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No Pre-Installed Windows/Linux Machines on CRN

Posted by Hemos on from the getting-good-coverage dept.

Rene Pawlitzek writes " This is great news for all Linux and OS/2 lovers. Finally, after many years of pre-installed (and useless) Windows we will be able to buy laptops without any Microsoft operating system. Did the Windows refund day pay off? "

6 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Now if we could just get ARM CPUs by bluGill · · Score: 3

    With linux who needs x86? Unless you plan on using Wine (which is nice, but not useful for more people) x86 with all the power comsumption doesn't make sense. Lets see a laptop with an ARM (strong Arm?) processor.

    Oh, how much you want to bet that someone will release a no-OS system with hardware that linux does not support? (Either a winmodem or a display without xfree86 suppot)

  2. But - do you still pay for windows? by ragnar · · Score: 2

    This is still very good news, but the vendor is probably still paying Microsoft for an OEM copy of windows, which in turn is paid by the consumer. This is a good step in the battle, but the real win comes when Microsoft doesn't earn money from every computer sold, regardless of the operating system installed.

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    -- Solaris Central - http://w
  3. Yes. by Signal+11 · · Score: 2

    I was rather curious as to how they would skirt the issue of how you can have someone agree to a license without reading it at purchase time. Think about it. "By opening this package, you agree to the license terms /inside/ this package". That's essentially what some stickers said! What if it said "I agree to transfer all my worldly posessions to microsoft"?

    I think they just gave in because it's a) difficult to obtain compliance b) legal semantics, and c) let's not forget we had people "rioting" in the street over this issue around the world.

    The people who turned out for refund day deserve a pat on the back. Congratulations people, it's one more step to world domination. ;)



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  4. But how will this affect the cost? by mopsuestia · · Score: 2

    I didn't see anything in the article saying what kind of price difference there would be between a machine with Windows pre-installed and one with no OS. My guess is that it would be difficult to give too much of a price break considering it would be somewhat of a "specialty item," and we all know that if something is a specialty item it is more expensive than the generic version. Plus you have the cost involved in roducing two versions of a single product rather than just one.

    Personally, if it came down to buying a $1800 laptop with no OS or an $1805 laptop with Windows pre-installed, I would by the Windows one. Granted, I would probably wipe the drive and Linux and maybe other OS's, but I would have a Windows CD as well. At the very least, they make good coasters, and at most, the OS does have some advantages (even if they aren't technical advantages)!

  5. Driver support by skip277 · · Score: 3
    I think the best thing that will come of this is that vendors will start thinking about what hardware they put in their machines. The article said:

    "But one stumbling block for VARs working with Linux on notebooks is that driver support is hard to come by, he said.

    "We end up having to go back and create drivers that are backwards compatible with the hardware," said Augustin."

    Maybe they'll think about this in the future and go with vendors for whose hardware there is already support or nudge them into creating drivers.

    Dreaming of a world where all my hardware works. :-)

    Skippy
    --
    "False modesty is the refuge of the incompetent." - The Stainless Steel Rat
  6. Things I have noticed by flesh99 · · Score: 2

    The main question this article does not give a solid answer on is how much are we going to save by purchasing a "blank" laptop. The bigger problems start with:
    1. This idea sucks for Liunux newbies as they (the companies) would give no OS support.

    2. These companies are simply taking the easy way out

    3. You can get laptops with Linux installed from small VAR's that offer support

    4. With the current level of driver development for Linux newer machines will still be out of reach for Linux users

    Some other things I have noticed

    1. Some Linux users would like "world domination"
    (Wouldn't this put Linux in the same place M$
    Windows is now ?)
    2. Other Linux users don't want to spread Linux
    to "newbies"
    (Yes I rant a lot on the divided camps of
    Linux)
    3. No one around here can seem to admit that for
    new computer users, Mac OS and M$ Windows are
    easier to learn, easier to set up and have
    support that is more accessible
    (I use Linux at home and at the office so put
    away your tar and feathers, at least I can
    admit the truth

    ________________________________________________ ________
    Can We trust the future - Flesh99

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