Linux geek gets Dell to splash out for Windows

Author: Wil Harris
Published: 9th November 2006
Comments (15) Stumble
Linux geek gets Dell to splash out for Windows

Get your Dell sans Windows if you like.

A Linux enthusiast has managed to get Dell to honour the refund clause in the Microsoft Windows EULA.

It's pretty difficult to buy a laptop without Windows these days. But what if you have no intention of using it? The EULA for Windows XP has this clause:

"You agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA by installing, copying, or otherwise using the software. If you do not agree, do not install, copy, or use the software; you may return it to your place of purchase for a full refund, if applicable."

Technically, then, you should be allowed to send it back to your place of purchase and get a refund. This is exactly what Dave Mitchell, a systems admin, did.

Dell agreed to refund the cost of Windows, to the sum of just over 55 quid.

Full details of Dave's escapades are over at LinuxWorld, where the open source advocates are cooing over his achievement.

Let us know your thoughts on the so-called 'Windows Tax' over in the forums.
Quote Cthippo 9th November 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.
Quote AlexB 9th November 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...
Quote DougEdey 9th November 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.
Quote antiHero 9th November 2006, 12:00
Nice one! :D
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.
Quote Cthippo 9th November 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.
Quote mikeuk2004 9th November 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.
Quote AlexB 9th November 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.
Quote ch424 9th November 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.
Quote Cthippo 9th November 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 ;)
Quote ch424 9th November 2006, 13:45
Maybe, but the dell support line certainly isn't freephone!
Quote sicone 9th November 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
Quote Kevo 9th November 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.... ;)
Quote mikeuk2004 9th November 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. :)
Quote zhangmaster12 9th November 2006, 17:56
dam genius
Quote Joeymac 9th November 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.
Log in

You are not logged in, please login with your forum account below. If you don't already have an account please register to start contributing.







Mobile Phones

LG Arena ReviewHTC Magic Review

Compare over 250 mobile phones &
52,000 deals!



Broadband

Mobile Broadband

Compare over 100 broadband & mobile broadband deals online!

Dragonage