Best cheap laptop for linux?

[Fred Roller]

On Sat, 2009-08-15 at 15:28 -0500, Chris Mohler wrote:
> On Sat, Aug 15, 2009 at 3:21 PM, Karl F. Larsen<klarsen1 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Dotan Cohen wrote:
> >>> I have been doing a little sniffing around on the Linuxbased-PC-market,
> >>> and have noticed an obsticle which complicates the selling of pre-
> >>> installed linuxPCs.
> >>>
> >>> People using Windows just take what ever thrown to them by Microsoft,
> >>> but Linux users don't just take any Linuxclone to their hart. Linux-
> >>> people usualy have a purpose when they choose their OS. Some want Red
> >>> Hat, some Suse, some Knoppix and some Ubuntu-this or Ubuntu-that. This
> >>> makes it very difficult to industrialize an unifyed standard pre-
> >>> installation routine, which produce CASH on the bottom line. Thats why
> >>> they don't.
> >>>
> >>
> >> Great, so let's just buy our laptops with whatever Microsoft throws at
> >> us rather than ask for Linux - any Linux - instead.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >    I think the solution is to ask the manufacturer to either sell the
> > computer with no operating system, or the latest Microsoft product. And
> > the cost of the package should be right for with or without the Windows,
> > ie: $130.00 about less without.
> >
> >    This gives the buyer an idea what they are paying for.
> 
> Not that simple.
> 
> It's cheaper for a manufacture (let's say Dell) to sell the hardware
> with windows pre-installed.  They get subsidized by the
> spyware/malware/crapware that comes on your preinstalled OS.  Since
> these companies do not have a linux product, the manufacturer gets no
> such subsidy on a linux preinstall.
> 
> In other words - having windows preinstalled drives the cost *down*,
> not up (at least for big manufacturers).
> 
> Chris
> 

There is a movement:

http://www.linux.com/articles/59381

<quote>
How to get a Windows tax refund
By Serge Wroclawski on January 05, 2007 (8:00:00 AM)

If you buy a computer, you often pay for Microsoft Windows even if you
didn't ask for it and aren't going to use it. This article shows you how
to return your unused Windows license and get your money back, freeing
yourself from the Windows tax. 
...</quote>

Thought you might find it interesting and may save money.

-- 
Fred R.
www.fwrgallery.com

"Life is like Linux - simple; if you are fighting it, you are doing
something wrong."