Some time ago, I blogged about my frustration when I tried to price a microsoftless computer to replace my main laptop, which is starting to show signs of ageing.
Happily, I arranged affordable repairs, but when I ended up on the Competition Authority website checking some facts, I decided to click the link at the bottom of the page marked ‘Make a Complaint‘.
My gripe was a simple one. In order to buy a personal computer in Ireland, I am forced to buy an operating system I do not want and will never use.
By the way, this applies equally to Apple. Linux, my preferred choice as operating system, will run as happily on a Mac as on any other PC.
Apple, however, control less than 10% of the market, and as a price sensitive customer, I doubt I’ll be buying one soon. My main gripe is with Microsoft (90% market share) and PC retailers and manufacturers.
Within days, I got a friendly reply from the Authority, telling me the reference number assigned to my complaint, along with the name, email and telephone number of the case officer from the monopolies division dealing with the case.
I’ll keep you posted.
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