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New Computer Help

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jtpenrod:
A couple of days ago, I was at Circuit City and found a new system they had on sale. It looked pretty good, so I did some checking and it got excellent reviews (Consumer Reports) and the price is rather good. The problem is that it comes with Win XP, Home Edition. I don't want Win XP, I never intend to use it, and, should I buy this system, the first thing I will do is get rid of XP and replace it with the OS of my choice. Here's the problem. Do I still have to pay for the pre-installed Win XP? Circuit City was no help here as they tell me that they get the computers with XP already on them. Since this is basically a discount store, the sales people aren't particularly tech savvy. They seem to think that Linux was a character in the "Peanuts" comic strip, and UNIX are men who've had their balls cut off. How do I avoid having to pay for something I don't want, will never use, and which I intend to discard as soon as the new system is free of the cardboard and styrofoam? Any ideas?

[ December 06, 2001: Message edited by: jtpenrod ]

voidmain:

quote:Originally posted by jtpenrod:
Do I still have to pay for the pre-installed Win XP? Circuit City was no help here as they tell me that they get the computers with XP already on them.
[ December 06, 2001: Message edited by: jtpenrod ]
--- End quote ---


Doesn't this suck?!?  I "assume" that Microsoft has deals with the major hardware vendors where if they sell their hardware with MS software on it they get the software for very little cost, and I also assume that they get the best prices on MS software by not selling machines without an OS installed or with an alternative OS. I'm not sure but I believe this was the case in the past and apparently wasn't rectified in the latest Microsoft law suit. This is one of the mojor reasons Microsoft has a monopoly.  You can't even get a desktop machine from the top PC vendors without MS software on it. I remember hearing an arrogant reason for this going something like: A computer needs to have an OS in order to be used and if computers are sold without an OS, people will pirate Windows and Microsoft will not be paid their due (not taking into consideration that there are many alternative OSs).  Microsoft believes they deserve a piece of every PC sold.

Hopefully someone can comment more factually about the reasons for this but what can we do?  How can we change this? I don't have a good answer other than I am willing to spend a few extra bucks and build my own machines with the hardware I want and put a real operating system on it and make sure Microsoft doesn't get any of my money (although it wouldn't shock me if they don't get some sort of royalties from hard drive and other component manufacturers).

One would think that a PC manufacture could sell the same PC in Circuit City, minus MS, minus the cost of the OS as an option and make the same amount of profit and make everyone happy (except Microsoft).  So they must have reasons, good or bad.

We probably wont put a big dent in computer sales initially from these vendors and outlets but I for one stand on my principles and do not pay the piper, I encourage others to do the same.  If we don't stand by our principles we are just brainless robots.  If enough people do this, things could change.  The government certainly can't seem to do anything to change it.

---
MAKEUSEFUL="swapon"
for USELESSOS in `grep fat /etc/fstab | cut -c1-10`
do
  umount $USELESSOS
  mkswap -c $USELESSOS
  $MAKEUSEFUL $USELESSOS
done

[ December 06, 2001: Message edited by: VoidMain ]

Martin:
Hi jtpendrod,

I am essentially in the same boat as you are.  I am in the market for a new computer and I am trying like hell to avoid Microcraps new XP and I'm finding it difficult as hell.  Other than buying a Mac, the only route that I can see myself going is piecing together a computer, but I really don't want to do that.  The next option I've found is that I can buy from a vendor that offers systems without XP installed.  Its hard to find, but a few like iBUYPOWER.com and some others do offer the option of not loading an OS when they send it.  Of course, then we have to worry about the reliability of the vendor that we are buying from.  One thing i do is go to the Better Business Bureau's website to check if the company that I might buy a computer from seems reputable.  Finally, you could always just buy the compter and then let the OS software you buy get rid of the XP and then install itself, but that's selling out for the most part i think.  As far as the whole issue of having to buy a computer with XP, that really sucks.  For more info on M$ anti-trust issues go to cptech.org, a great Ralph Nader started organization that has lots of info on all electronic/tech anti-trust issues.  The site is no-frills, but its got lots of info....Good luck.

[ December 06, 2001: Message edited by: Martin ]

saquarrier:
Just build the system or get a freind to help you with it.  It is just a hour or two, and you save over a hunderd bucks, and get a system that you intemenly know the insides of, and in my expiriance will be more stable.

Centurian:
Hey jtpenrod,

Here is a place where you can get a 100% linux compatible computer with the OS of your choice installed on it. (Even MS)
http://www.linuxcomputersystems.com/
 
Right now they have athlon 800 w/128m ram for 525 USD. We don't have a Circuit City near me so tell me is that better that than Circuit City is offering?

Later
Centurian

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