No subject

terms (i.e. for some of their products, they represent as
much as 20% of the sales).  And they are agressive on
lowest cost.  And willing to NOT sell a product.  Remember
they don't sell Windows, they sell someone else's PC.  

Result:  They will tell HP, etc, "sell for my price or
else" - and do it.  What can MS, HP, IBM, etc do to them? 
Tell them "we won't sell to you?"  OK, so they sell someone
else's product.  Which they do.

> 
> If they _can_ cut Microsoft out of the loop, WalMart
> might be planning 
> on owning the home market, or a least one strata of it. 
> Once you have 
> that there are all sorts of potentials.

It's not cutting MS out of the loop.  Walmart doesn't care
about MS, they care about selling home PC's.  MS happens to
be one piece of it.  Just like they don't care what pieces
are in a bike they sell, or who's name is on it.  They care
"is it a bike that our customers will buy?  Is it the
cheapest possible?"   If yes to both, sell.  If not, find
the one that is.

MS's problem is they're trying to make money selling "name
brand" wood screws.  To people who want to buy a house.  Do
you know the manufacturer of the wood screws that are in
your house?  Do you care?



> 
> Does anybody know if WalMart is FLOSS on the inside?
> 

Not a clue, but given thir costing, wouldn't be surprised.

jeff