Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 18:40:32 -0500 From: Mike Meyer <mwm@mired.org> To: Flemming Froekjaer <flemming@froekjaer.org> Cc: questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Laptop without Windows Message-ID: <15133.28144.41630.345809@guru.mired.org> In-Reply-To: <40727609@toto.iv>
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Flemming Froekjaer <flemming@froekjaer.org> types: > I was looking at buying a Dell Inspiron 8000, but there was no option to > buy it without a windows os. > So i called them instead and explained that I wanted to use the laptop > with FreeBSD. They said that would be ok, but i would have to pay the > same price, as with the OS. > Is that normal? > I know Microsoft is not giving DELL free OS licenses, and I don't want > to support MS by buying there OS, when I'm not going to use it. As others have pointed out, you don't get a choice. However, boot windows and get to the Windows license agreement. Check to see what it says about what to do if you don't accept that agreement, as you don't need to. It should say something about returning it for a refund. Install FreeBSD. Go back to the store and bitch to get a refund. Follow up with the manufacturer if you have to. It's paid off in at least one case. You may be able to return the laptop with FreeBSD installed and get a full refund - after enough time has passed that you can buy a newer/better one for the same cash. If nothing else, you've made the store and manufacturer aware that there are people who object to this, and that you're not bound by the license agreement. That last may present some interesting possibilities, depending on the local copyright law. The other alternative is to buy an OS X laptop from Apple. That comes with BSD software preinstalled and manufacturers support for the hardware (which I find *very* tempting). <mike -- Mike Meyer <mwm@mired.org> http://www.mired.org/home/mwm/ Independent WWW/Perforce/FreeBSD/Unix consultant, email for more information. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-questions" in the body of the message
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