Yogi, I believe Gateway was the first PC maker to gain some control over the startup screen.
Until very recently, Microsoft required that the PC box makers use a standard Win95 (now Win98) startup screen. It was actually part of the contractual agreement, that the PC makers couldn't alter the basic MSFT startup screen. But now, probably due to a little push from the Justice Department, the box makers are able to add a little software of their own, and possibly get a few bucks more for their efforts.
So, in a sense, the box makers are trying to share in the internet portal revenue stream as well.
Regards,
Larry
PS: My description of the technical details is lousy, but the basic idea is in the general ballpark.
Previously, all of the PC makers offered some sort of internet connection (to AOL, Prodigy, whatever), but now they have more control over the basic startup screen than they had formerly, and they are trying to figure if they can make any extra money from that control. |
