[nzlug] 'MS Tax' versus Commerce Commission

[Simon]

http://www.cbcnz.com/product_info.php/products_id/64097
... "barebones" means no CPU, no HDD, and so on... so it fits my request
for a HDD-less laptop.

The above supplier explicitly offers "no OS installed" with KP Home OEM
@ $169 MS Office Basic is $327 saving $496 on installed software.

However... the cheapest it gets for a complete system is:
$2,059.28


> 
>             Total
> 
> 
> 
> VBI - Asus S62FP
> Barebone Notebook
> 14.1'WXGA (Glare)
> Intel 945GM PATA
> Int VGA DVD Dual
> DL 56K Modem
> Gigabit Lan 
> - CPU Intel Core
> Duo 1.66GHz,
> 32Bit, 667FSB,
> 2MB CACHE, FCPGA 
> - Harddrive
> Western Digital
> Scorpio 2.5 inch
> 40GB EIDE 5400RPM
> 8MB Cache 
> - Memory (RAM)
> Transcend 200pin
> DDR2-667 512MB
> SO-DIMM - 64Mx64
> DDR2-667 CL5 (S 
> - Operating
> System No OS
> Loaded 
> - Office
> Applications No
> Office
> Applications 
> - Wireless LAN No
> Wireless Lan 
>        $1,298.91 
>          +$498.25
>          +$132.74
>         +$129.38 
>                  
>                  
>                  
> 

A less than comprehensive look at asus laptops in general
http://www.ferrit.co.nz/?filterManufacturer=Asus&query=42574&field=CategoryID&ObjectID=3685&ViewAction=FactFinderSearchProducts&gclid=CKXc_YzvkY0CFRoRYQod2h3Kng&source=paidsearch&OrderBy=&OrderDesc=&PageSize=10&Page=2
suggests that around the $2000 mark is normal with the high specs coming
in at $3-4000.

Can anybody do a direct comparison?


On Thu, 2007-07-05 at 22:54 +1200, David Hawke wrote:
> Glenn Enright wrote:
> >>
> >> That isn't a laptop
> >> They don't (explicitly) "downgrade" the MS Office price nor the AV which
> >> are also bundled. AFAIK:  MS Office costs as much as the OS.
> >>
> 
> Note that the VBI (verified by Intel) laptops are supplied sans OS - eg
> 
> VBI - Asus S62J Barebone Notebook 14.1"WXGA (Glare) Intel 945PM SATA
> G72-128M DVD with UEE Warranty Disc for 2 Years On-Site Courier Pick Up
> 
> Abt $1100 exGST
> 
> There are other models available but would have to dig the pricing
> out.of the supplier
> 
> DavidH
> 
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