Buying a netbook in NZ with no OS or linux installed

Forums › Linux › Buying a netbook in NZ with no OS or linux installed

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#72546 28-Nov-2010 20:40

Looking to save myself a bit of money as i don't won't windows on my netbook.
I tried the dell website as you can usually customize your purchase but it wouldn't let me deselect an OS.

Also heard that if you refuse the license agreement with windows OEM preinstalled you can get this refunded, is this true?

So does anyone know of shops that sell netbooks with no OS or Linux preinstalled in NZ?

Thanks

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#411242 30-Nov-2010 15:28

Also looked at the HP site as i heard off a friend they sold no OS laptops but no luck their either.

ScottStevensNZ

245 posts

Master Geek

#411260 30-Nov-2010 16:11

+1 on this, I'd like to get a net-top to use as a second htpc/media streamer and would rather not pay for the OS license considering i'm going to be putting ubuntu and xbmc on it

Load & Performance Tester/PHP/JSP/C/PERL/MYSQL/LoadRunner8->11/HTML/CSS/XML/XSLT/2B|!2B/Cervelo Soloist/EMC Equip4/ Samsung Galaxy S /Darkys 10.2 Extreme

Do androids dream of electric sheep?
use strict;
my $sheepCount;

Yes, they can.

pdc

22 posts

Geek

#412821 4-Dec-2010 15:52

another option is trademe; many of the smaller netbooks have XP installed; and I have just overwritten that with a linux distro

eg

http://www.trademe.co.nz/browse/categorylistings.aspx?sort_order=title_asc&mcat=0002-0356-0032-2282-&rewritten=true

jbard

1377 posts

Uber Geek

#412824 4-Dec-2010 16:03

That is an option but one of the advantages of using linux is not having to pay for a windows license. I gave dell a call and they do sell laptops with linux installed but you only save about $50 on the windows version which doesn't seem right?

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#412831 4-Dec-2010 17:03

jbard: That is an option but one of the advantages of using linux is not having to pay for a windows license. I gave dell a call and they do sell laptops with linux installed but you only save about $50 on the windows version which doesn't seem right?

Because dell probably only pays ~$50 for that license.

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#412836 4-Dec-2010 17:37

jbard: That is an option but one of the advantages of using linux is not having to pay for a windows license. I gave dell a call and they do sell laptops with linux installed but you only save about $50 on the windows version which doesn't seem right?

Actually you'll find that a lot of the netbook companies especially Acer and Asus charge more for the Linux Distro ones...not sure why, maybe the extra time taken. Easy to get one fo the clearance XP ones, try the eMachines E350 at Bond and Bond or Noels...$398 + $39 cash back and it is just an Acer Aspire One with a matt black body shell, it's exactly the same inside as the AAO...I know because I made my mum buy one and I've taken the AAO apart :)...the only different is the power adapter, the eMachines adapter is actually smaller and nicer than the AAO but with a larger tip. Apart from that, the D250 battery will work in the EM350 and a few other peripherals will work too!!

http://www.noelleeming.co.nz/computers/notebook-computers/netbook-computers/emachine-lu-nah0b-050-emachine-em350-10-1-netbook/prod103675.html?ref=pricespy

$360 = strip windows and put on Linux = WIIINNN

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

vinnieg

2260 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#412837 4-Dec-2010 17:40

Oh yeah and for those wondering, last year companise were paying Microsoft $15USD for each copy of Windows XP....this year even less, but they are being forced into using Windows 7 Starter edition now...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124018108488732939.html

I have moved across the ditch. Now residing in Melbourne as a VOIP/Video Technical Trainer/Engineer.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

littleninjaman

104 posts

Master Geek

#423802 3-Jan-2011 20:43

ScottStevensNZ: +1 on this, I'd like to get a net-top to use as a second htpc/media streamer and would rather not pay for the OS license considering i'm going to be putting ubuntu and xbmc on it

You can get Net-top pc without an os on it http://www.computerstore.co.nz/VOT132_WVDB00.aspx its a Atom Nvidia ion gpu for $604 proberly can get a cheaper one without Nvidia Ion but then hd goes out the window.

Also about the netbook issue dell sell a netbook with Ubuntu on it http://www1.ap.dell.com/nz/en/business/notebooks/latitude-2110/pd.aspx?refid=latitude-2110&s=bsd&cs=nzbsd1 its a bit more costly than the Dell Mini 10 but its made to with stand 7 year old kids taking it to school so it is thicker and heavier but strong and has lots of options. But still costs more than the Dell Mini 10

VinLew

210 posts

Master Geek

#426948 13-Jan-2011 21:07

vinnieg: ... it is just an Acer Aspire One with a matt black body shell, it's exactly the same inside as the AAO...I know because I made my mum buy one and I've taken the AAO apart :)...the only different is the power adapter, the eMachines adapter is actually smaller and nicer than the AAO but with a larger tip. Apart from that, the D250 battery will work in the EM350 and a few other peripherals will work too!!

*Googles*....Hey, your right! Now I know how to source a better battery for my M350 - and I'm typing this on my M350 with Ubuntu Netbook Remix, which is far more snappy than XP imo. Battery lasts about 3.3 hours though,