As we all know, the EU loves regulation, sometimes even overregulation. One area where I feel that regulation would help is computer hardware sale. When I want to buy a laptop and I visit the online retailers, normally 80% of the laptops come with Windows, 10% Linux and 10% Freedos or without any. I would very much welcome if the EU made it mandatory for manufaturers to offer the choice of OS when buying a new laptop. Just like you chose the color, how much RAM you wanted, SSD size, you could also chose what operating system you want it with. As part of that, manufacturers would be obliged to send a fix donation after every sold piece to the corresponding Linux distro team, which would help the chronic underfunding issue. Not sure how much the manufacturers pay for Windowsfor the license, but theoretically the Linux equivalent machine should be cheaper even after the donation. Any views are welcome.
I like the idea, but a “required donation” simply is not a donation and probably not legally enforceable.
Just make a law that a “no OS” version must be available for every assembled computer. If manufacturers then want to also offer a pool of linux distros that could come preinstalled, this would be encouraged as the market share of linux distros will grow.
I don’t want that. That would increase prices because every manufacturer would need to either develop or license a linux distribution. Besides, I don’t even need a pre-installed OS, I can install whatever I want. I mean, I support manufacturers who oeffer linux, but this isn’t an area that needs to be regulated.
A lot of places that offer both Linux and Windows (like Dell) charge the same price, because the Windows license is subsidized by crapware, spyware, and demo software that they load onto the computer.
Huh that might be new, when I bought my XPS 13 from them in 2019 it was a 200 euro difference when buying with Windows vs Ubuntu
It’s not new. Every time a computer comes with a “free trial” for a virus scanner, cloud subscription service, office software or other crap ware the manufacturer gets a cut when the user converts to the paid version after the trial.
Oh ofcourse, but there being no price difference is definitely new for dell. I needed a Windows laptop at the time, but bought the Ubuntu one because it was literally €200 cheaper.
Edit: This is CRAZY, just checked Dell website. Buying one with Ubuntu instead of W11 Home will cost you €250 MORE. That’s insane.
Lenovo apparently offers the choice on some models, with the windows license adding $140 to the price of the laptop.
There are manufacturers that sell Linux computers only. Buy from them if possible.
if you buy from a manufacturer that also sell Windows machine you support Windows indirectly too.
When I want to buy a laptop and I visit the online retailers, normally 80% of the laptops come with Windows, 10% Linux and 10% Freedos or without any.
FreeDOS? I’d love to know a retailer that sell laptops with FreeDOS.
A bunch of companies had or have an agreement with MS not to sell hardware without an OS, FreeDOS was the workaround, basically loaded to get wiped.
MSI did it for sure, same with HP and I think Asus. Not sure how many still do it though. I haven’t bought premade new (including laptops) in quite some time.
Ahh, so it’s a clever loophole? Bit odd, but nice to know FreeDOS is getting used - and that it’s saving the end user from having to pay for a microsoft windows license.
I tried to find the Windows equivalent of this to compare the prices, but they don’t make it easy…
Pretty much, yeah.
Usually the only things loaded are FreeDOS and instructions for how to install an OS (and the laptop’s instructions/links to them online).
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To be honest I don’t think forcing companies to have multiple options when it comes to OS is the way, but I will not stand in your way.
I think the way is creating more demand for alternative OSs, by explaining them why Windows isn’t necessarily the best option. I’d like to help you a little bit by letting you know of three things I saw on the homepage:
… then you are likely to have a laptop that runs Windows or iOS.
Only iPhones run on iOS MacBooks and desktop Macs run on Mac OS. I’d also not use the word laptop because it excludes desktops, maybe ‘computer’, ‘machine’ or ‘system’ is better.
Your social newtork is on Facebook or X, or both.
Small typo in the word network, also you could mention Instagram since I think it is now the most popular
Step 1 have a new browser
Because it is an instruction, it would be better to use a verb that doesn’t imply that they already own it. I’d use ‘get’, ‘try’ or ‘install’.
Wish you all the best, please keep going 👍
Thanks for reviewing it, I will fix these tonight!
