[clug] Mini-itx vs Linux on XBox

[Rasjid Wilcox]

> On Sun, Jan 25, 2004 at 10:40:51AM +1100, John Fletcher did utter:
> > I heard that Microsoft actually loses money on the production and sale of
> > that thing (at least that was apparently the case a couple of years ago
> > with major console companies) so depending on your disposition you might
> > get a kind of joy out of not only running a competing OS on their
> > hardware but also costing Microsoft a few dollars in the process.

Not a major factor in my decision, but yes, I do get some perverse pleasure 
from the knowledge that MS has (probably) subsidised a piece of hardware I 
plan to put Linux on.

On Sunday 25 January 2004 10:53, Nemo -earth native- wrote:
> It'll cost MS even more for them to have spent the money to make it, and
> then for you to NOT buy it at all. ;)

Actually, assuming that there are other people who will buy the XBox to play 
games on, it *does* cost MS more if I buy it and then put Linux on it 
(assuming of course they do in fact make a loss on the box, and that I don't 
buy any games).

Assuming they adjust production to accomodate the demand (ie, they halt 
production when stock levels reach a certain point), then puting Linux on an 
XBox does cost them more than not buying it at all.

Suppose that they lose $50 per XBox sold, but make $10 per game sold, and that 
the average games player buys 10 games.  They make $50 per XBox sold for 
gaming use, but lose $50 per XBox that only runs Linux.  They neither gain 
nor lose on an XBox I never buy (assuming they adust production accordingly).

Cheers,

Rasjid

-- 
Rasjid Wilcox
Canberra, Australia (UTC +11 hrs)
http://www.openminddev.net