I’m in the market for a new computer. Maybe. It depends on whether my laptop can be repaired economically.
I’ve spent the last few days shopping around, and it’s been an education.
My requirements are relatively modest, a midrange laptop, big enough to handle my everyday workload, small enough to lug around on the road.
But what’s really causing me problems is what I don’t want: Windows.
It is proving remarkably difficult to find a laptop computer which doesn’t come with a Windows operating system preinstalled.
It came as no surprise to find I couldn’t buy a full sized linux laptop in a bricks and mortar store, but I was surprised to find it was almost impossible online too.
Dell does offer a (well hidden) linux option, but with so many mandatory bells an whistles it’s uneconomic.
For the moment, it looks as if I repair my laptop, so the purchase decision will wait a while.
But when I do buy, it seems the only way to avoid paying for software I don’t want is to go to the small claims court.
Otherwise, I am forced to pay for something I will never use.
So much for the free market.
Have a look at Linux.ie, they might have info about whom in Ireland may offer a Linux only laptop:
http://www.linux.ie/
Linux Emperourm is based in the UK, has been around for a while and ships world-wide. I’ve a Lenovo T400 (directly from Lenovo), that I think works pretty well:
http://www.linuxemporium.co.uk/products/laptops/#pidR26886
However, it might be cheaper for you to pay the MS tax, and install Linux on a laptop yourself. 🙁
I asked on the ILUG mailing list, to date I haven’t had any replies. And you’re right, I’ve found Lenovo models going cheaper with MS installed.
It looks like I’ll be going the repair route after all, but when I do next buy, I will be making a pest of myself to get the MS tax refunded.
After all, it says I can do so in the licence.
Good luck with that! 😉 I’d bet most of the retailers won’t have a clue, or won’t want to refund the money.
What they want is irrelevant. What the licence says is what matters, provided I can find a small claims judge who agrees with me.