Comments on: HP unveils Linux-based laptop

The longtime Microsoft ally taps SuSE Linux to give laptop buyers an open-source alternative to Windows.

[David Arbogast]

Who Cares?

Linux is free, and I have purchased my own copy of Windows. Anybody with half of a skillset can get an operating system they want with minimal effort. I find it difficult to believe that people who do not even know how to install Linux would want to be running it. Certainly the Linux gurus would rather install and customize their own distro...

Regardless of the system I purchase, I ALWAYS format the drive and reinstall. PC Makers like to choke up Windows with all kinds of special offers and useless software anyway. I know I know... Microsoft got sued and part of the settlement was to allow all this worthless junk...

What I want to know is, When can I buy a PC from a reputable manufacturer with NO OPERATING SYSTEM installed?

Good!

You say you want to know when you'll be able to
buy a PC without an OS pre-installed -- that means
you want a CHOICE. It's all about exercising
your freedom to choose. Let the ultimate user
decide which OS best suits him.

[David Arbogast]

Who Cares?

Linux is free, and I have purchased my own copy of Windows. Anybody with half of a skillset can get an operating system they want with minimal effort. I find it difficult to believe that people who do not even know how to install Linux would want to be running it. Certainly the Linux gurus would rather install and customize their own distro...

Regardless of the system I purchase, I ALWAYS format the drive and reinstall. PC Makers like to choke up Windows with all kinds of special offers and useless software anyway. I know I know... Microsoft got sued and part of the settlement was to allow all this worthless junk...

What I want to know is, When can I buy a PC from a reputable manufacturer with NO OPERATING SYSTEM installed?

Good!

You say you want to know when you'll be able to
buy a PC without an OS pre-installed -- that means
you want a CHOICE. It's all about exercising
your freedom to choose. Let the ultimate user
decide which OS best suits him.

[happy_rappy]

Just loaded Ubuntu on my laptop! It went very smoothly. I am sure it will take some time to learn all the ins and outs.

I would consider sending more money to Microsoft as soon as they volunteer to reimburse me for the three weeks (120 hours) of wasted time we spent on Windows so far this year. It adds up to about 200 to 300 hours per year at our company on average. This is a burden because there is only one person who is using the computers (me).

Your purchase is really like a vote. If enough people won't buy a machine with all that preloaded stuff: alternatives will become available. Good luck.