The cost of someone gathering it up is still a *distribution* cost which, again, is much easier (less costly) to do now.

No, ads don't pay for the *information*, they pay for the *distribution*. You're still buying in to the con that there is a cost to information. If there was, you'd have to charge for sharing with your friends the information you just read from a newspaper.

That's not the way the world works *currently*. But, prior to the last few years information *was* free; people only had to pay for distribution of that information (and, hence, the invention of the "newspaper"). Now, we have an insanely cheap technology for distribution and the old guard are trying to change the model to pay-for-information without anyone noticing.

We're in a thread discussing Apple, and you try to claim that we don't have an alternative to Microsoft?

60% agree with the question.

20% understand the question.

What's more, CP is often used as an excuse to target other entities (that have nothing to do with CP) that the government and their lobbies don't like but can't convince the voters not to like, such as The Pirate Bay.

It's difficult to prove something when you're not allowed to do it.

In that case, you're employer has made the choice. Just because you're employer made the choice doesn't mean that the choice doesn't exist.

You've already gone from "no alternatives" to "precious few". As long as alternatives exist, monopolies do not.

Looks like Shuttle also offers Linux pre-installed http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/shuttle-launches-199-kpc-linux-box-99-barebones-kit/

I care about points? I seriously doubt anyone has bothered to read that far down. Dell has the largest PC market share. I'd say it's pretty significant when Dell offer computers with Linux installed. http://media.arstechnica.com/news.media/1q08us-1.png As for Walmart, check out the gPC http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7754614

Several, in both Ubuntu and Red Hat, at *the* major vendor's site. No Windows tax. No monopoly. Debian offers Debian. Since Ubuntu is free, you aren't paying anything for the OS when you purchase a machine with Ubuntu pre-installed. If you want Debian, uninstall Ubuntu and install Debian.

http://www.dell.ca/ubuntu http://www.dell.com/open

You, or your employer, can choose to purchase computers without Windows installed. There is no MS tax. Netbooks and PCs without any OS or with Linux pre-installed are very easy to get.

Microsoft has developed a product that enables the the vast majority of people to work together! How insidious! (until you realize that the most common file formats are very easily accessible on the other common OS's)