[nzlug] 'MS Tax' versus Commerce Commission

[Nevyn]

On 7/3/07, Nevyn <nevynh at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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.
>

Just to clarify further - all those other items are transferable and retain
their value when taken away from their greater whole. Microsoft's OEM
License loses it's value as soon as the computer is taken away.