Re: [tlug] linux notebooks, virtualization, windows

[Dave M G <dave@example.com>]

Darren,

I emailed Lenovo sales support to ask if they would be willing to sell 
me a laptop without Windows on it. They said no.
Installing Windows is part of their manufacturing process (they have 
some way of flash-writing the HDs I guess), so it costs them more to 
manually remove Windows by request than to leave it on.
I decided against Lenovo for that reason. Even though there are good 
deals on Lenovo from their web site that offer laptops with good specs 
for cheaper than equivalent competitors, so that the cost of Windows is 
effectively negated from the consumer point of view, I just don't want 
any of my money going back to Microsoft in any way. Nor do I want to 
support the status quo that computers simply come with Windows as a 
matter of fact.
Dospara is the only place I found in Japan when looking for new 
computers without an OS, but I heard complaints about the quality of 
their laptops. Though I have a desktop from them and it's fine. I 
eventually opted against the Dospara Laptop I was considering because I 
didn't like the design - it drives me nuts when there is excessive 
border around the screen.
The only other option for non-OS laptops I found were either used, or 
overseas laptop providers. However, in the case of foreign suppliers, 
they won't ship directly to Japan, so the cost of shipping via a friend 
or whatever makes the whole deal ridiculously expensive. The only way 
it's worth it is if you happen to be heading abroad for a while anyway.
Hope that helps.

--
Dave M G