What's the goss on laptops for linux?

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zANavAShi

119 posts

Master Geek

#114912 6-Mar-2013 22:39

Well, it's been a few years since I got my tired lazy butt off to a local LUG meeting, but I finally found my way back to the geek nest last night and feeling pretty dismayed to see how little has changed regarding laptop support for linux in my absence...

What's particularly annoying me right now, as I am soon to be in the market for a new laptop, is the unavailability of laptops with either "no windoze preinstalled", or at least an option of a "linux distro pre-installed" (which to be honest I would just clone and reformat and reinstall with my own preferred distro anyway).

However it is served, the bottom line for me is that I am hopping mad about the idea that a portion of my purchase price will consist of $$$ towards an OS that I do not wish to financially contribute to in any way. I guess this is not a new rant for those of us who have decided to go down the non-propietary path, but now that I've had my wee hissy...

How do my fellow nix-users deal with this in the real world?

I hear a bit of buzz every now and then on the nix news blogs that some company is about to release it's new nix-pre-installed PC/lappie but I've not really seen anything spill over to the local NZ market and even if it did come to our fair shores I doubt the pricing would be very competitive anyway.

A PC I can build from the ground up to my own desired specs and install my own OS of choice, but I don't really see that as an option with laptops, and I'm wondering if there might at least be an option of not having pre-installed windoze?

The local LUG peeps tell me there is no current option... I'm hoping one of our community members can prove them wrong...

Comments anyone? Feel free to rant at will

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26 posts

Geek

#775962 6-Mar-2013 22:41

ZaReason would definitely be worth a look http://zareason.co.nz/home.php.

Good luck!

boby55

1539 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#775969 6-Mar-2013 22:51

There are VERY few manufactures that make laptops that come without pre installed on them due to having agreements with Microsoft in order to receive discounted licenses.

I know Dell have a "Developer" version of their XPS sold in the states which comes with Ubuntu but I don't believe they are sold here.

zANavAShi

119 posts

Master Geek

#775984 6-Mar-2013 23:47

ewen: ZaReason would definitely be worth a look http://zareason.co.nz/home.php.

Good luck!

OMG!!! They have these in NZ now? Definitely worth a look, I agree

zANavAShi

119 posts

Master Geek

#775993 7-Mar-2013 01:48

Eureka! Was looking for this link to share with y'all earlier.

Been keeping an eye on the development of this line for a wee while, not yet sighted on these shores however...

https://www.system76.com/laptops

valtam

384 posts

Ultimate Geek

#782928 17-Mar-2013 14:36

You're not limited to choice when it comes to selecting a laptop to run linux on. What I always do is get the spec sheet and or manual for the laptop, and check and re-check that all the hardware is compatible, once that is done and the purchase is made, you can get a refund for windoze 8 if you don't intend to use it (via the EULA).

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valtam

384 posts

Ultimate Geek

#782929 17-Mar-2013 14:38

P.S. as far as compatability goes, Lenovo and Dell in my experience provide the best all around compatability.

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gzt

11542 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#782955 17-Mar-2013 15:18

How much are you getting back from Lenovo and Dell at the moment?

tmadden

97 posts

Master Geek

#783042 17-Mar-2013 17:41

You can get a refund on an unused pre installed windoze? The only reason I've avoided buying a laptop for so long is because I don't want to be forced to pay for some second rate software.

valtam

384 posts

Ultimate Geek

#783072 17-Mar-2013 19:16

tmadden: You can get a refund on an unused pre installed windoze? The only reason I've avoided buying a laptop for so long is because I don't want to be forced to pay for some second rate software.

Second paragraph:

http://www.eightforums.com/general-support/10837-windows-8-eula.html

Not saying it will be easy, but if you're determined you are covered by the EULA. Actually, I can't believe they still have that in there since the Windows refund day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojhy6XwVi2k

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tmadden

97 posts

Master Geek

#783078 17-Mar-2013 19:38

That's very interesting, thanks.

zANavAShi

119 posts

Master Geek

#783086 17-Mar-2013 20:14

valtam: You're not limited to choice when it comes to selecting a laptop to run linux on. What I always do is get the spec sheet and or manual for the laptop, and check and re-check that all the hardware is compatible, once that is done and the purchase is made, you can get a refund for windoze 8 if you don't intend to use it (via the EULA).

Wow thanks for the info! I pulled this out of the windoze 8 OEM EULA so we can examine and discuss it together. I'm not good at interpreting the legalese, but at first glance it looks like a lot of hoops to jump through...

15. SUPPORT AND REFUND PROCEDURES
For the software generally, contact the manufacturer or installer for support options. Refer to the support number provided with the software. For updates and supplements obtained directly from Microsoft, Microsoft may provide limited support services as described at support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx. If you are using software that is not properly licensed, you will not be entitled to receive support services.
If you are seeking a refund, contact the manufacturer or installer to determine its return policy for a refund or credit. You must comply with that policy, which might require you to return the software with the entire computer on which the software is installed for a refund.

tmadden

97 posts

Master Geek

#783102 17-Mar-2013 20:55

zANavAShi:If you are seeking a refund, contact the manufacturer or installer to determine its return policy for a refund or credit. You must comply with that policy, which might require you to return the software with the entire computer on which the software is installed for a refund.

That's interesting, it would seem the refund is dealt with by the outfit you've purchased the product from, but they can demand that you return the hardware with it for the refund. I guess it takes the hassle out of transferring a licence from a laptop with a sticker on the bottom of it. This gives me the impression that licences are actually purchased by the third party vendor and just attached to PCs and laptops. I wonder how hard it would be to get someone like Mighty Ape to deliver you one of their laptops without a Windows licence attached to it.

valtam

384 posts

Ultimate Geek

#783107 17-Mar-2013 21:10

Keep in mind that this is not your normal, everyday request to a pc vendor. Ring the vendor first, tell them exactly what you want and go from there.

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Linuxluver

5609 posts

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#783111 17-Mar-2013 21:14

Get an ASUS (or other) tablet that allows an external keyboard and external USB storage to be connected to it. That way you can have terrabytes of storage and what is effectively a laptop / netbook...and it's 100% linux (android flavour).

If you buy a popular one there will probably be custom firmware available for it, too.

They cost about the same as a laptop. They do far more.

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Linuxluver

5609 posts

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#783112 17-Mar-2013 21:19

zANavAShi:
valtam: You're not limited to choice when it comes to selecting a laptop to run linux on. What I always do is get the spec sheet and or manual for the laptop, and check and re-check that all the hardware is compatible, once that is done and the purchase is made, you can get a refund for windoze 8 if you don't intend to use it (via the EULA).

Wow thanks for the info! I pulled this out of the windoze 8 OEM EULA so we can examine and discuss it together. I'm not good at interpreting the legalese, but at first glance it looks like a lot of hoops to jump through...

15. SUPPORT AND REFUND PROCEDURES
For the software generally, contact the manufacturer or installer for support options. Refer to the support number provided with the software. For updates and supplements obtained directly from Microsoft, Microsoft may provide limited support services as described at support.microsoft.com/common/international.aspx. If you are using software that is not properly licensed, you will not be entitled to receive support services.
If you are seeking a refund, contact the manufacturer or installer to determine its return policy for a refund or credit. You must comply with that policy, which might require you to return the software with the entire computer on which the software is installed for a refund.

The way I read this last sentence, you run a good chance of having the entire pruchase refunded....not just the Windows portion. Also interesting is the part where you must comply with their policy. If their policy is all or nothing (you take Windows or you don't get a latop at all), then best find that out BEFORE you give them any money.

It would seem to me this is illegal....but they have given you two parties to sue for your $50. A lawyer won't let you buy him/her coffee for $50.

Justice for the rich...again.

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