Linux geek gets Dell to splash out for Windows - bit-tech.net Forums

WilHarris · 9th Nov 2006, 10:57

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/11...t_for_Windows/

Cthippo · 9th Nov 2006, 11:28

SCORE!!!!

you know, this sort of thing just might be the imputes it takes to get system builders like Dell to offer bare (OS free) laptops. I would say that this is another small step towards real choice in OSes for the mainsteam market.

AlexB · 9th Nov 2006, 11:29

Thats quite good for the linux geek, and it doesnt really affect anyone, as dell are so huge, but if someone did it to me (I sell laptops and computers) it'd eat right into my proffits, and put me at a loss for the laptop - so not that great if everyone starts doing it...

DougEdey · 9th Nov 2006, 11:32

Genius, thats the problem with Laptops, they don't give you much choice as its hard to get the parts to build laptops.

antiHero · 9th Nov 2006, 12:00

Nice one!

My school bought some dell desktops and had the choice to buy it without Windows so the got a copy of FreeDos. We didnt use it as we installed Linux on them for tests.

Cthippo · 9th Nov 2006, 12:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexB

Thats quite good for the linux geek, and it doesnt really affect anyone, as dell are so huge, but if someone did it to me (I sell laptops and computers) it'd eat right into my proffits, and put me at a loss for the laptop - so not that great if everyone starts doing it...

I'm curious about that. Do you get them in a box and sell them or do you do anything to them? If you get them in a box, do you think you could go back to your supplier and get them to eat the cost? Ultimatly that's where the pressure needs to be applied andwhile this is a win for individals, the real pressure will come when stores choose to carry Brand X over brand Y because X offers bare lappys.

This would not be an issue if you could buy a bare laptop.

mikeuk2004 · 9th Nov 2006, 12:44

I bet if I went back to sony with my laptops for a refund of win xp because I dont want it, that they would laugh at me and say get lost.

But there should be the option to buy a laptop or desktop without windows already installed. This is why Microsoft has the monopoly. It would also mean cheaper laptops without MS thrown in there.

But they wont do that because piracy would increase because the cosumers would buy the laptop without MS XP and get a pirate copy of XP which will save them cash as its so much more benificial. As if they buy the laptop with MS XP then why wont get a pirate copy as there is no point.

AlexB · 9th Nov 2006, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cthippo

I'm curious about that. Do you get them in a box and sell them or do you do anything to them? If you get them in a box, do you think you could go back to your supplier and get them to eat the cost? Ultimatly that's where the pressure needs to be applied andwhile this is a win for individals, the real pressure will come when stores choose to carry Brand X over brand Y because X offers bare lappys.

This would not be an issue if you could buy a bare laptop.

We get them in boxed and ready to roll. I suppose I could go back to the supplier, but Im not sure how successful that would be, as I'm only a very small reseller, and they'd probably just say get lost as I'd be no loss to the company!

I do agree that 'no os' should be an option on all computers and laptops, though.

ch424 · 9th Nov 2006, 13:22

I saw a comment on /. saying that this is most likely a mistake: People did this all the time in the late 1990s, then Microsoft changed part of the EULA on OEM versions of Windows to say that the license must stay with the hardware. Therefore this guy must have bitched at them for hours, or spoke to a new guy who hadn't been told about the agreement.

Cthippo · 9th Nov 2006, 13:33

That could be. It could also be that Dell decided that 50 quid was worth it not to piss off a paying customer and that someone who installed linux was highly unlikley to call tech support, which is probably one of their biggest costs. Hell, in the end, this might actually increase their margins

ch424 · 9th Nov 2006, 13:45

Maybe, but the dell support line certainly isn't freephone!

sicone · 9th Nov 2006, 17:01

Here where I work we order pc's from Dell without an OS installed all the time. Never had any problems so far

Kevo · 9th Nov 2006, 17:16

I would buy a laptop without windows just so I don't get ****** stickers plastered all over it.

Now if only you could get them to stop putting the Intel one on....

mikeuk2004 · 9th Nov 2006, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevo

I would buy a laptop without windows just so I don't get ****** stickers plastered all over it.

Now if only you could get them to stop putting the Intel one on....

When I got my 2 sony laptops, the first thing i did before powering them up was spend 10 mins peeling all the stupid stickers off and cleaning up with a can of WD40.

zhangmaster12 · 9th Nov 2006, 17:56

dam genius

Joeymac · 9th Nov 2006, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeuk2004

I bet if I went back to sony with my laptops for a refund of win xp because I dont want it, that they would laugh at me and say get lost.

But there should be the option to buy a laptop or desktop without windows already installed. This is why Microsoft has the monopoly. It would also mean cheaper laptops without MS thrown in there.

But they wont do that because piracy would increase because the cosumers would buy the laptop without MS XP and get a pirate copy of XP which will save them cash as its so much more benificial. As if they buy the laptop with MS XP then why wont get a pirate copy as there is no point.

In which case, since Microsoft can only sell their product by forcing it on people, isn't it on them to make a product that people actually want to pay for.
I agree with you to some extent, mainly due to the inevitable increase in WGA "protection" if computers were sold sans Windows.
The whole issue has something wrong with it though. Computer manufacturers SHOULD be required to offer no OS on new hardware. But I can also see massive problems with this where a normal users see no differentiation between "Windows" and a "Computer".

Maybe the industry should force ALL programs and games to be able to be run on any OS. That would sort things out...... probably.

9th Nov 2006, 10:57	#1
WilHarris Just another nobody Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Oxford Posts: 2,671	Linux geek gets Dell to splash out for Windows http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/11...t_for_Windows/

9th Nov 2006, 11:28	#2
Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 4,456	SCORE!!!! you know, this sort of thing just might be the imputes it takes to get system builders like Dell to offer bare (OS free) laptops. I would say that this is another small step towards real choice in OSes for the mainsteam market. __________________ Notice: If we see you flaming we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate measures - The Bit-Tech Fire Brigade.

9th Nov 2006, 11:29	#3
AlexB Web Nerd and WC Addict Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hants, UK Posts: 1,306	Thats quite good for the linux geek, and it doesnt really affect anyone, as dell are so huge, but if someone did it to me (I sell laptops and computers) it'd eat right into my proffits, and put me at a loss for the laptop - so not that great if everyone starts doing it... __________________ Whenever I smell asphalt, I think of Maureen. That's the last sensation I had before I blacked out; that thick smell of asphalt. She said she'd fix my bike. Free. No strings attached. I shoulda've known then that things were never that simple. Yeah, when I think of Maureen, I think of two things: Asphalt, and trouble.

9th Nov 2006, 11:32	#4
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	Genius, thats the problem with Laptops, they don't give you much choice as its hard to get the parts to build laptops. __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

9th Nov 2006, 12:00	#5
antiHero An Ugly Pineapple! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hellsinki Posts: 1,808	Nice one! My school bought some dell desktops and had the choice to buy it without Windows so the got a copy of FreeDos. We didnt use it as we installed Linux on them for tests. __________________ Laptop: Acer Aspire One, 1.6GHz Atom, 1.5GB Ram, 30GB 1.8" HDD, Windows 7 Gaming Rig: Athlon 64 3000+ s754 @ 2.15GHz, 1,5 GB Ram, 800 GB Hdd, Radeon HD 2900 Pro 512 MB Linux Box: VIA Epia 550mHz, 512mb Ram, 200GB Hdd, Ubuntu Server 7.10 Project ~Sinus~ - Update 27.02.2007 Front Bay done! Mini Project "SuperUser" - Update 10.06.2008

9th Nov 2006, 12:44	#7
mikeuk2004 What you Looking at Fool! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 3,045	I bet if I went back to sony with my laptops for a refund of win xp because I dont want it, that they would laugh at me and say get lost. But there should be the option to buy a laptop or desktop without windows already installed. This is why Microsoft has the monopoly. It would also mean cheaper laptops without MS thrown in there. But they wont do that because piracy would increase because the cosumers would buy the laptop without MS XP and get a pirate copy of XP which will save them cash as its so much more benificial. As if they buy the laptop with MS XP then why wont get a pirate copy as there is no point. __________________ -\|- Xfire - Mikeuk2005 -\|- Xbox Live - Mike UK 2006 -\|- Playstation Network - Mikeuk2004 -\|-

9th Nov 2006, 13:22	#9
ch424 Design Warrior Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 2,510	I saw a comment on /. saying that this is most likely a mistake: People did this all the time in the late 1990s, then Microsoft changed part of the EULA on OEM versions of Windows to say that the license must stay with the hardware. Therefore this guy must have bitched at them for hours, or spoke to a new guy who hadn't been told about the agreement.

9th Nov 2006, 13:33	#10
Cthippo Can't mod my way out of a paper bag Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 4,456	That could be. It could also be that Dell decided that 50 quid was worth it not to piss off a paying customer and that someone who installed linux was highly unlikley to call tech support, which is probably one of their biggest costs. Hell, in the end, this might actually increase their margins __________________ Notice: If we see you flaming we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate measures - The Bit-Tech Fire Brigade.

9th Nov 2006, 13:45	#11
ch424 Design Warrior Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 2,510	Maybe, but the dell support line certainly isn't freephone!

9th Nov 2006, 17:01	#12
sicone Modder Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: London Posts: 52	Here where I work we order pc's from Dell without an OS installed all the time. Never had any problems so far __________________ <Dougle>:Father Ted, you know that little red button that says "Do not push"? <Father Ted>:Yes Dougle <Dougle>:Well some idiot's only gone and pushed it! <Father Ted>:That wouldn't be you now would it? <Dougle>:errrr.........yes Ted! Project: Retro Tape Deck

9th Nov 2006, 17:16	#13
Kevo 426F6C6C6F636B7300 Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,670	I would buy a laptop without windows just so I don't get ****** stickers plastered all over it. Now if only you could get them to stop putting the Intel one on.... __________________ - Kevo

9th Nov 2006, 17:56	#15
zhangmaster12 Hypermodder Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 870	dam genius __________________ Project Dimension 2400