Saving money by not paying for microsoft licenses?

rhythmsoup

For some people who are considering buying a new PC, the cost of the MS Windows licence is bundled into the overall price. When you buy a new PC you can (if you wish) install your own choice of OS on there, and then you should be well within your rights to reclaim to cost of the unused Windows license.

You could for example install Linux and then go on to claim back the cost of your licence. You might find that you'll have enough money to buy some more RAM or a peripheral of your choice.

I dont wish to raise a thread about whether Windows is better than Linux, the choice of OS is down to the individual and what they need to do, I use both regularly, and they are both different animals.

So, have any of you money savers out there managed to get a refund if you chose not to accept the EULA? Id be very interested to know.

lfc321

This has been doing the rounds for a few years now and many people have reported successfully getting refunds.

However, your post coincides with a recent story that Dell seem to have now put a stop to this (see http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/18/dell_windows_7_free/). I don't know what other manufacturers are doing.

[Deleted User]

lfc321 wrote: »

I don't know what other manufacturers are doing.

I'd imagine, if they haven't already, taking the same stance as Dell.

It does beg the question of why buy a complete package if you're not happy with it?

timbim_2

If you ring dell up, they can do anything you want in terms of customisation, I recently bought a Vostro from Dell Belgium with all English UK OS, keyboard etc (long story).

rhythmsoup

anewhope wrote: »

It does beg the question of why buy a complete package if you're not happy with it?

good question but unfortunately very few manufacturers ship systems without the OS. All the good deals include a machine with Windows pre-installed. I dont know why you cant just choose an option of a blank HDD. Are we being pushed into a corner without a choice? Shouldn't the user be able to choose wether he / she wants a pre-installed OS?

missile

timbim wrote: »

If you ring dell up, they can do anything you want in terms of customisation, I recently bought a Vostro from Dell Belgium with all English UK OS, keyboard etc (long story).

I did the same bought a desktop from Dell in spain.

Did not need to phone these options are there when you buy on line, or at least they are on their spanish site.

[Deleted User]

rhythmsoup wrote: »

good question but unfortunately very few manufacturers ship systems without the OS. All the good deals include a machine with Windows pre-installed. I dont know why you cant just choose an option of a blank HDD. Are we being pushed into a corner without a choice? Shouldn't the user be able to choose wether he / she wants a pre-installed OS?

Would you be prepared to pay more money for a computer with no software preinstalled by the manufacturer?

fitshase

Why don't the manufacturers and Microsoft do something along the lines of their Office installation on new machines?

I just bought an Acer laptop and it had a trial version of Office 2007 on it. I have a licence for 2007 so didn't need the trial but it could be a solution to the OS debate.

The manufacturers would have a time limited trial of Windows on the machine and you can buy a licence from Microsoft if you want to keep it.

rhythmsoup

Brenda wrote: »

The OP's point is that the manufacturer should charge less money for supplying a computer with no software pre-installed - because the manufacturer is not having to pay the software company for the software and its licences.

Yup thats exactly what I was getting at, sorry for any confusion.

Brenda wrote: »

Or are you suggesting that Microsoft gives computer manufacturers its software for nothing and pays them a subsidy to pre-install it?

Now theres a good point... they wouldn't would they.... ?

[Deleted User]

Brenda wrote: »

The OP's point is that the manufacturer should charge less money for supplying a computer with no software pre-installed - because the manufacturer is not having to pay the software company for the software and its licences.

Or are you suggesting that Microsoft gives computer manufacturers its software for nothing and pays them a subsidy to pre-install it?

Surely it's a commonly known fact that the ISVs pay vast amounts of money to the OEMs in order to have their products pre-installed on machines?

fitshase wrote: »

Why don't the manufacturers and Microsoft do something along the lines of their Office installation on new machines?

The manufacturers would have a time limited trial of Windows on the machine and you can buy a licence from Microsoft if you want to keep it.

Most people can't get their heads around a trial of Office being installed, then complaining when it expires and won't accept their Windows product key. Doing something like that would cause far greater problems than it would solve, plus it'd work out much more expensive for the end user.

There's a simple solution if you want to avoid buying a package that includes heavily subsidised software that you don't want; build your own.

nomoneytoday

The cost of an Operating system OEM licence paid for by someone like Dell will be significantly less than an individual. Can't imagine a refund being worth it by the time a processing cost has been charged.