Microsoft to Sell PCs, Starting in India

kripkenstein writes "According to an Ars Technica report Microsoft will begin selling complete PCs, for the first time in the company's history. The program is aimed at customers in India. 'Dubbed the IQ PC, the machines will cost RS21,000 (about $525), are manufactured in partnership with Zenith, and will sport AMD Athlon CPUs. ... In some ways, the move to sell hardware is a natural extension of Microsoft's low-cost Windows initiative ... It may also be a response to projects like Intel's Classmate PC and the OLPC XO.' The Ars Technica summary is careful to state that they seriously doubt this will lead to Microsoft selling PCs in the US, yet the question must be asked: After Microsoft mice and keyboards, then the XBOX and Zune, Microsoft is increasingly becoming a hardware vendor. Is it only a question of time before Microsoft starts to compete directly with the likes of Dell and HP?"

oh but of course

[bmecoli]

I mean the best place to sell PCs would be the place where all the tech support is, right?

Re:Good for them...

[Spy der Mann]

This really is just an extension of Microsoft's business model.

Yeah, but shouldn't they change their name from Microsoft to Microhard ?

Um... wait... nevermind.

Re:oh but of course

[sconeu]

And this is the argument as to why MS won't sell PCs in the US.

They won't be able to foist off level 1 tech support onto the vendor, as *they* would be the vendor.

Re:Not Dell and HP...

[Intron]

HP used to be very competent in a small set of areas: the Alpha chip, Tru64 Unix, etc. Realizing that, they killed off those products. Now they are equally competent in all areas.

All directions at once

[glas_gow]

Microsoft is simultaneously going in all directions, which is identical to going nowhere fast.

The Next Step - "Just Add DRM"

[Valen0]

The next logical step is to "Just Add DRM". I can imagine the start up text now:

"There is nothing wrong with your computer. Do not attempt to restart the machine. We are now controlling its operation. We control the hardware and the software. We can deluge you with a thousand windows or expand one single image to crystal clarity - and beyond. We can shape your computing experience to anything our imagination can conceive. For the next session we will control all that you see and hear. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the deepest inner mind to... The Microsoft Computer. Please stand by."

As for myself, I think I will pass on the Microsoft flavored Kool-Aid. I tend to get upset when machines start telling me that I can not do [function or feature] with the new [media type or gadget] that I bought because the MAFIAA thinks that disabling [function or feature] is in _their_ best interest.

Customer service

[Dancindan84]

Is it only a question of time before Microsoft starts to compete directly with the likes of Dell and HP?

They're closer than you think. They've already got the same level of customer service.

Re:oh but of course

[Rob T Firefly]

You would think so, but it turns out the Indian customers' tech support line will be answered by some underpaid guy in New York who speaks broken Hindi with a Brooklyn accent.

The Customer Wins!

[Bastardchyld]

When someone calls for support on their brand new IQ PC they will be able to understand them...

I can't wait until all of the other corporations start following Microsofts lead and "offshores" their customer bases.

Re:Good for them...

[brewstate]

I believe RJ Reynolds, Winston, and Marlboro got in trouble for similar tactics the difference was the level of the crash.

Re:Microsoft is a software conglomerate

[UncleTogie]

Any idea who makes Microsoft mice?

Well, y'see, when a mommy mouse and a daddy mouse like each other a lot....

Killer feature

[suv4x4]

So what would be the killer feature of the IQ PC? Lemme guess: it's brown.