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Ask Slashdot: Buying a Laptop That Doesn't Have Windows 8

Posted by timothy on from the craigslist-if-available dept.

First time accepted submitter Sagan's Pie writes "I'm starting to look for a laptop for college, and the only thing I seem to find are laptops or tablets that have Windows 8. I have used Windows 7 for a long time now, and would not have a problem giving it up, but not for Windows 8. After visiting many major online retail sites, I've found that finding either a Windows 7 laptop, or even a laptop without an operating system is nearly impossible. So where should I go if looking for laptops sans os, or at the very least sans Windows 8?"

17 of 570 comments (clear)

  1. Try NewEgg by GeckoFood · · Score: 5, Informative

    NewEgg still sells Windows 7 laptops. Go into the laptops/notebooks section and enter Windows 7 as a keyword. Some of the units that come back are refurbs, but some are brand new.

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    1. Re:Try NewEgg by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Informative
      Have you tried the Apple store?

      No windows 8 there.

      :)

      However, on a more serious note...you could get a nice macbook pro....and install VMWare on it...and get a OEM copy of Win 7 (I still seem them on newegg for a decent price)...and run it in a VM.

      This combo allows you to have the best of all worlds on one computer...OSX, Windows (your fav. flavor) and Linux...etc.

      That's actually the route I went.

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    2. Re:Try NewEgg by gQuigs · · Score: 4, Informative

      From what I understand that will depend on the UEFI implentation of the Windows 8 machine. That may no longer work depending on the manufacturer.

      If you can't disable secure boot you won't be able to even install Windows 7, much less my preferred Ubuntu.

    3. Re:Try NewEgg by Hatta · · Score: 5, Informative

      Buy a computer that has the specs you want. Then wipe the hard drive and install Debian. Return the Windows 8 license for a refund. Problem solved.

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    4. Re:Try NewEgg by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 4, Informative

      All Win8 machines that have the "designed for Win8" sticker are required to have the ability to disable UEFI Secure Boot.

  2. system76 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    https://www.system76.com/

    1. Re:system76 by cab15625 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Just to clarify for the AC, system 76 sells/ships laptops, desktops, and servers with Ubuntu. If you are a linux user or feel like you might be ready to take the plunge, this is a good place to start. At least their systems are fully linux compatible. Even if you don't like ubuntu and have some other pet distribution, it has a better chance of working on one of these than if you get a windows laptop and flush the hard drive to install linux. Bonus: no windows tax, and no money to MS (except for possible hidden patent trolling on hardware or firmware).

  3. MacBook or Dell by MightyYar · · Score: 4, Informative

    Get a Macbook and then put Windows 7 on it.

    Dell also has a Windows 7 page.

    I'm sure any business-friendly vendor will have the same if you poke around.

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  4. Another alternative. by murph · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://zareason.com/

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  5. Buy in the small business section by metrometro · · Score: 5, Informative

    The big PC maker's online storefronts have a consumer and business section. Your milage may vary but the business section of say, Dell or Lenovo, tilts towards good build quality, OS flexibility, and less crapware. Finding a Win7 machine is no problem at all.

    http://shop.lenovo.com/us/laptops/thinkpad/x-series/x230

  6. Clevo / Sager by oic0 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Clevo based laptops typically come configured however you want and lacking whatever you don't want. No OS? no problem. You can also get em without hard drive, memory, chip, video card, whatever. They can be bought bare bones or with as much as you want in em. Also, the screen selection on them is usually much better. You can opt for much higher resolution than youll get in a dell etc...

  7. System76 by Kryai · · Score: 4, Informative

    I just purchased a laptop from https://www.system76.com/ their laptops come only with Ubuntu, had excellent customization options, and reasonable pricing (why is it so hard to customize laptops nowadays, when did this happen =\ ) My colleague recommended them and I get my laptop Monday so I don't have first hand experience yet, but I just had to make this decision and that's what I ended with selecting.

  8. Re:Downgrade Rights by omnichad · · Score: 4, Informative

    That has nothing to do with using downgrade rights. You have to get downgrade media from the OEM, however.

    http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/pages/downgrade_rights.aspx

  9. did i end up on Ehow.com ?!? by hurfy · · Score: 5, Informative

    Get out of the stores with 3 choices, perhaps?

    here
    http://www.walmart.com/ip/HP-14-G4-2149se-Butterfly-Blossom-Design-Laptop-PC-with-AMD-A6-4400M-Processor-and-Windows-7-Home-Premium-with-Windows-8-Upgrade-Option-bundled-with/21191020

    Newegg had 144 hits (lots of refurb, but better than craigslist suggested below!) on win 7 home premium alone.
    Dell, Tigerdirect, even Walmart all had them.

    I think this was meant to be posted next year...... ...and all those refurbs will still be there, even if new isn't....

  10. Re:Just use windows 8... by AlphaWolf_HK · · Score: 5, Informative

    I've been using windows 8 for a while (got it for free) and I'd have to say it is far from a "hunk of crap". Yes, metro sucks, but you don't have to use it, which is what GP suggests.

    Some things I like about 8 are this: reduced memory/disk footprint, easier access to commonly used functions (mouse to the far bottom left, right click; works with start8 too, though some start menu replacements disable this useful feature) more efficient copy dialog that even shows instantaneous rather than average transfer rates (pretty nice feature to have, yet shockingly windows 8 is the only OS that does it) better explorer functions like e.g. "admin console here", and built in support for mounting iso's. With windows 7 you have to add these in on your own, with windows 8 they are already there.

    If you want to show your distaste with metro, enable the customer experience reporting setting and just don't use it. They actually do make design decisions based on that.

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  11. Re:Is it normal ? by myowntrueself · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://www.classicshell.net/

    Windows 8 is fine, its pretty fast, and with one simple third party UI extension is actually usable.

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  12. Re:Is it normal ? by Darinbob · · Score: 4, Informative

    Well, wipe and reinstall win7 is not cheap. Windows 7 is not given away, and if you don't have an old non-OEM version hanging around it will cost you.

    Really the reason so many people have Windows is because it comes free or close to free with computers. If people ever had to pay full non-OEM prices then it would die quickly.