…As Long As It’s Black

Day two of my mission to find a Windows free laptop in Ireland fared no better than day one.

This time, wary of wasting more time crawling through often poorly designed websites, I took a direct approach. I phoned around.

I got through a list of most computer suppliers in the Pale within an hour or so. It doesn’t take that long to shop around when everyone tells you they don’t have what you’re looking for.

Happily, my second round of telephone calls had a happier outcome. By mixing and matching parts and labour from different suppliers, I should be able to repair my laptop for about one quarter of the prices I was quoted when I first began my search.

All of which means that it will be a while before I buy a new computer, but I’m still irked by the lack of choice.

This is what the Windows Vista Home Premium licence says: ‘By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept them, do not use the software. Instead, return it to the retailer for a refund or credit.’

Next time I buy a laptop, I’m going to make a pest of myself.