• ☂️-@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      7 hours ago

      An oligopoly is a market in which pricing control lies in the hands of a few sellers. As a result of their significant market power, firms in oligopolistic markets can influence prices through manipulating the supply function.

      I’m considering Macs and Chromebooks to be competitors. Maybe they aren’t since those systems are very locked down, but eh, still shitty and not much practical difference IMO.

      • unwarlikeExtortion@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        4 hours ago

        Fair. Although, I consider Microsoft’s market “Most laptops” since Apple kind of does its own thing and Chromebooks are ultra-low end laptops. Thus Microsoft gets ~95% of the market for themselves.

        Personally, I’d say that’s a clear case of monopoly since MS controls this entire segment of “non-Apple, non-ultra low power laptop, PCs”, but you’re right - there are other players. The thing is, they have relatively tiny niches in which they thrive and in fact pose no threat to the monopolist.

        But I now I see how you see it as an oligopoly, which is quite valid.