Saving money by not paying for microsoft licenses?

Marty_J

Brenda wrote: »

When I was looking at netbooks, a couple of years ago, some were available with either Linux or Windows pre-installed. The Windows versions were about £35 more expensive than the Linux versions.

So, are you explaining that the reason why the Linux version was cheaper than the Windows version is because of the "commonly-known fact" that "the ISVs" pay even vaster amounts of money to the "OEMs" to pre-install Linux and Linux programs than to pre-install Windows and Windows bloatware?

The reason Windows netbooks were more expensive than Linux ones certainly wasn't the price of Windows; Microsoft practically gave away Windows licences for use in netbooks.

Although it's true that Mac computers thankfully don't come burdened with masses of third party trialware, it should not be forgotten that they do come pre-supplied with a 30-day trial version of Microsoft Office.

They do?

I don't recall my Mac coming with Microsoft Office, and it would be a strange move on Apple's part given that they're trying to sell their own iWork instead of Office.

I have ready access to new Macs, so I'll have to have a look later today.

rhythmsoup

Were going a bit off-topic here though folks, myself included. Id still like to hear from any money savers out there who got back the cost of the Windows licence if you didnt need it.

Millionaire

Marty_J wrote: »

They do?

I don't recall my Mac coming with Microsoft Office, and it would be a strange move on Apple's part given that they're trying to sell their own iWork instead of Office.

I have ready access to new Macs, so I'll have to have a look later today.

MS Office trial versions were on Macs, I had it on mine.

poppy10_2

Marty_J wrote: »

The reason Windows netbooks were more expensive than Linux ones certainly wasn't the price of Windows; Microsoft practically gave away Windows licences for use in netbooks.

That's simply not true. On average Microsoft charged $25-$30 per netbook for an OEM version of Windows XP, and is believed to be charging $45-$55 for the crippled Windows 7 Starter version. (link) Hardly giving it away, it is a huge chunk of the price of netbooks which retail for $300

RobTang

poppy10 wrote: »

Thepiratebay. I've already paid Microsoft for the OS license so I don't feel bad about downloading a free clean version.

'tis worth noting that torrented versions of windows in a lot of cases come "pre-installed" with virus' / trojans etc. So you dont have to go round visiting dodgy sites yourself.

back on topic

Personally I dont think its worth the effort to claim back the cost, you def wont get the retail price or even the normal oem price. while big manufacturers probably dont want to give away their cost per unit, after all the costs for phone calls / letters, not to mention the time wasted I think the return will be pretty low.

poppy10_2

RobTang wrote: »

'tis worth noting that torrented versions of windows in a lot of cases come "pre-installed" with virus' / trojans etc. So you dont have to go round visiting dodgy sites yourself.

No, I get a clean version. I can compare the CRC checksum of the ISO I am downloading with the ones directly available from Microsoft, so I know I am getting an untouched perfect 1:1 copy that has not been tampered with in any way. Even better it does not come with crapware like Norton Internet Security Trial which is worse than most viruses. It came on my new netbook and was absolutely awful - automatic startup with no way of turning this off, frequent pop-up screens asking for money to unlock it, slowed down the computer so much due to its bloated nature... - it was truly a piece of turdware

RobTang

poppy10 wrote: »

No, I get a clean version. I can compare the CRC checksum of the ISO I am downloading with the ones directly available from Microsoft, so I know I am getting an untouched perfect 1:1 copy that has not been tampered with in any way.

Nearly everyone isn't that careful, besides there are lot of different versions of geniune winodows iso files, MS themselves have slipstreamed isos.

Besides CRCs can be faked, its designed for integrity not security.

Marty_J

Millionaire wrote: »

MS Office trial versions were on Macs, I had it on mine.

Well mine didn't. I had a look at two iMacs, a Mac Mini, a MacBook Air, a MacBook, and three MacBook Pros today, and none of them had a Microsoft Office trial on them either.

poppy10 wrote: »

That's simply not true. On average Microsoft charged $25-$30 per netbook for an OEM version of Windows XP, and is believed to be charging $45-$55 for the crippled Windows 7 Starter version. (link) Hardly giving it away, it is a huge chunk of the price of netbooks which retail for $300

Your sources say $25 - 30, whereas mine say less than $15 a copy.

I'd say either figure was practically giving it away.

RobTang wrote: »

'tis worth noting that torrented versions of windows in a lot of cases come "pre-installed" with virus' / trojans etc. So you dont have to go round visiting dodgy sites yourself.

Quite often, it's not the copy of Windows that has malware, but the activation cracks and whatnot that come with it.

Millionaire

Marty_J wrote: »

Well mine didn't. I had a look at two iMacs, a Mac Mini, a MacBook Air, a MacBook, and three MacBook Pros today, and none of them had a Microsoft Office trial on them either.

If they no longer supply the trial version of office then obviously the agreement to supply a trial version between Apple and Microsoft has ended.

At one point they were coming with a trial version of both Office and iWork. I purchased numerous machines with them on it, albeit a year or two now.

S0litaire

PC Builders like Dell and HP are getting wise to the "refund of Windows Tax" that customers are starting to do.

They have now started saying either "the OS essentially is free" so you can't get a refund to "the OS is part of the system so we will only give a refund if you return the whole machine."

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/18/dell_windows_7_free/