Re: [cobalt-users] Restore CD

[Kris Dahl <krislists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

on 8/11/00 12:15 PM, Jeff Lasman at jblists@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> Zeffie wrote:
> 
>> IMHO
>> I built and sold systems for years and I never could get all that free
>> software, free 24/7 hour support and hardware into 1 box and make money.
>> personally I think dell and the like had agreements with microsoft that
>> helped both of them and screwed the small to medium companys.
> 
> When I was running a small PC-manufacturing company building about 100
> systems a month we were members of the Microsoft System Builder program
> and got very good deals on software and Microsoft hardware.

When we were part of the System Builder program about 4-5 years ago we got
good deals on NFR MS Software and Hardware, but the eMOLP and MOLP programs
were not very cost effective.  Buying licenses direct from MS or any of the
major distributors in a 10, 20, etc. packs made it very difficult for us to
compete with Dell, etc.  We had to use gray market licenses (i.e. surplus
Windows licenses from other vendors) in order to stay competitive.

We got out of that business because the margins were getting so slim that it
wasn't working.  It is virtually impossible to build white box PC's at a
profit these days.  That is long term, of course, because the support costs
are what kill you.

I'm glad I'm not in that industry anymore.  Blah.

-k