No OS as a right--Lennart Sorenson's comment

[I. Khider]

Hello Lennart and thank you for your response. 

May I point out that instead of asking HP to ship no O/S machines, that
a rebate could also be implemented after the fact. I want to make this
proccess as easy on the manufacturer as possible. Microsoft offered this
as a solution. That way we don't need to 'stop the presses', just have
pesky Linux users like me get a rebate for the Windows O/S when I send
back the installation disc. 

: - )

-I-



On Mon, 2009-04-20 at 16:58 -0400, Lennart Sorensen wrote:

> On Mon, Apr 20, 2009 at 08:05:49PM -0400, I. Khider wrote:
> > As some of you may know, I am in an ongoing battle with HP (because I
> > like their product) to have no O/S on my laptop as an option like they
> > do in Europe, US, Australia, etc.. HP thinks it is fine to make a
> > consumer pay for the Windows O/S when s/he does not need it. Microsoft
> > stated a rebate for the O/S is availble for those who do not agree to
> > the Microsoft End User Licence Agreement. However, only the manufacturer
> > can apply for the rebate, not the consumer. 
> 
> Well no accounting for taste in products.  I expect my computers to last
> a very long time.
> 
> > I spoke with the Better Business Bureau and they stated the complaint
> > was out of their jurisdiction. 
> > I also spoke with the competition Bureau who stated that no competition
> > rules are being violated by forcing the consumer to pay for Windows. The
> > consumer can always install Linux after paying for Windows, so what's
> > the problem?
> 
> Certainly true, and it would probably cost more to run seperate
> manufacturing steps for systems with and without windows than the cost
> of windows.
> 
> > HP said they will only change their policy if it will impact their
> > sales. As it stands, Linux users are too shy to ask for the Windows OS
> > be removed. Linux users (it seems) in fact like to pay for Windows. 
> 
> Some linux users build their own machines, and hence don't pay any
> windows tax.  A problem for laptops perhaps, but simple for desktops.
> 
> > Perhaps I am on naiive for thinking this, but I do not want to pay for
> > something I do not need. In this case the Windows O/S. It has been
> > suggested I buy the laptop and take HP to Small Claims Court and get the
> > OS cost back that way. Two people from TLUG advocate this course of
> > action--can anyone else give feedback on this?
> 
> And if HP decided that they would sell you a system without windows but
> charge the difference for the higher cost of building a custom system
> that most people wouldn't buy?  How about the extra cost of stocking an
> unusual configuration?  After all the BIOS on that system has a code in
> it permitting it to run the HP OEM copy of windows without an activation
> key being entered seperately.  So even if they deleted windows, you
> could easily load it again from any HP OEM windows disk.  So they would
> have to give you a custom designed board/BIOS that didn't have the OEM
> activation feature in it.
> 
> So if you want to buy mass produced machines at a low cost, you have to
> put up with everything that involves.  Currently that includes getting
> a copy of windows that will only run on that type of machine.
> 
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