[ubuntu-za] New PC without Windoze?

[Adrianna Pińska]

Why is this a problem?

When you're buying a laptop with Windows, you're not actually paying
the retail cost of a copy of Windows on top of some kind of OS-less
price based on the objective value of the hardware. What you pay has
only a vague relationship to the cost of the individual components.
Manufacturers get *massive* discounts on Windows licences in bulk,
because it is to Microsoft's benefit to subsidise them and bring down
the final retail price of machines with Windows. Laptops with Windows
preinstalled can actually be cheaper to buy than laptops with Linux
preinstalled.

Research the laptop's specs to make sure the hardware works well with
Linux, shop around for a good price or wait for a special, and then
buy it with Windows and install whatever you want. Microsoft is
effectively paying you money to make its OS seem more affordable to
you, but you are under no obligation to actually use it.

Regards,
-- 
Adrianna Pińska
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