[Info-vax] Release of OpenVMS V9.2 for x86 Scheduled for July 14, 2022

[John Wallace]

On 11/07/2022 21:25, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
> In article <tahokr$1ou3j$1 at dont-email.me>, Simon Clubley
> <clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP> writes:
> 
>>> What BestBuy PoS X86 box, that won't carry Billy Tax, capable of running OpenVM
>>> cost meS?
> 
> Why does hardware without Windows installed have to pay anything to
> MicroSoft?
> 

Volume manufacturers of PCs have often been able to get significantly 
cheaper MS licence prices by committing to install and ship Windows on 
every "PC" they sell. If they don't do that, their overall cost of 
Windows will increase (and maybe they'll get audited...).

Sometimes this just applied to specific models/ranges, e.g. an HPQ 
Proliant, being a server and with OS software licences often being sold 
separately, typically weren't subject to this "Microsoft tax".

In contrast, a consumer PC such as an HPQ Presario desktop or laptop (or 
modern equivalent) would generally be expected to be used with Windows, 
and thus the manufacturer may find it worthwhile to agree to pay for 
(and install) Windows on every Presario (or whatever) that they ship.

I don't know if this principle still applies, but it did when I followed 
these things. It wasn't often talked about in public though.