From owner-freebsd-questions Tue Jun 5 15:49:50 2001 Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from hotmail.com (f196.law12.hotmail.com [64.4.19.196]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 83F7637B406 for ; Tue, 5 Jun 2001 15:49:47 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from bsdsup@hotmail.com) Received: from mail pickup service by hotmail.com with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Tue, 5 Jun 2001 15:49:47 -0700 Received: from 63.145.134.187 by lw12fd.law12.hotmail.msn.com with HTTP; Tue, 05 Jun 2001 22:49:47 GMT X-Originating-IP: [63.145.134.187] From: "Jason Francis" To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Laptop without Windows Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2001 18:49:47 -0400 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: X-OriginalArrivalTime: 05 Jun 2001 22:49:47.0365 (UTC) FILETIME=[D221A950:01C0EE11] Sender: owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk List-ID: List-Archive: (Web Archive) List-Help: (List Instructions) List-Subscribe: List-Unsubscribe: X-Loop: FreeBSD.ORG >As others have stated ... it's all too common. >However, there was an instance of a very principal driven fellow who >purchased a laptop (with windows preinstalled) and then proceeded to >format the HDD without ever booting the system. Because of the specifics >of the license agreement, he was able to get a refund on the price of >the windows license (since he'd never used it) >He only accomplished this after a great deal of fighting, but it can be >done. I don't remember where, but the story (sort of a HOW-TO for >putting it back in M$ face) is posted on the Internet somewhere. Do some >searching if you feel like fighting for the cause on this one. >If enough people fought over it, maybe companies like Dell would start >offering alternate OSes on laptops, or laptops without OSes. > >-Bill There are two major issues preventing them from doing this. Currently there is a price war going on and OEMs like Dell are making almost no money on the sale of systems. Paying higher prices for Windows licenses would cut their profit margins even thinner. Another thing is that supporting machines running tons of different operating systems would be an absolute nightmare. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message