[nzlug] Dell are sooo pwn3d

[David McNab]

Hi all,

After receiving a Dell mailer in the letter box, I rang their sales
number to ask about whether I could purchase a machine without Windows.

They said definitely not, but told me I could simply re-format the drive
and install Linux over the top.

Hmm, paying $100+ to a convicted monopolist for software I won't be
using, that's a good option.... NOT!

So I gave them a bit of a blast, and told them in no uncertain terms
that it would be very good if they could reconsider their policy and
allow purchase of machines without an OS, or allow me to get a refund
for the OEM OS license fee. I also told them that no matter how good
their deals are, there's no way in hell I'd buy a machine if there is an
M$ tax in the price.

So I mention it here, in the hope that there might be interest among the
F/OSS community in pressuring Dell's NZ distributors to reconsider their
policy.

Cheers
David