From what I remember of seeing people actually trying to do this a few months ago (I think it was on Slashdot) the net result was that companies insisted that you either had to accept or reject the entire

There's really not much point... package, i.e. they were prepared to guarantee the hardware if it ran Losedows but not if it didn't. And consumer law requires retailers to guarantee their products for 12 months. So you had to return the entire PC if you didn't want Windows. As most places test and release only a limited number of configurations they are able to bring the price down by more than the cost of Losedows by virtue of the bulk laws of marketing, namely that they can sell shedloads of that configuration. So you may well be able to obtain the hardware without Losedows, but it will cost more than the hardware with Losedows. This is not an anomaly, just the laws of the free market working. You may also have noticed that dealers who sell Linux machines charge more for Linux boxes than they do for Losedows boxes (isn't this why in fact you want to buy a Losedows box in the first place instead of going to a Linux reseller and buying one of their machines instead? So sort out your priorities.) If you are a real anti-Microsoft purist and you absolutely must do this to satisfy your emotions, (a) why not go to a Linux dealer where you don't even need to get Losedows in the first place, (b) it would appear from the laws of marketing you are cutting off your nose to spite your face - why not just accept the lower price and bung the Losedows package in the bin after reformatting the hdd? Of course you're stuffed if you want to call them out when a component fails. Dave. SuSE Mailing List User wrote:

Hi,

According to the licence agreement when you turn the computer on, if you don't accepted it you are able to return the licence and software to whoever you purchased your computer from.

If you manage to get the money back I would like to hear, as I'm planning on buying a computer, however most companies like Dell say the machine must come with windows.

Adam

On Thu, 20 Dec 2001, Kavau wrote:

...

Hi All,

I remember reading in some discussion groups a while ago, that one could get a refund when purchasing a new computer system that comes with some Microsoft Windows operation system, if you're not intending to use Windows at all. I'm just wondering what is the current state of this business, and whether there's any sort of How-To available on what one would have to to.

Klaus

-- David Spencer www.curlypi.com

My Brother is thinking about getting a laptop. Been round all the companies and has more or less settled on an IBM Thinkpad. One of the reasons was that they asked what system do you want on it. He is a Windows man but opted for Win 98 rather than XP. Then IBM has fond memories of Billdows :) Regards, David On Thu, 20 Dec 2001 16:59:16 +0000 (GMT), SuSE Mailing List User wrote:

Hi,

According to the licence agreement when you turn the computer on, if you don't accepted it you are able to return the licence and software to whoever you purchased your computer from.

If you manage to get the money back I would like to hear, as I'm planning on buying a computer, however most companies like Dell say the machine must come with windows.

Adam

On Thu, 20 Dec 2001, Kavau wrote:

...

Hi All,

I remember reading in some discussion groups a while ago, that one could get a refund when purchasing a new computer system that comes with some Microsoft Windows operation system, if you're not intending to use Windows at all. I'm just wondering what is the current state of this business, and whether there's any sort of How-To available on what one would have to to.

Klaus

__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Check out Yahoo! Shopping and Yahoo! Auctions for all of your unique holiday gifts! Buy at http://shopping.yahoo.com or bid at http://auctions.yahoo.com

-- To unsubscribe send e-mail to suse-linux-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the FAQ at http://www.suse.com/support/faq and the archives at http://lists.suse.com

Here is an old link that I had stored away. It might give you some good information. Windows Refund Center Home Page http://linuxmall.com/refund/ Let me know about your experiences please, since I am looking at purchasing a Laptop in the next few months. James Ruhsam Tampa, Florida, usA *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 12/20/2001 at 12:28 PM Tim Prince wrote:

----- Original Message ----- From: "Kavau" To: Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 8:59 AM Subject: [SLE] M$ refunds

...

Hi All,

I remember reading in some discussion groups a while ago, that one could get a refund when purchasing a new computer system that comes with some Microsoft Windows operation system, if you're not intending to use Windows at all. I'm just wondering what is the current state of this business, and whether there's any sort of How-To available on what one would have to to.

Klaus You used to be able to buy from China without OS, but Microsoft just announced an agreement with major Chinese vendors to make XP mandatory. Some of the Taiwanese boxes still come without OS. Microsoft has a reward system for people who report sales without MS OS, so they can hassle the users to prove they aren't running a copied MS OS. I don't entirely blame them, as I have been sold a system with an illegal copy of Windows installed by a US vendor, but I don't doubt they are trying to intimidate linux vendors and users. More to your point, if you could search the ZDNet or other news archives, you'd probably find some items about people who attempted to get such a refund and failed.

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k here's the deal i just talked it over with a lawyer on my floor and as far as he can tell dell is realy the one you'd have to target since their contract is with micros~1 and they have a purchase contract with you so attacking chairman bill himself won't get you much there's a problem though and this is how he put it "trying to get a refund for part of a computer (ie. windows) is like trying to buy a monopoly game and then get a refund 'cause you don't like to use the shoe token". dell is selling a computer with the specified parts and you're chosing to buy that computer therefore the only options you have are: a) file a classaction suit agains micros~1 on the basis that they're restricting your ability to purchase a computer that doesn't include their os... i wish you luck, i might even get on board with you. or b) buy the laptop and illegally copy/resell/distribute the os and stick it to the man :) btw this was a Canadian lawyer so you'll have to do your own research for your own country's laws.

From: "JR" Date: Thu, 20 Dec 2001 16:45:19 -0500 To: suse-linux-e@suse.com Subject: Re: [SLE] M$ refunds

Here is an old link that I had stored away. It might give you some good information.

Windows Refund Center Home Page http://linuxmall.com/refund/

Let me know about your experiences please, since I am looking at purchasing a Laptop in the next few months.

James Ruhsam Tampa, Florida, usA

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 12/20/2001 at 12:28 PM Tim Prince wrote:

...

----- Original Message ----- From: "Kavau" To: Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2001 8:59 AM Subject: [SLE] M$ refunds

...

Hi All,

I remember reading in some discussion groups a while ago, that one could get a refund when purchasing a new computer system that comes with some Microsoft Windows operation system, if you're not intending to use Windows at all. I'm just wondering what is the current state of this business, and whether there's any sort of How-To available on what one would have to to.

Klaus You used to be able to buy from China without OS, but Microsoft just announced an agreement with major Chinese vendors to make XP mandatory. Some of the Taiwanese boxes still come without OS. Microsoft has a reward system for people who report sales without MS OS, so they can hassle the users to prove they aren't running a copied MS OS. I don't entirely blame them, as I have been sold a system with an illegal copy of Windows installed by a US vendor, but I don't doubt they are trying to intimidate linux vendors and users. More to your point, if you could search the ZDNet or other news archives, you'd probably find some items about people who attempted to get such a refund and failed.

-- To unsubscribe send e-mail to suse-linux-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com

Also check the FAQ at http://www.suse.com/support/faq and the archives at http://lists.suse.com

-- To unsubscribe send e-mail to suse-linux-e-unsubscribe@suse.com For additional commands send e-mail to suse-linux-e-help@suse.com Also check the FAQ at http://www.suse.com/support/faq and the archives at http://lists.suse.com