operating system free laptop?

sillygoose

Anyone know where I can buy a cheapish Laptop without an operating system?

I really don't want to pay for an included install of Windows 8 only to waste it by wiping it and installing Windows 7.

Looks like a refurb. is the only option now

(of course have to be sure I could still get Win 7 drivers for it)

RobTang

Virtually every laptop custom builder will sell you one without an os, try novatech or pc specialist to start.

Tbh your not saving much or anything opting out of the os, I reckon you'd actually be paying more for the privilege

Jivesinger

RobTang wrote: »

Tbh your not saving much or anything opting out of the os, I reckon you'd actually be paying more for the privilege

Yep - I believe that Microsoft give away a version of Windows to computer manufacturers for free, with the proviso that the default search in the browser is Bing (but the user can easily change that).

So the cost to manufacturers of giving you that version of Windows is £0 and you wouldn't be saving anything.

InsideInsurance

So you're willing to pay more to not have windows installed?

As has been said, the cost of Windoze to larger companies is peanuts if anything and so rather than waste your time looking for one without it why not just look for the cheapest laptop with or without it and sort it out when you get it

NiftyDigits

Medion Akoya E6234/MD98409 £180.49

Has Drivers for Windows 7. Shockingly, the link to their Wireless Driver appears to be 1.2GB! Drivers

Specifications

You won't be wasting the licence. You'll just have a choice.

System

Hi

It is theoretically possible to buy a computer and get the OS cost refunded.

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Instead, you should return it to the retailer or other place where you purchased the software license, for a refund or credit.



15. SUPPORT AND REFUND PROCEDURES
Microsoft provides limited support services for properly licensed software as described at support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx.
If you are seeking a refund, and you cannot obtain one where you acquired the software, contact Microsoft for information about Microsoft’s refund policies. See microsoft.com/worldwide, or in North America, call (800) MICROSOFT or see microsoft.com/info/nareturns.htm.
####################################

The practicalities and amounts involved may not be deemed worthwhile.

Your choice.

sillygoose

NiftyDigits wrote: »

Medion Akoya E6234/MD98409 £180.49

Has Drivers for Windows 7. Shockingly, the link to their Wireless Driver appears to be 1.2GB! Drivers

Specifications

You won't be wasting the licence. You'll just have a choice.

Thanks that looks pretty decent - I am only looking for a basic school laptop so doesn't need a long battery and only running Open Office, Chrome and so on so that sort of spec really.

When you say I have a choice, do you mean if I install Windows 7 (I have an all versions USB install stick) the licence will be valid for Win 7 as well as 8?

sillygoose

InsideInsurance wrote: »

So you're willing to pay more to not have windows installed?

As has been said, the cost of Windoze to larger companies is peanuts if anything and so rather than waste your time looking for one without it why not just look for the cheapest laptop with or without it and sort it out when you get it

A lot of new laptops designed for Win 8 are touchscreen and seem quite low powered on the CPU. I don't need touch screen but I didn't say I wanted to pay more either!

I assumed there would be some cost included for an OS so stand corrected.

NiftyDigits

sillygoose wrote: »

Thanks that looks pretty decent - I am only looking for a basic school laptop so doesn't need a long battery and only running Open Office, Chrome and so on so that sort of spec really.

When you say I have a choice, do you mean if I install Windows 7 (I have an all versions USB install stick) the licence will be valid for Win 7 as well as 8?

Have replied via PM.

50Twuncle

I agree that Niftys suggestion is probably a bargain (especially as it includes the Operating System) but it will definitely benefit from an additional 4 Gb of RAM
From experience (my friend bought an identically powered Toshiba, with 4Gb) an extra 4Gb makes a huge difference and will cost about £20 max..
Although, in theory - it would appear that the Celeron is close to an i3 ( http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Core-i3-2328M-vs-Intel-Celeron-1000M) - in practice - it lags considerably behind
I am not trying to put you off buying this Medion (I have a Medion desktop (i7 !!) now and am impressed with it) but just ensure that you are aware that it is not going to break any speed records...

NiftyDigits

50Twuncle wrote: »

I agree that Niftys suggestion is probably a bargain (especially as it includes the Operating System) but it will definitely benefit from an additional 4 Gb of RAM
From experience (my friend bought an identically powered Toshiba, with 4Gb) an extra 4Gb makes a huge difference and will cost about £20 max..
Although, in theory - it would appear that the Celeron is close to an i3 ( http://cpuboss.com/cpus/Intel-Core-i3-2328M-vs-Intel-Celeron-1000M) - in practice - it lags considerably behind
I am not trying to put you off buying this Medion (I have a Medion desktop (i7 !!) now and am impressed with it) but just ensure that you are aware that it is not going to break any speed records...

Close??

Intel Core i3-2328M @ 2.20GHz Average CPU Mark 2496

Intel Celeron 1000M @ 1.80GHz Average CPU Mark 1704

Apart from that, once you wipe away the unnecessary crud with a clean install, 4GB of RAM will be more than adequate.

My Toshiba with a lesser Celeron and 2GB of RAM is still doing the job more than five years into it's life.

Clearly, if you added RAM which sped it up, the issue was not with the CPU.