Slashdot Mirror
Windows Refund Day II
pbody writes "Sorry if this is rehashing an old topic, but I was looking for advice on how
to try to get a refund for the copy of XP that is coming with the laptop I
just bought when I came across this on LinuxJournal
about windowsrefund.net. They are
organizing "Windows Refund Day II" on January 23, 2003 -- which coincides
with the LinuxWorld Expo in NYC. Knowing how the first refund day turned
out, how many out there are going to the Expo and are thinking about
participating? For that matter, has anybody had any luck at all getting a refund from a vendor lately?"
I have a similar problem. :-).
I'm looking for my Linux refund
What about a BeOS refund?
What was your username again? -BOFH
sulli
RTFJ.
I'm still waiting for my DOS refund from 10 years ago. They said they would send me the money, never got though.
Perhaps windowsrefund.net should've gotten a refund for their server!
The problem is obvious - it requires the involvement of France.
You should have kept one of the HDD screws, or maybe the power lead, just so that it still has an original part in it. Actually, I bet you have got one of the screws in there still.
Not that you really owned the software in the first place... you just owned the right to use it.
:-)
Doh! Rehashing another topic
All I want is a kind word, a warm bed and unlimited power.
Give me a second while I get my "World's Smallest Violin" out...
This isn't going to go very far in court... It's going to go something like this:
Judge: "So Mr. Linux user, you bought a laptop that you knew comes with WindowsXP even through you didn't want it?"
Linux guy: "Yes"
Judge: "Can you buy a laptop that doesn't come with Windows? In fact, can't you buy a laptop that has Linux preinstalled?"
Linux guy: "Yes"
Judge: "So despite having a choice, and not being forced to pick the Windows laptop, you bought it anyway and think you're entitled to a refund?"
Linux guy "YESS!!!"
Judge: "Bailiff, please escort these Birkenstock-wearing geeks out of my courtroom"
Great idea, a laptop I have to plug in with a big "external battery" (otherwise known as a power converter).
But at least they "boost into Windows to make sure each components are compatible".
"For a successful technology, honesty must take precedence over public relations for nature cannot be fooled." -Feynman
Be prepared to return the laptop for full refund. Be sure you have re-partitioned the hard drive before you return it. Ask them to demonstrate the OS recovery for you. Make selling crippled machines an expensive support cost. Let them negotiate with their software vendor for someting with lower support costs. Also be sure to call the Microsoft Piracy Hotline and carefully explain that you got a new laptop without the Media. Accuse the seller of stealing your recovery CD's.
The truth shall set you free!
He said $30 CDN. That's like 22 cents here in the US.
The problem is obvious - it requires the involvement of France.
Well, we've dealt with this issue in the past. If you're having trouble with France, just go through Belgium!
I bet not that many people would be "pleased" after they've successfully ripped it and burned it to CDR. However, after having returned it to you, they'll be very pleased about the fact that they got the software just for the price of shipping ;-)
> Its like car insurance, you have it,
> you pay for it up front, the fact that
> you don't have a car crash doesn't
> mean that you can say it wasn't used
> and ask for a refund.
That's not a good analogy. If you have a Microsoft OS, it will crash.
Judge: "So Mr. Linux user, you bought a laptop that you knew comes with WindowsXP even through you didn't want it?"
Linux guy: I did want Windows XP. However, when I opened the computer it tried to restrain my rights after the purchase, which is clearly illegal. The computer did however give me the option that I could decline the EULA and demand a full refund. However the company refused to honor their EULA, so here I am.
Judge: So you didn't do this just to piss them off?
Linux guy (trying to keep a straight face): No, your honor. *snicker*
Judge: I don't believe you for a second. But you're still entitled to that refund.
Kjella
Live today, because you never know what tomorrow brings
They called me because the computer was doing strange things, like programs opening, windows moving, weird sounds and error messages. Along with all the usual crap (edutainment *ugh, 9.95 games from Walmart), they were also running MSN Messenger, AOL IM, ICQ and Kazaa in all its spyware popup glory.
I ran AdAware and sat transfixed as the *running processes* counter went up and up and UP. I just started laughing, I was so amazed. After I had printed out the list ('twas a keeper), I explained what was wrong. I let them know that their computer was '0wN3D' ;)
They started blaming each other for 'messing up the computer'. The funny thing was that Mom and Dad were just as clueless as the kids. I put a stop to the blame game, and explained what a virus, trojan, and spyware was, and how to avoid them.
I wiped the drive (no way was I going to take chances with the Most Compromised System award winner), installed win 98 (no restore disk!), installed AdAware, ZoneAlarm, and Norton Antivirus.
I explained to the most savvy of the girls how to update the sig files, set it to go automatically, and explained what was going to happen when/if any of these programs red lighted something, and how to deal with it.
I explained Kazaa, and gave some alternatives (no Lite version at that time). I then got the hell out of there, holding a 20 page list of trojans and viruses.
Later, I'll tell you about the woman who thought the Space Theme was a virus. ;)
They run the website condemning Linux on Linux servers.
.Net server with the Nimda virus embedded in a help file!
Microshit sent out the Korean version of it's
Yeah, Bill, real helpful of you. ROFL
Internet Explorer puts over 2 megs of information in the windows system registry!
Office puts multitudes of settings and nformation in over 25 different keys in the registry!
Reference technet articles:
Q263470 - This article tells you that to manually uninstall IE from Windows 95/98, you need to spend hours on their several page procedure, then reinstall the operating system. It also states that IE cannot be removed from Windows ME. This despite their antitrust lawsuit.
Q235888 - In this article, Microshit declares how they will not support their own recent product.
Q276304 - And I quote, "Your password must be at least 18770 characters and cannot repeat any of your previous 30689 passwords. Please type a different password. Type a password that meets these requirements in both text boxes." This is a wonderful example of the clear and precise error messages that we receive from Microshit products...NOT!
The excuse given by one of the chief officers of Microshit in court during the antitrust lawsuit as to why they shouldn't go open source was essentially that their own security was so sucky and weak that the US Gov't and military's top secret info would be at great risk!
All Microshit products are a huge, handicapping malignancy in technology today, including and especially the EULA because they don't even honor it! Kudos to all the people who can stand the POS Microshit products they pirate! Why should any consumer honor the EULA if the manufacturer won't even honor it?!?