Posted on Tuesday 20th of March 2007 at 07:05 in Linux

The quest for a Windows free notebook (part two)

In this episode, Acer actually reply to my question of whether having a Windows-free notebook is possible. In short, yes it is. But hang on... Do I actually have to pay more to have it without?

After my first article on finding a Windows free notebook (and changing how I review distros) I pinged a series of emails off to various reputable vendors querying what options I have available. Ideally (with a tight budget) I'm looking for a decent laptop for running Linux (and all the Beryl effects that I love so much) without a massive price tag. So sponsorship would be a nice option but I was really looking for someone to explain how much money could be saved by removing Windows from the price.

Acer answered my question

This morning I received an email from Acer UK's customer service team supplying me with the documents required to claim back the cost of Windows against a purchase. A nice step in the right direction I feel, but the prices offered don't seem to quite match up with what I'd expect an OEM copy of Windows to cost.

Acer told me:
"Acer will refund you in accordance with the value of the Operating System shipped with your Acer product."

And that:
"Please be aware that shipment of the product to our repair centre and back to you after the removal of windows will be at your own expense."

So excuse me... You'll remove Windows at a cost to me, then refund the value of the OEM system?

Classic stuff. The only way this could be worthwhile is if the refunded value is good... Which it isn't. At all.

Acer said:
"XP Home, Vista Home Basic and Vista Business = 30 Euro (approximately ?20)
XP Professional, XP Media Centre and Vista Home Premium = 60 Euro (approximately ?40)"

Riiiiight. So XP Home costs the same as Vista Home Basic does it? I'm reasonably sure that Vista HB costs more than ?20. Infact this Amazon listing (not affiliate) indicates that it's like ?55. I've got to say, I'd rather have an OEM license key for Vista for ?20 than I would faff around with Acer.

However, Acer said that I'd be paying for the shipment of the product to and from the repair centre to get Windows removed from the machine. So - as a customer I would have to hope that shipping is less than the ?20 I'd be saving removing Vista. Which I'm 99% certain is not the case. I'd say it costs more to ship a 4lbs notebook to Plymouth and back than the ?20 I'd be refunded.

I'm sorry Acer, I won't be purchasing anything from you. NEXT!

 

Enjoy this article? Why not subscribe to the full RSS feed?