Do new laptops come w/software?

[MichaelD]

Looking at this one, for example.

It says comes with WinXP home. OK fine. I know it's loaded already. Does it come with a legal copy of the OS? What if the HD crashes? How to I reload the OS?

 

[Kaervak]

Legal copy, yes
HDD crashes, restore disc
Reinstall, restore disc

 

[RossMAN]

New and refurbished Dell laptops come pre-loaded with legal copies of XP Home or Pro along with all the Dell crap software. However they do come with an OEM OS only CD so you can do a clean install without all the crap.

 

[RossMAN]

BTW the 2650 sucks unless price is VERY important to you ... I would consider the 4150.

 

[hdeck]

Does it come with a legal copy of the OS?

no buddy, Dell distributes illegal versions without Microsoft knowing

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
BTW the 2650 sucks unless price is VERY important to you ... I would consider the 4150.

Thanks everyone. RossMan Why is the 2650 crap? me\<---is the laptop newb

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: RossMAN
BTW the 2650 sucks unless price is VERY important to you ... I would consider the 4150.

Thanks everyone. RossMan Why is the 2650 crap? me\<---is the laptop newb

Most of the reviews I've read say it's slow and heavy, that's basically it. If you want something simple for web surfing, e-mail, chat, MS Office then it's perfect but if you want anything more demanding then get the 4150.

If you can put up with slow, heavy and cheap then by all means by it. I'd recommend springing for the extended warranty (laptop repairs ain't cheap) and also buy it with a premium cc (VISA, MC, Amex) so you get the free 1 year extended warranty.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: hdeck

Does it come with a legal copy of the OS?

no buddy, Dell distributes illegal versions without Microsoft knowing

Actually, isn't dell the reason there is a key for the pirate corp version floating around?

$800 is VERY tempting, my old thinkpad at home is really getting hard to use with all the power problems I'm having. But, I do need to eat still, and with the local nissan dealer offering zero percent APR on USED cars for 5 years, I might be buying a new to me car

 

[notfred]

My iBook came with OS 9 and OS X cds, a developer tools CD, a CD with all the 'i' software on it (iPhoto, iTunes, etc), and a couple other CDs I haven't used.

 

[Mani]

Just FYI - Dell's Win XP version is keyed to only work on Dell machines.

 

[Scarpozzi]

hmm...

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Mani
Just FYI - Dell's Win XP version is keyed to only work on Dell machines.

so is dell's win2k.

I would HIGHLY suggest getting a latitude over an inspiron. Latitudes are tougher overall(a good thing for me) and can take more of beating. Inspirons feel cheap.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: Mani
Just FYI - Dell's Win XP version is keyed to only work on Dell machines.

so is dell's win2k.

I would HIGHLY suggest getting a latitude over an inspiron. Latitudes are tougher overall(a good thing for me) and can take more of beating. Inspirons feel cheap.

Latitudes are overall better machines but they also cost more $

 

[iamme]

I wish you could buy laptops without software, for less money

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: Mani
Just FYI - Dell's Win XP version is keyed to only work on Dell machines.

Does it only look to see if it's a Dell? I have a copy of WinXP Home that came w/ my Inspiron....could I sell it to someone who has a Dell desktop?

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: Mani
Just FYI - Dell's Win XP version is keyed to only work on Dell machines.

Does it only look to see if it's a Dell? I have a copy of WinXP Home that came w/ my Inspiron....could I sell it to someone who has a Dell desktop?

yep, works on any dell

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: iamme
I wish you could buy laptops without software, for less money

In theory, you can.

In 1995, MS signed a consent decree w/ the FTC, agreeing to discontinue its unethical behavior of charging OEMs (large PC makers) an OS license fee per every machine sold, rather than per machine sold with MS software. This anti-competitive behavior was just one insidious business practice they used to build a Windows OS monopoly. As a result, no OEM would consider shipping offering alternatives.

In practice, today no major OEM besides perhaps IBM (Linux on a few Thinkpads) actually ships any alternative OS on their notebooks. In fact, even recently, MS was forcing OEMs to exclusivity clauses (Windows only) if they wanted to license Windows at the most advantageous cost. This is classic illegal anti-competitive arm-twisting, as was revealed in the federal Anti-trust case of yesteryear.

Two or three years back, you could in theory refuse the Windows EULA and contact the OEM (notebook vendor) to get a token refund of the Windows OS license fee (about $35) but I believe they removed that clause from the EULA.

So you have MS to thank for restricting OS choice on ALL major brand notebook PCs sold, and for forcing you to eat the MS tax regardless of what OS you want to run on that PC.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: manly

Originally posted by: iamme
I wish you could buy laptops without software, for less money

In theory, you can.

In 1995, MS signed a consent decree w/ the FTC, agreeing to discontinue its unethical behavior of charging OEMs (large PC makers) an OS license fee per every machine sold, rather than per machine sold with MS software. This anti-competitive behavior was just one insidious business practice they used to build a Windows OS monopoly. As a result, no OEM would consider shipping offering alternatives.

In practice, today no major OEM besides perhaps IBM (Linux on a few Thinkpads) actually ships any alternative OS on their notebooks. In fact, even recently, MS was forcing OEMs to exclusivity clauses (Windows only) if they wanted to license Windows at the most advantageous cost. This is classic illegal anti-competitive arm-twisting, as was revealed in the federal Anti-trust case of yesteryear.

Two or three years back, you could in theory refuse the Windows EULA and contact the OEM (notebook vendor) to get a token refund of the Windows OS license fee (about $35) but I believe they removed that clause from the EULA.

So you have MS to thank for restricting OS choice on ALL major brand notebook PCs sold, and for forcing you to eat the MS tax regardless of what OS you want to run on that PC.

After I got my Inspiron, I called Dell and told them that I didn't agree to the EULA. I told them I didn't run the computer yet and wanted to return the OS and software. After talking to her supervisor, she came up with the reasoning that since my invoice doesn't list a price with the software, I wouldn't get any money back. ah well.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: manly


In practice, today no major OEM besides perhaps IBM (Linux on a few Thinkpads) actually ships any alternative OS on their notebooks.

I guess you didn't see my post?

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: manly


In practice, today no major OEM besides perhaps IBM (Linux on a few Thinkpads) actually ships any alternative OS on their notebooks.

I guess you didn't see my post?

lol, I'm sure it can be assumed that Apple doesn't ship their laptops with a Microsoft OS

 

[manly]

Originally posted by: notfred

I guess you didn't see my post?

Well I should have been crystal clear, but from the context, it's obvious I was referring to PC x86 notebooks.

Care to explain how your snide "MacOS is great" posts are relevant to the question at hand?

To be clear, I'm glad you got a great value with your iBook and I'm *not* dissing Mac. The bottom line here is someone is curious about a Windows-based notebook, and someone else wanted to know why PC notebook buyers are forced to pay the Mickeysoft tax.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks guys; I've got my answer and I understand how the whole monopoly works. I'll prolly be going w/a Dell (unless another outrageously great offer pops up). They are running a 6 months same as cash deal. I can pay off $1200 in six months, but coming up with it up front is impossible. Thanks again.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: manly

Care to explain how your snide "MacOS is great" posts are relevant to the question at hand?

Which post would that be, the one where I answered the question "Do new laptops come w/software?" by listing the software that came with my laptop, or the one in which I said that Apple ships laptops with an OS other than windows?