Let's complain about Microsoft restricting choice in the market (part deux)

Yoon Kit wrote about being forced to pay the Microsoft tax when buying computers from computer manufacturers (eg Dell). I submitted a complaint to the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Affairs and received an official acknowledgment from the ministry that the Penang branch office will investigate the complaint.

I strongly urge everybody who uses non-Microsoft operating systems on their computers bought from Dell or any other manufacturers to write in through the web interface and make an official complaint. Make your voices heard so that we can stop being forced to pay for software we don't use!

State Chief Enforcement Officer,
Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs,
Tuanku Syed Putra Building,
Downing Lane,
10300 Penang.

(Dated: 15th August 2008)

Sir,

COMPLAINT ABOUT PURCHASING DELL COMPUTERS
DITESH KUMAR A/L SHASHIKANT

I am instructed to respectfully inform you that this administration has received a complaint where the complainant was asked to use Microsoft Windows from Dell Computers, which add an additional cost to the purchase.

2. For your information, the complainant does not use Microsoft Windows software and as such, does not ask for Microsoft warranty and hopes that the company in question does not add any extra charges.

3. In line with that, we would be pleased if your party could conduct the necessary investigations and inform us of any developments to this administration.

Your cooperation in this matter is much appreciated and we thank you in advance.

"SERVING THE COUNTRY"

Following orders,

Mazlan bin Haniff
for: Director

Sep 9, 2008:

• @Wu MingShi: Thanks for the better translation.

Comments

[kaeru]

One other thing from YK's original comment is that the complaint form had "No Price tag" as closest option. This is actually applicable. PC Hardware vendors are adding a very expensive option RM445 for Vista Business Edition without listing the actual cost. Most other purchases I make would actually list these optional items down with the price, and may assist the client in taking them out to make the sale.

PC hardware vendors don't even give consumers the choice.

[Wu MingShi]

I am a bit troubled by the translation "dengan segala hormatnya" being translated into "With all respects".

As far as translation is concerned, that is the correct translation. It is a cultural crash issue. Normally, in English, when one starts a sentence with "With all respect, ...", the "..." part is going to be something the listener/reader will disagree with, which is not what is intended here.

Will you consider translating the first paragraph
"Saya dengan segala hormatnya diarach merujuk kepada perkara di atatas dan memaklumkan bahawa pentabdiran ini telath mernerima aduan mengenai perkara diatats dimana pengadu telah diminta menggunnakan perisian Microsoft windows pada computer yand dibeli daripada pihak Dell Computers dengan dikenakan bayaran tambahan"

along the line

"I am instructed to respectfully inform you that this administration has received a complaint where the complainant complained about being asked to use Microsoft Windows from Dell Computers, which add an additional cost to the purchase."

[Chris Ward]

You can, of course, buy the "Open Rerefent" http://www.openreferent.com/en/index.html .

However, it comes inescapably bundled with IBM Lotus Notes . So it may not help you very much with your 'tying' issue.

Without fear or favour, I can say that IBM doesn't dominate the Personal Computer business; nor the Operating System for Personal Computer (OS/2) business; nor the Word Processing, Presentation, and Spreadsheet (SmartSuite) business.

So complaints about bundling will probably fall on deaf ears.

[ApOgEE]

Thanks for the info. I should advice my uncle to complain about his trouble with Streamyx technician who leave his Streamyx modem unconfigured and untested just because he use Ubuntu desktop. He did call TM Support but they keep ignoring his request for the technician to configure or provide instructions on how to get his modem and internet working with his OS while this kind of service are given to people who use Microsoft Windows OS. It took him more than one month paying bills without being able to use the service until I came to his house and configure it for him.

There are more and more people are converting to open source OS as they are tired with commercial OS. But these people are not IT savvy to use open source OS. Is there any reason for companies to forget about these people? This is obviously another attempt to force those 'newbies' to use Microsoft product.