Laptop / Notebook PCs and Software

Tiger_DJ

I have a couple of questions about buying laptop / notebook PCs:

Firstly, why should any software be included in the price? I do not wish to pay for any software whatsoever. Furthermore, should you not have a choice about whether you have an OS installed or not? I would prefer not to have one installed, or at the very least, have the choice of getting Linux installed instead of Windows XP. Doesn't it breach anti-competition laws to say that you MUST buy this software with a laptop, and that it MUST be from Microsoft?

What I'd like to find is a laptop with similar specs to the Dell XPS M170 or the Alienware M7700 but without the added cost of software that I don't want.

Is this possible?

Thanks.

dave2986

Tiger_DJ wrote:

I have a couple of questions about buying laptop / notebook PCs:

Firstly, why should any software be included in the price? I do not wish to pay for any software whatsoever. Furthermore, should you not have a choice about whether you have an OS installed or not? I would prefer not to have one installed, or at the very least, have the choice of getting Linux installed instead of Windows XP. Doesn't it breach anti-competition laws to say that you MUST buy this software with a laptop, and that it MUST be from Microsoft?

What I'd like to find is a laptop with similar specs to the Dell XPS M170 or the Alienware M7700 but without the added cost of software that I don't want.

Is this possible?

Thanks.

Only a tiny % of [font=&quot]consumers [/font] want a computer with linux on and an even smaller % want a computer with no software on at all.

I agree that it sucks, but microsoft basically give pc manufactures copys of xp, as it reduced piracy, and guarantees them market share.

Microsoft has faces several legal challenges about this and has won most of them (it did loose a case back in 98 i think but got it oversruned on appeal), it does have to sell xp without media player in the EU.

I have never seen a laptop being sold without an OS and VERY few with linux on and not for a while at that.

Your best bet is to sell the copy of xp it comes with on ebay, they go for about £40 for home and £60 for pro.

Its a microsoft controlled market im affraid - live with it or live with linux

Rubyru_3

Surely if you contacted Dell they would build to your requirements???

carleast

I think that you may be able to get Dell to build it without the OS as Dell build completely from scratch anyway. But I'm not sure if it would reduce the cost at all. If you want an XPS level of spec then I would use the Dell outlet site. They generally have one or two XPS systems on there everyday which have quite good reductions on them. That way you make more savings than simply not having any software on the laptop. They put new stock on normally either on the hour of at half past at any time before 12pm. I start work at 5.30am and often find that they have already dropped todays stock onto the system. And at other times they won't do it until later.

Otherwise join quidco.com. You'll get 5.5% cashback for using the Dell home users site or 6.5% for buying through the business users website (remember you can't return the laptop if you buy through the business site). That way you again save far more money than getting the software taken off.

Cheers

Gollom

Just a note of caution - I am 99.9% certain that any OS that comes with a system lives and dies with that system and cannot be sold as a seperate entity. Any purchaser may well end up not being to download hotfixes etc. as MS now check the validity of software before allowing download. In any case most manufacturers nowadays "tie" the OS to the system BIOS so it cannot be used on aother system.

Not defending at all - I think it stinks!

dave2986

I think you will find dell have contracts with microsoft only to supply PC's with windows on. Like they do with intel only to use intel CPU's.

terryr

Try Novatech- http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/home.html I know that they will supply laptops without os

Tiger_DJ

Thanks guys, I combined two great ideas.

I used Quidco.com to order the laptop from Novatech! So not only did I get a top-spec laptop that belies it's price, but I'll also be getting money back on it!

Thanks again for the great advice.

lightstorm_2

Be careful about selling Microsoft XP on ebay,even if its 100 % genuine.They often pull the listings.Something to do with the License agreement.