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submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by TimeNaan@lemmy.world to c/linuxmemes@lemmy.world

Image description:

Shopping for a laptop as a Linux user:

Screenshot from the Simpsons where Otto is talking to Marge and Homer standing next to a window in their house with a caption "Oh wow, windows!... I don't think I can afford this place."

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[-] Nyanix@lemmy.ca 55 points 7 months ago

Not to be that "aktchually" guy, but Microsoft actually ends up paying OEM's to ship with Windows, in order to drive costs down to be more affordable than competitors. You can still reimage with Linux, which I know, is an extra step from it shipping with Linux, but in a wild turn of events, we can thank Microsoft for driving down the prices of our to-be-Linux machines ;)

[-] OfficerBribe@lemm.ee 24 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Have never seen this as a consumer though. I remember buying a laptop 10 years ago without OS since it was cheaper than same model with preinstalled Windows. Checked a random laptop and same still applies, version with Windows costs 30 eur more in my local webshop for what seems to be the same model with same specifications (No English available, use translate if needed):

[-] DacoTaco@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

You can add framework laptops to that list too.
To have windows you pay extra, no os is free

[-] ICastFist@programming.dev 17 points 7 months ago

I think that was only true back in the 90s, when there were still other OSes to compete against Windows, like OS/2, Solaris and BeOS late in the decade. Once Microsoft effectively dominated the consumer PC market (2000s?), they turned around to threaten to never do business with OEMs that dared to bundle competitors' OS. They also did something similar in Japan, which destroyed NEC (who created the PC-88 and PC-98, the most popular 80s and early 90s computers there) dominance.

[-] thecrotch@sh.itjust.works 12 points 7 months ago

I haven't met a Linux user that would consider leaving the factory installed OS instead of immediately blowing it out and installing their own

[-] bitwolf@lemmy.one 9 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

This route does still count as a Windows sale and you still pay for the license.
So if the manufacturer offers a "no os" option, rather than any Linux option, it's still a better choice than "Windows" if you know you will reimage to something else anyway.

this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2024
1110 points (97.2% liked)

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