[nzlug] 'MS Tax' versus Commerce Commission

[Nevyn]

On 7/2/07, David McNab <david at rebirthing.co.nz> wrote:
>
> On Mon, 2007-07-02 at 17:19 +1200, Michael Field wrote:
> > When was the last time you tried to buy:
> >  - A PC without a power lead? (aka The Cable Tax)
> >  - A bicycle without any handlebars?  (aka The Euston Tube Tax)
> >  - A car without any wheels? (aka the crappy alloy tax)
> >  - A MP3 player without ear-buds? (aka The ear-bud Tax)
>
> That's a tad facetious - but worse, it implies that a 'computer' by
> definition includes Windows.
>
> David
>

Stinks of the whole copyright message at the beginning of DVD's. The
argument is flawed.
I.e. Would you steal a purse? Would you steal a car? etc.
The difference is that a car or purse is concrete. Copying a movie doesn't
decrease the value of the movie at all. But enough of that.

Back on topic. I can use a power lead for my kettle. I can sell the
handlebars or wheels. Earphones are so low price as to not bear worrying
about. I can't sell an OEM version of Windows. So as a Linux user, I've just
paid a hundred dollars or so on a piece of software which I can't transfer
to another computer. Hell, the only thing I've got for the hundred or so
dollars is maybe a cd (if I'm lucky). I can pick one of those up for $0.50.