuntu Feisty - onto his "naked" PC. It was naked because he'd just learned how to change a hard drive.
As I recall, the only user input required during the installation was to tell it where it is geographically located, and to confirm the keyboard layout. It even provides a test area to check that all the buttons produce the correct characters. A little while later, he had a working computer, complete with Open Office suite. Contrast that with the hassle I had last time I installed XP, of finding the driver disk for the graphics card just to get it working at a decent resolution, driver disk for the bluetooth dongle, etc., etc., etc.
Updating a modern Linux installation and adding the applications you need isn't difficult either - you just need to be shown how it's done. That's what Linux Users Groups and mailing lists are for.
If Aunty Ethel or Uncle Berty don't even know what an operating system is, should they have a computer in the first place? Most people at least know where the engine is located in their car, that the oil level needs to be checked, and that if the fuel tank is filled with diesel when it should have been petrol, it will break down.
The trouble with this world is that most of the people are being turned into morons by the likes of microsoft - and the very worrying fact is that that is how they are starting to want to be treated. They don't seem to realise that a PC is NOT an item of consumer goods like a washing machine or a toaster. In the hands of those who don't know what they are doing it is like inviting a bank robber right into their home. And that is exactly what a pre installed PC encourages - the use of a dangerous tool without any training whatsoever. Would anybody use an angle grinder without eye protection? Only if they were complete idiots. Yet that is how the world's PCs are turning into botnets - people running windows on them and not protecting themselves against intrusion.
Enforcing the sale of naked PCs would do the world a greater service than most people could ever imagine. It would force them to learn some lessons about how to set up a computer, and hopefully encourage them to learn to use it in a responsible manner.
The other dangerous item most of us use every day is the car. No law abiding person uses a car until passing a driving test.