One reminder please, personal attacks and bad language was unprofessional and certainly not appropriate in a public environment.

“What Products Are Not Eligible for a Refund?

* Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) software preloaded on a PC (contact the PC manufacturer)”.
I would imagine that a refund directly from Microsoft would only ever happen if someone decided AFTER 14/30 days (most retailers’ return policies) but BEFORE 45 days (which the EULA expressly allows as an evaluation period), and then only if the O/S was purchased standalone (as in a retail version of windows).

So unfortunately it seems that manufacturers are somewhat correct in their impression that “the buyer is committed once the “bundled” software is in their possession, simply because they said so”, or rather that if the manufacturer decides to bundle the software with the hardware, that a return and/or refund would only apply to the package as a whole. I mean, you can’t go to a fast food restaurant, order combo #5, but ask them to leave out the bun because you prefer the pita you obtained on your own and expect them to refund the cost of the bun.

When I go out to buy a computer quite frankly the OS is not part of the decision. I don’t care what kickbacks Microsoft gave the OEM, the retailer, the manufacturer, the shipper, the media, to get their OS on the computers. I just want the best hardware at the best price.

WITHOUT MICROSOFT AND NOT INFLATED BY THE PRICE OF MICROSOFT.

It is a consumer rights issue duh! Microsoft basic protections, patents etc., run out over time and in a non monopolistic settings their prices should falls, probably to match the normal decreases in Hardware prices.

I’m even willing to pay more for a computer without Microsoft if all consumers are properly informed that Microsoft sells the normally sells the OS for $99 but the OEM gets it for $10 or -$10 if they recommend Microsoft and sell 10,000 machines. Or how about that $1,000,000 advertising bribe that the retailer gets if they put up Microsoft flyers and never allow Linux in.

Not quite so simple. Huh!

Having “converted” at least one computer / user per week since 1997, to GNU/Linux, BSD, or one of the 7,475 OSes that ARE NOT M$ I noted that many folks abhor change and want to avoid re-inventing the wheel.

Most had never installed any OS, and dread the effort.

Microsoft relies upon the lazy streak combined with bully tactics, to force the lazy to pay the M$ Tax!

Yes, kickbacks from trialware that plagues users, though purchased by the ignorant majority as a dreaded addendum to the hyper marketing, hike the profit margins.

Plus, the “Trusted Partners” form a protectionist cartel, and pay a huge price in integrity, for the ‘pleasure’! M$ users pay for the investment. with the Microsoft Tax!

The M$ Tax includes your wasted time trying to ‘fix’ WGA, missing DLLs, the million “Microsoft Virus/malware/adware/Trojans and ‘exploits.

Bottom line is that I purchase bare bones systems, (yesterday, from Ascendtech, an AMD Core2 5600+, 1GB DDR, 40Gb SATA drive, Case, 430watt PSU, RTR), for $343, delivered in three days.

The included nVidiaGForce6100 Elite board and CDrom includes Linux and BSD drivers!

Microsoft executive testimony and SEC Quarterly Reports all state that Linux is their major competitive threat, on a basis of quality software used by more than 17% of all Internet users (2005 court testimony), with a growth rate of >3%! The 2008 figures of Linux users top 25% of all internet users.

Ignoring the threat of BSD and other quality OSes will also blindside M$!

In thousands of full and dual boot OSes installs I have assisted in since 1998, I have not had to use the “command line”, and can’t comprehend why the M$ FUD is still out there!

Everyone knows the FUD from the M$ promotions department, is something M$ would like to deny they ever fostered.

Talk about Karma! Anti-FOSS FUD has turned around and bitten Vista!
Bloated, slow, and needs the command line to really make it to almost function, in a creepy, non-functional way!

Thanks for helping with the Linux and BSD migration, M$!

But really, you have a contract with the EULA, the contract is pretty clear that you are entitled to a refund, and the amount is under $5k so just take them to small claims court, what’re they going to do?

I think Dell is doing a great thing, but I have seen an article hit the front page of Digg where it was suggested that Dell is charging more for the same unit if Ubuntu Linux was installed on it.
The Digg post, “Dell open source computer costs $53 more than identical Vista machine”, is here: http://digg.com/linux_unix/Dell_open_source_computer_costs_53_more_than_identical_Vista_machine

Is or was this true? Gosh, I don’t know, but it did make me wonder. I never followed up on the post, so I don’t know if that “issue” was changed or not. I don’t even know what Dell is doing now with Linux, nor am I aware of their prices.

I’m not sure about all “Bob’s” motivations. He’s not actually said anything bad about Microsoft (and like me, he does have an older PC with Windows on it). I don’t see this as a xx week issue, as I know he’s talking to the vendor sometime today. And well probably grab a coffee in the next couple of days; at which point I can follow up here.

Also, I liked the posts about OpenMoko on your blog.