Microsoft: Don’t sell PCs without operating systems

Microsoft has urged UK PC vendors not to sell PCs without operating systems (namely, Windows). It is estimated that around 5% of PCs sold in the UK do not include an operating system.

Microsoft’s position on this is that base systems with no operating systems encourage software piracy - however this has been seen as an attempt to force those who want to run Linux and other free / open source operating systems to pay the “Microsoft tax” by having to buy Windows even though they will not use it.

Linux vendors and free software supporters, though, believe these base systems can play an important role in supporting the open source market. Some are concerned that Microsoft may be attempting to use its powerful position in the market to hamper competition.

The European branch of the Free Software Foundation hopes that PC vendors will not be swayed by Microsoft.

“We would be happy to see any kind of hardware being shipped without an operating system, or pre-installed with free software. Furthermore, we would be happy to get in contact with any hardware vendor who wants to free his customers this way,” said Joachim Jakobs, of the FSF Europe.

Perhaps Microsoft is not aware of this, but the Free Software and Open Source movements are also against software piracy. Rather use Linux than pirate Windows - it’s free and totally legal.

So vendors under this sort of pressure should simply bundle an Ubuntu CD with the system - a no-cost operating system which the customer can use, or not use if they prefer a different operating system…