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Amazon UK Refunds Windows License Fee, With Little Hassle
christian.einfeldt writes "Alan Lord, a FOSS computer consultant based in the UK, has announced that Amazon UK honored his request for a refund of the Microsoft license fee portion of the cost of a new Asus netbook PC that came with Microsoft Windows XP. Lord details the steps that he took to obtain a refund of 40.00 GBP for the cost of the EULA, complete with links to click to request a refund. Lord's refund comes 10 years after the initial flurry of activity surrounding EULA discounts, started by a blog post by Australian computer consultant Geoffrey Bennett which appeared on Slashdot on 18 January 1999. That Slashdot story led to mainstream press coverage, such as stories in CNN, the New York Times Online, and the San Francisco Chronicle, to name just a few. The issue quieted down for a few years, but has started to gain some momentum again in recent years, with judges in France, Italy, and Israel awarding refunds. But if Lord's experience is any indication, getting a refund through Amazon might be as easy as filling out a few forms, at least in the UK, without any need to go to court."
So this should work in the US, too? I'm looking to buy a new laptop sooner or later, but I sure as hell won't be using Windows. A refund would be prettty awesome.
To me, of all things that have been considered as a remedy against Microsoft monopoly abuse, the only one that is logical and practical would be to stop them from bundling hardware and software. I can't understand why this hasn't been done by either the EU or USA.
Software and hardware are clearly two different markets. You can install Windows in hardware from a number of vendors, and you can install a number of operating systems on a PC.
So you would buy a computer and you would get two receipts, one for the machine and another one for the OS. The OS can even be preinstalled on the machine and you would only get an activation key with your receipt. If you don't want the operating system, you just buy the hardware and don't pay for the activation key.
What really makes me mad is that the only reason this is not considered by the authorities is because Linux is not commercial, so they are not losing money from Microsoft's monopoly abuse. Only companies matter to government. The fact that the public would benefit from an operating system market where Linux would be allowed to compete on equals grounds is not relevant to the government because there is no single company making money from Linux.
When his defense asked, "Which computer has Jon Johansen trespassed upon?" the answer was: "His own."
US means United States according to the ISO 3166-1 International standard for 2-letter country code abbreviations. Is there some other standard I don't know about? These same codes that are used to define the TLDs of every country that has one... Why am I feeding the trolls?
fuck you pay me! - microsoft
At one point, Dell offered FreeDOS as their Opensource option and an associated credit over windows on quite a few of their machines...making it relatively easy to buy an "empty" box with warranty and support, if that was your bag...now I think they've switch to Ubuntu...but still, the point is support vendors who don't offer windows and more vendors won't offer windows (and don't bitch about not getting all of the Microsoft surcharge back, they still have to test their hardware and perhaps write drivers).
From what I've read, the range of refunds given has been variable if not arbitrary. This thread on the ubuntu forums is an interesting place to start reading about some differenct experiences people have had.
I was also interested to learn recently that it is possible to buy machines with no OS from some vendors. The college I work for has this ability through our Dell rep. This post in the above-mentioned thread is particularly interesting, as it claims that anybody can request and receive a new computer without an OS from several vendors.
I am literally 3000 tokens away from the chaotic crossbow --Stephen
Maybe someone would like to buy a specific device without being bound to a license brought in by a separate party.
To you, that may be an unreasonable demand.
Is it your call?
-fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
I'm pretty curious and this idea just popped into my head. I'm sure the answer is easy, so I'll ask.
What's the difference between buying a computer and getting a refund for the cost of the Windows EULA (since apparently you're actually receiving the operating system data, yet agree not to "use" it) and buying a Windows XP CD and attempting to get a refund for the cost of the EULA if you just want the data, but agree not to "use" it. Say you want it for a coaster, art project, or other use.
Does that logic not follow?
There was a time when Microsoft got paid irrespective of what OS was loaded on the PC. Have a look for "per CPU licensing" on Google. Since the only way to avoid paying Microsoft was not to buy a PC at all that's quite a lot like the road fund licence or television licence in the UK which are both considered to be taxes even though they are not compulsory unless you have a car or a device capable of receiving television signals (I would have just said television but this place is where pedants go to die :P). I doubt that they are allowed to get away with that nowadays but the term Microsoft tax is still a valid albeit historical term.
You're right it's not a tax, because the MS fee is voluntary whereas taxes are not, however the MS fee is still hard to avoid. You mentioned the Dell N-series, but that series still forces you to pay for a Windows license fee, even though there's no Windows on the machine (i.e. an N-series PC is the same price as a Vista machine).
What I can't figure out is why amazon gave a refund to a guy who has Windows installed on his Net PC. That sounds kinda shady. I could quite easily buy a netbook, CLAIM I'm not using Windows, get my refund, and then continue using Windows. I have no objections about stealing from the soulless entity called "megacorporation". (1) That's no more harmful than stealing a rock from the ocean since corporations are not human beings, and (2) it steals from taxpayers all the time; a little reverse-theft merely restores the wealth to the poor who labored to earn it in the first place & to whom it rightfully belongs.
But I don't understand why amazon.uk would so easily agree to give a refund - it seems this makes them open to all kinds of liars. "No I don't use Windows. No sir. Not me. No way."
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall
That's why. Because people want to buy ANY machine, not some "special-needs" preconfigured POS. I'd buy a vaio FW any minute, if it came with something Debian-based. But it doesn't. Or can you find that missing link?
What point is it that people hope to make when they do things like this? If you want to support preloaded Linux, why not buy preloaded Linux?
The point is that the new computers that are available with Linux or no OS preloaded are a very tiny fraction indeed of the variety of new computers available with Windows. If I want, for example, a Dell Mini 10 with the new low-power US15W/GMA500 chipset, I am forced to buy with it a license for Windows xp. If you know how to buy this particular model new with Linux or no OS preloaded, please do post back with directions.
If you want to get a PC with no OS at all, why not buy a used machine on eBay that has no OS?
That's just silly. A used machine is not new, has no warranty, and is older and therefore less relevant. Plus, the used machine, if it was bought new with Windows, will be priced accordingly. The Windows license is the one part of that used machine that doesn't wear and tear. If I didn't want to buy Windows on new hardware, why would I want to pay for it on old hardware?
I built my own desktop. No OS.
Cool. I'm still looking for that mini 10/US15W. Can you build that new without Windows?
something about a "Microsoft Tax."
It's a metaphor for a non-optional fee that gives me nothing of value in return. That's not a troll statement--Windows may have value to some, but it has no value to me.
I am literally 3000 tokens away from the chaotic crossbow --Stephen
You don't have a choice, a us consent decree states that microsoft can not.
Microsoft gets paid, even if you don't you use their operating system, due to the per processor licensing scheme.
To gauge the Governments effectiveness (above rulings were in 1994) read this FINDINGS OF FACT (1998) which
to save you the read not much has changed.
From what I've read/heard, you are paying for the hardware and the hardware only. As Apple is a "hardware company." OS X is a freebie according to this logic many Slashdot users like to profess.
I am forced to buy with it a license for Windows xp. If you know how to buy this particular model new with Linux or no OS preloaded, please do post back with directions.
Maybe because the 1% that would buy it with Linux isn't a big enough minority for Dell to care about? I'd yell at Dell, not Microsoft.
It's a metaphor for a non-optional fee that gives me nothing of value in return
Then that tax is put on by Dell, not Microsoft.
I just don't get it. If you are dead set on certain hardware provided by Dell, why is it Microsoft's fault for them not providing it with Linux pre-installed (or nothing pre-installed)? It's Dell's fault. Unless Microsoft is forcing them to only use Windows.
Interestingly, Windows on netbooks is increasing, not decreasing, Which seems to support Dell's decision that offering both configurations (I have no clue how much overhead that entails) may not be profitable enough... or may result in an increase of customer issues who see the cheaper option and get, having no clue with Linux is or something like that.
Don't get me wrong. If I bought a netbook it'd have Linux on it. I couldn't find the MSI Wind linux editions either, which was frustrating. But that's MSI's fault, not MS.
The per-CPU licensing was for those manufacturers that made such an agreement with MS. You could always buy from a mom-and-pop shop and not pay the price or, better yet, build the computer yourself.
Taxes are theft by the government. The old MS license is just a vendor losing my business.
From what I've read/heard, you are paying for the hardware and the hardware only. As Apple is a "hardware company." OS X is a freebie according to this logic many Slashdot users like to profess.
Besides, Apple's standpoint is that you need to use Bootcamp (and therefore OS X) to run Windows on a Mac.
"One can not truly appreciate Shakespeare until you have heard it in it's original Klingon" -Star Trek
And the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the Holy License, then shalt thou count to 40 GBP, no more, no less. 40.00 GBP shall be the number thou shalt count, and the number of the counting shall be 40. 50 shalt thou not count, neither count thou 30, excepting that thou then proceedest on to 40. 60 is right out. Once the 40.00 GBP, being the 40th number, be reached, then lobbest thou thy Holy License of Windows towards thy Amazon, who being naughty in my sight, shall snuff it." Amen.
Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
Maybe because the 1% that would buy it with Linux isn't a big enough minority for Dell to care about? I'd yell at Dell, not Microsoft.
Exactly. And this thread is about Amazon refunding that license fee, not MS. Demanding that refund is about putting pressure back on the vendor to support options other than Windows. If the market really didn't want alternatives then we wouldn't be reading stories like this.
Personally I don't care who has to pony up, I just don't like being forced to pay. Whether MS is putting unfair pressure on vendors to sell their products exclusively, as has been alleged, becomes less relevant when the consumer revolts. I have never purchased a Windows license. I don't use it at home, and I don't forsee a day when I will.
Sooner or later I will have to buy a laptop, and if I will most assuredly not be paying for Windows with it. Better if I don't have to go through the ridiculous refund process, but I will if necessary.
I am literally 3000 tokens away from the chaotic crossbow --Stephen
The case in Israel was an out of court settlement. It never got to a judge. It was unique in that the plaintiff refused to settle unless it was also made public, but still, no judge.
Shachar
Can we do the same with mac os x? and new apple systems? Even if it just to get the real price of mac os x out of them. Will psysar try this in there court case?
> If you want to get a PC with no OS at all, why not buy a used machine on eBay that has no OS?
I dunno. Perhaps because you don't want some machine that someone else has already abused?
A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
Copy Print Exit 4:58:39 PM CustomerChristian Initial Question/Comment: Rebates 4:58:44 PM SystemSystem Jeremy has joined this session! 4:58:44 PM SystemSystem Connected with Jeremy 4:58:44 PM SystemSystem Hello my name is Jeremy. How may I help you today? 4:59:20 PM CustomerChristian Hi there, I was reading an article about how amazon refunded the microsoft OS price for a netbook that was purchased. http://www.theopensourcerer.com/2009/07/21/getting-your-microsoft-tax-refunded-1010-for-amazon-uk/ 4:59:35 PM CustomerChristian I was wondering whether Newegg would do that on a laptop I ordered, because I don't accept the EULA. 5:00:34 PM AgentJeremy We do not offer this return. 5:01:02 PM CustomerChristian Didn't think so. :) Perhaps one day when EULA's are challenged in court we can get this fixed. Until then, viva la microsoft tax eh? ;)
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Nope, thanks.
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All your base are belong to Google.
I use solely Ubuntu for private computing since early 2005. As I bought a new laptop, accidentally an Lenovo it was sort of irritating not to be able to get it with my favorite operating system. Before opening the package I checked around on the internet for references to what to do with the Windows Vista Ultimate licence. It was clear to me that the EULA terms were inacceptable to me so according to the licence terms I needed to wipe the hard disk without ever booting into Vista. I called up the free Lenovo support and asked what to do. They asked to come back, half an hour later a support manager called and told me that I was going to be sent a form to be signed guaranteeing that I reformatted the hard drive wiping out the boot partition as well as the recovery partition. I also needed to hand in the Windows licence stickers and my bank account number to receive the equivalent of $40. By handing in the form I also accepted that I was not going to get any support on the computer any more and there was no way I could get a recovery CD. On my part I accept that computer makers does not have to sell non-windows hardware. I also equally much think they should give users the choice of buying hardware without the software. I am glad that Lenovo is giving us this option. TorbjÃrn Ã-sterdahl, Zürich. http://www.ultra-marine.org/
Yes, of course I chose to buy the Windows CD. That doesn't make it any different than choosing to buy a computer.
I chose to buy the Windows CD because I wanted it for use as a nerdy coaster. I am not interested in the data/software/EULA contained within. Same as if I bought a computer, and am forced to pay for an OS I'm not interested in (so I'm allowed a refund).
Why can't I get a refund for the OS I'm forced to buy with the compact disc I wanted to buy?
Seems like the same thing to me.
I have never purchased a Windows license. I don't use it at home, and I don't forsee a day when I will.
Cool. You and the other 5% :) I have no problem whatsoever with it. I personally have used DOS, Windows, and Linux as primary OS's, and currently use Win 7 RC/Ubuntu 9.04 at home for normal activities.
Yelling at Amazon ... or Amazon associates or whatever they are called... seems like the way to go. And supporting other OEMs that will build or build-to-order and put whatever OS on that you want is another option - one I considered, actually.
IMO, the consumer base that primarily looks for pre-installed pre-everything are not going to be the ones actively looking for Linux.. and if presented with a list of ~50 distros to install (or whatever, I've seen some pretty big lists, especially when they allow different versions of different distros, etc), they're going to be pretty confused....
So until the consumer base that wants Linux rises, the supply is only going to meet the demand... not change the demand all that much...
IMO, the consumer base that primarily looks for pre-installed pre-everything are not going to be the ones actively looking for Linux.
If I'm anything like the typical Linux user, then the typical Linux user probably couldn't care less about what's preinstalled, as long as he isn't forced to pay for it. I'm almost as likely to wipe an Ubuntu preinstall as I am Windows, FreeDOS, or whatever else, but at least they shouldn't ask me to pay for the privilege.
I am literally 3000 tokens away from the chaotic crossbow --Stephen
I wonder if anyone has ever tried this with Apple.. Wipe out OSX and request a refund for it because you plan to use Linux.. I bet it would be even more difficult than getting a Windows refund.
Microsoft doesn't lose any money by doing this. Whoever sold you the computer just eats the loss because it's better to keep customers happy and avoid bad press. They already paid for the license, and you could probably get away with using the OEM license key anyway. Granted, if enough people did this, somebody might take notice, but of the millions of PCs sold per year, the number of people who request refunds probably number in the hundreds, if that. I would argue that purchasing a computer with Linux pre-installed has a more significant (albeit still quite small) effect.
Does that logic not follow?
You are required to transfer all copies of a copyrighted work when you transfer ownership, so no, it does not. This is a question which actually could be answered by reading copyright law, although it might take you some time. (It's also common knowledge among people who actually care about such things.)
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Why is the GP modded Troll? if you can get refunds of Windows from Dell et al, it stands to reason you'd be able to get a refund of OSX from Apple as well.
Hell, if I had money to spare (on both computer and lawyer) I'd test it out myself.
No problem is insoluble in all conceivable circumstances.
I got rid of windows at home nearly ten years ago, so I understand not wanting windows...
However, if you want a Dodge Viper without any seats and a built-in coffee maker, you are going to have to purchase a Dodge Viper, remove the seats and install a coffee maker. They dont sell them in that configuration.
While it is frustrating to purchase extra 'features' that you dont want, its the only option you have aside from not buying it at all.
True. I should rephrase... "not going to be the ones actively looking for assembled hardware to self-install the OS on." :)
OS X is a freebie according to this logic many Slashdot users like to profess.
Which is actually stupid - of course, they add their development costs for OSX to the hardware prices, so it isn't free at all. (That's pretty obvious, IMO)
(+1, Disagree)
forced
Forced, forced. I keep seeing that word in this thread.
Forced? Was it a gun or a knife? Was the state forcing you to buy Windows?
No, no, and no. You had a choice. There are vendors offering pre-installed Linux. There are vendors selling bare PCs. You may buy parts and build your own PC.
Instead, you chose to buy a PC with Windows on it. And now you are complaining that you were "forced" to buy Windows. Just because the particular hardware you wanted had Windows on it does not mean you were "forced" to buy it. Just because the marketplace does not offer the exact choices you want does not mean you were "forced" to buy something. You may buy something else, or you may choose to buy nothing at all. Or, you may pay a few extra dollars for something that includes software that you do not intend on using. That does not mean you were "forced" to buy it.
Penny - plain text accounting
Let's hope that's the beginning of a trend rather than an isolated case. Not that $40 matter much to me on a $1000 machine, but I'd never ever want to give them to Microsoft. If I ever get a Windows discount, I will donate it to the FSF or some other free software project.
that's quite a lot like the road fund licence or television licence in the UK which are both considered to be taxes even though they are not compulsory
There is a huge difference. The TV license and road fund license are levied by the British government. A Microsoft license fee is not levied by the government. In the UK if you want a TV, you must pay the license fee. If you want a computer, you do not have to pay Microsoft. It has NEVER been compulsory to pay Microsoft in order to own a computer. For example, Macs were sold even when MS did "CPU licensing." Today, you may buy a Mac or a PC without Windows on it.
Likening a MS license fee to a "tax" is not accurate now and was never, ever accurate in any possible sense. Using the ridiculous "MS tax" phrase makes those who use it look childish.
Penny - plain text accounting
The real price of OS X is known - its about $130. You can walk into an Apple store and buy a copy off the shelf...
I think what would be more interesting is after he got his $40 back (sorry, dunno how to do euros or pounds on my keyboard - i'm american) is to go in the next day and try to buy a copy for that price.
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
So as you do not own your copy of windows what would happen at a later date if you decided to stop using it ? could you still request a refund
Amazon is not the company that bought that Windows licensed. That would be Asus. That implies that what really happened here is that Amazon decided to eat the cost to keep a customer happy.
My guess is that the customer (the company that actually bought the computer--not the guy they gave it to) does a lot of business with them, so they were willing to eat a little on one sale to keep the end user happy, to keep their customer happy.
I doubt Amazon is willing to in effect buy a Windows license for everyone who wants to buy a netbook from them and use Linux on it, so I don't expect this to go far.
You are making a couple of unsupported assumptions there.
It works that way with many products besides computers. I don't get to pick an arbitrary car stereo when I buy a car, for instance. If I want a Honda car, I have to pay for one of the two or three sound systems Honda offers, even if I'm going to toss that and put in one of my choosing.
Even sticking to computers, if you don't like the particular brand of hard disk that Dell uses, and plan to put in your own instead, will they sell you a Dell Mini without a hard drive (and lower the price accordingly)?
Why should it be any different for operating systems?
Why should it be any different for operating systems?
B...b...because it's MICROSOFT!
It's like trying to vote for an independent third party. You may be very smart and know what policies should be implemented, but other voters aren't as concerned as you are, and they outnumber you. Something like 90 to 8 to 1.
This is why you need to take them to court to get your refund. Talk to friends to get your refund. Support people who offer computers without Windows installed, and let OEMs know that's why your doing it.
Interesting.
Isn't this sort of like buying a car and demanding a refund on the crappy OEM stereo because you immediately replaced that crap stereo with some audiophile fanciness?
Since Apple is a single company you could maybe work this out from publicly available information, if they go into that level of detail in their prospectus or regulatory filings.
faqs.org claims that both GB and UK are valid TLDs, but the former gets much less use:
I don't know if Microsoft offers an official money back guarantee program in other continents, but they do offer one for North America. I used it recently myself because the copy of Windows XP that I purchased for a client would not install due to an odd raid controller. I had to return it and buy Vista instead. They took it back with zero hassle, and I had a check in the mail a couple weeks later that I think actually included the shipping charges from me shipping them the XP media kit. This program does not cover computers purchased with pre-installed software though (OEM). For that you have to go to the company you bought it from. I was pretty happy when I realized I could get my money back from Microsoft and not have to eat the extra cost of the software license. Anybody else in a similar situation, the website is:
Microsoft Product Refund
I'll corroborate your claim:
I was looking at HP laptops after I heard that they were offering Ubuntu and I saw one model that looked like a decent deal. So I selected it and started to look for the Ubuntu option:
1. I first had to select "Customize" (there was no way around this, Ubuntu was only available through selecting "Customize" first) - This immediately added $300 to the price of the laptop.
2. Then I selected Ubuntu - This reduced the price by $100
End result? I had to pay $200 to get Ubuntu (or FreeDos) on the laptop. How is this considered a choice?
Like someone else mentioned, this would be akin to Ford selling all their cars with a Garmin(TM) GPS system. But going a bit further, they charge you *extra* to have no GPS!
Or my analogy, if 95% of the car manufacturers included Bose stereos and wouldn't give you an (easy) way to get the car w/o the stereo.
Georgia Tech, the leader in Chia(tm) technology.
Sounds stupid right?
I used too build every PC from components for my clients, but these day's it is just not needed. Apart from one of cases like Raid,Server,Render Box,etc.
Desktop's are generic and it's cheaper and faster just to order a pre-built one form eBay and most of the time there is no OS installed or Windows is an option.
ï People just put pirate copy's of windows on them.
It's a cut throat race to the cheapest possible price on eBay and Microsoft can not strong arm them like say Dell, because it does not hurt them to sell PC's without Windows it helps them.
I know Joe Six-Pack, is not going to be installing his own OS any time soon.
But a geeky friend says I get you a new PC, by the way it's running a pirate copy of Windows.
Joe will say It works and I save money, I don't give a s**t.
Microsoft protection racket is broken, the only thing they gain is market share and that don't pay the bills.
Now wait a minute. Aren't I included in that 98%? Even though I didn't want the GPS at all, I was forced to buy it against my will if I wanted to get the car. So now is it right to assume that because I bought it with that option, I must have wanted it?
Funny may not give karma, but +5 Informative never made anyone snort coffee out their nose.
Why wouldn't they test using a LiveCD or LiveUSB of some sort, that has nothing to do with the installed OS and can run a series of pre-defined tests?
Because the free drivers on the Ubuntu-based test CD aren't necessarily a good indicator of how well the non-free Windows drivers will work, even on the same hardware.
No remedy is required because the market has spoken: most people want to buy OS and PC together.
I want to buy OS and PC together. But I want Ubuntu Jaunty, not Windows Vista, and I want to test the screen and keyboard in the store before I buy it so that I don't have to end up having to pay for return shipping and restocking on a computer whose screen and keyboard disagree with my eyes and hands. Why is this not possible?
You mentioned the Dell N-series, but that series still forces you to pay for a Windows license fee, even though there's no Windows on the machine (i.e. an N-series PC is the same price as a Vista machine).
Commissions for installing unregistered shareware are thought to subsidize the copy of Windows. Evidence: At one time, Sony experimented with charging customers extra for a "fresh start" install with no unregistered shareware. (Later, "fresh start" was offered at no charge.)
You may buy parts and build your own PC.
Can you recommend any web pages that describe in detail how to build a laptop computer to run Ubuntu or Mandriva?
But the point is that we shouldn't be forced to choose hardware based on what OS we want, or pay $40 more than we needed to.
WalMart with its enormous - unprecedented - purchasing power has never been able to significantly undercut OEM Windows on price.
No deep discount retailer in the states has worked harder to make a go of OEM Linux - but nothing ever comes of it.
You deliver the Windows product or your sales go in the tank.
"Bare Bones" is the boutique product. Linux is the boutique product.
That is why you pay a premium - and - ultimately - it is the only reason why you pay a premium.
So you might as well buy from someone who understands the product - knows how to support it - and still make a decent living.
Can I get a refund on my MacBook purchase?? It can run windows instead of osx, but it's bundled with it. Is it free? Why doesn't anyone care ? I guess that's one method of winning- stay under the radar instead of being public enemy number 1.
Why is this not possible?
Come on, I know you want to be modded up, but asking obvious questions is not a way to go about that. This is not possible because there are not enough people like you to justify opening retail outlets to serve you, nor even in devoting the [substantial] shelf space it would require at a big box store. There are some small computer stores who will try to sell you Linux, but not many, for the same reason the big three automakers have been selling us shitboxes for years: because service is where you make your money. The smaller you are, the smaller your stock.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Theres a monoply on PCs? WTF planet do you live on? I can buy the parts to build a PC from bestbuy, hundreds of websites and at least 10 different local companies (who also sell built to spec PCs, sans OS if I want). Plenty of local shops will sell netbooks too.
Netbooks and laptops are a major problem, you can't build them and only a handful are available without Windows. Later this year I need to find a netbook or small laptop for my sister (probably in a brick-and-mortar store, to complicate matters), she's on a tight budget and no Windows install will stand up to her reckless neglect.
"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
The large PC makers (the ones that most people buy from) were coerced into these agreements by Microsoft. So unless you knew how to build one yourself (unlikely), or trusted someone else to do it for you (no 3 year RTB warranty or big trusted name) or you had the money for a Mac you did have to pay Microsoft. You don't have to pay road fund licence on cars of a certain vintage either but you then have to put up with all the disadvantages of having such an old car. Not that different really.