Jerry,

>You said the key phrase: "My property". The EULAs in these cases clearly state that the device remains the property of the vendor. Examples were mentioned in Linux forums: A Tivo device (I don't remember its name, but it was a TV device that sold for $100. The hackers put HDs and NICs in them and turned them into $100 PCs. The next release contained hardware destruction devices and the EULA forbid such modifications.) The CueCat.

I see...well, I don't think folks in general will buy items that aren't 100% their property. Corporations especially. Sure, a corporation might lease, but they do so with the full ability to change the hardware in any way they need to in order to make that hardware work with their business. These free WinPCs just don't sound like something a business would go for, and businesses are where MS makes a lot of their money.

As for the $100 Tivo's...what exactly will happen to a person who does this "hack"? Jail time? I mean, if I pay _anything_ for an item, or even if it is given to me free, I have a hard time believing I can't do whatever I want with it. WHat if I don't read the EULA when the item arrives? There are no laws saying I have to read the documentation that comes with a piece of hardware?

>>Never gonna happen. When it comes to hardware you need distribution lines and lots of flexibility. MS can't do all that themselves.
>
>Several websites and UPS or US Snail.

As I said above, the consumer market might possibly tap into this, but a corporation will never give over to a fully online vendor without local support and warranties. Corporations _demand_ full control over hardware and full support from a reliable vendor. Do you really see corporations buying into these WinPCs? Corporations are smart enough to see through the short term gain and realize that the loss in flexibility and proprietary lock-in will result in a higher long-term TCO...

>Perhaps. But, they've retired the DOJ sharpshooters and put in rookies who have a hard time figuring out how to shoot. :)

Maybe, but as long as the firing range and ammunition are available, the rookies will be good enough to keep MS under wraps...

>The people who supplied the cash had to be convinced. MS has the cash, they need merely warm the water a degree at a time to cook the frogs.

I know the adage...but I am pretty sure that people (especially in the commercial sector) are a tad smarter than frogs. *smile*

>We can only hope! And continue enjoying 4th of July's as long as our defense department isn't using unstable OSs :)
>
>Pop a few for me!

Oh, I intend to! You'll also be hearing the rattling of chains as I get in some disc golf (hopefully!). Have a great holiday!

JoeK