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The First Peal of the Death Knell for the Desktop PC | 223 comments | Create New Account
Comments belong to whoever posts them. Please notify us of inappropriate comments.
The First Peal of the Death Knell for the Desktop PC
Authored by: Anonomous on Sunday, February 03 2013 @ 08:36 PM EST
Nobody ever partners with Microsoft without getting betrayed. Nobody.

-Wang-Lo.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

That could kill competition in the PC market
Authored by: Anonymous on Sunday, February 03 2013 @ 11:59 PM EST

If Microsoft invests in Dell, that could push HP, Lenovo, et al into rolling
their own operating systems.

Wayne
http://madhatter.ca

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

Dell dropped already.
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, February 04 2013 @ 01:35 AM EST
It used to be a good computer maker, but hasn't been for a while.

I buy "no-name" machines through TigerDirect at this point. They're
readily available. And they run Linux. :-)

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

Microsoft Dell deal would restore PC makers' confidence?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, February 04 2013 @ 07:54 AM EST
I think that M$ just needs some place to put money while
at the same time trying to appear relevant. M$ has tried
phones, tablets, and now wants to get directly involved in
actual PC hardware.

Would you buy a computer that is welded shut, can only be
repaired at a M$ Genuine Computer store and is preloaded
with all the apps that M$ has decided you need? Probably
would be so full of backdoors Obama could look inside using
just his Blackberry.

The phrase "Buyer beware" come to mind.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

The Dell deal in a world of Clouds and Apples ... or another chokia like Nokia
Authored by: webster on Monday, February 04 2013 @ 12:00 PM EST
.

The best thing about taking Dell private is that the owner will not be
accountable to anyone. The Monopoly, Mr. Dell and that other entity can do what
they want. Shareholders take the money and be damned. For their money, the
owner will essentially be the Monopoly. One must compare the Nokia deal.

The Monopoly is distressed. They are weak in mobile [tablets and phones], the
cloud, and high end machines. This weakness is having repercussions on their
desktop and enterprise lock-in. It is still overwhelmingly substantial, but
threatens to make them less than a monopoly. They envy Apple's end to end
control --hardware, software, and a retail network --online AND with Apple
Stores! And Android ... that is where the Monopoly should be!

The Monopoly is fighting back. The UEFI lock-out-Linux is an attempt to lock
the world further into Monopoly systems. This strategy is still overwrought by
Apple and now Chromebooks. Computer equipment manufacturers have alternatives
to the Monopoly and are taking them with mobile phones and tablets. Apple,
Chrome, and Android are doing too well. HP is putting out a Chromebook. With
that variety permitted to survive, even Blackberry is fighting to stay in the
game. A Monopoly can not have it.

So what does the Monopoly plan for Dell? With Dell the Monopoly can produce
their own desktops and shut everyone else out. They can prevent Dell from
making "other" desktops like they did "other" phones for
Nokia. So if you are locked in to Monopoly formats, software and their cloud,
they can now lock you into Monopoly-Dell desktops and servers. Imagine, they
can have end to end control. It will be a struggle, but only the dominant can
take a shot at further dominance. Those manufacturers flirting with Android and
Chrome can be made to pay --no monopoly servers, phones, desktops, clouds and
laptops for you. The struggle is thrust upon the poor Monopoly. It is do or
die. Obviously, for a few billion, Dell like Nokia, is willing to die for the
cause, even in success.

.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

Microsoft Dell deal would restore PC makers' confidence?
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, February 04 2013 @ 02:32 PM EST

Microsoft helps Dell and annoys of the rest of the PC industry.

Are we seeing the death of Dell or the self-immolation of Microsoft?

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

I hope the anti-competitive watchdogs are paying attention
Authored by: Anonymous on Monday, February 04 2013 @ 04:38 PM EST

Dell's value is primarily as a distribution source.

How many AMD and Intel cpu's go through their hands yearly?

I imagine Dell is a large distribution source.

Assuming Microsoft is behaving based on their historical patterns, what are the odds MS is hoping to use Dell's distribution strength to threaten the upstream manufacturers with "Dell taking their business elsewhere" unless those upstream manufacturers start playing by certain rules?

Rules which end up limiting the hardware available on - for example - tablets? Or even phones?

RAS

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

In what sense is the MS/Dell deal "private"?
Authored by: FreeChief on Tuesday, February 05 2013 @ 03:01 PM EST
I have heard this deal described as "taking Dell private". I believe that a public company has some legal requirements that a private company does not. What happens if the owner of the "private" company is a public company?

To be more specific (but not On Topic), does this deal allow MicroDell to avoid any reporting requirements? For example, what was a conspiracy in restraint of trade is now just the private deliberations of a private person/corporation? Can they tell auditors to get lost? Is there still a board of directors? Is its membership secret?

 — Programmer in Chief

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

It figures.
Authored by: Anonymous on Thursday, February 07 2013 @ 04:21 PM EST
MS decides to open their own stores and cut out the middle man. MS decides to
do their own hardware to cut out the middle man. MS decideds to do their own
manufacturing to cut out the middle man. MS is just buying the whole supply
chain so that they control the profits.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

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