[TriLUG] "taxation without representation"

[Ken Mink]

Craig,
  I whole heartedly agree. The laptop in question is a HP Pavilion. It
comes with XP/Home pre-installed. As long as XP has the snoop your
hardware activation key, I won't be using it. Since I occasionally need
ms os access, I hope to have vmware with 98se in it installed. I would
love to get a refund for the XP that won't get used. However, I'm not
holding my breathe.
  MS has all the hardware vendors under their thumb. As some pointed
out, now opening the box means you've agreed to the license. I'm
resigned to throwing some of the money away on XP. When it comes to
laptops, your stuck. I know there are Linux laptops available. However,
this HP is $950 after rebates. At that price, I can live with a dusty
copy of XP on the shelf.

Ken

On Thu, 2002-01-31 at 00:00, Craig Duncan wrote:
> RE:  Laptop Hardware Question
> 
> Does anyone else see the mandatory Microsoft tax issue here? Ken is looking 
> for a resonably priced laptop at CompUSA to run Linux on, but he will be 
> paying microsoft for the privilage as the laptop will, most assuredly, come 
> pre-installed with MS ME/98.
> I am sure that the laptop will make a great Linux 'top, but why does Ken have 
> to pay the micro$oft for the privilage. Yes it seems like a good idea to buy 
> a computer appliance, but  if you choose to run your appliance on an 
> alternate OS, you should not be forced to pay for the OS that comes 
> pre-installed.
> As extreme as this may sound, can you not imagine an OS refund of $xx from 
> micro$uck if you choose an alternate another OS. 
> "I hereby declare that I will not run Microsoft software of any kind,... blah 
> blah" give me my money back!
> This only seems reasonable, and not unusual from the usual mail-in rebates 
> offered. 
> Preferably, you would have your choice of OS, but facing reality, that is not 
> going to happen anytime soon - 10-20 yrs perhaps.
> 
> Thoughts?
> 
> >From a business owner that will no longer pre-purchase a MS OS.
> 
> 
> On Wednesday 30 January 2002 07:45 pm, you wrote:
> > I am looking at getting a new laptop. CompUSA (I can't stand the store,
> > either) has a great deal on a 1.0GHz Duron based machine. It uses the
> > ProSavage KN133 chipset. I've looked on the net for any info on Linux
> > and mobile Durons and/or this chipset, but not found much. Does anyone
> > have any experience with this clipset? I plan on putting RH7.2 on it.
> >
> > Ken
> >
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-- 
Ken Mink
Porivo Technologies, Inc.
919.806.0566 | mailto:ken.mink at porivo.com
http://www.porivo.com
Measuring end-to-end Web performance.