How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

[Posted January 5, 2007 by ris]

Linux.com looks at the process of getting some money back after buying a new computer with Microsoft Windows pre-installed. "If you buy a computer, you often pay for Microsoft Windows even if you didn't ask for it and aren't going to use it. This article shows you how to return your unused Windows license and get your money back, freeing yourself from the Windows tax. I recently purchased a new laptop computer from Dell. As a GNU/Linux user and believer in Free Software, I knew from the start that I wasn't going to run Microsoft Windows. Unfortunately, Dell didn't offer this laptop with Ubuntu or a no-OS option, so I tried getting my Windows refund from Dell after the purchase."

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How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 5, 2007 21:23 UTC (Fri) by yodermk (subscriber, #3803) [Link] (2 responses)

It's good to see this. Of course, there are other options.

http://powernotebooks.com sells several laptops without Windows, as do a few other sites. Some are also available on eBay sans OS. Desktop? Build it yourself, that's better anyway.

I'll be buying a new laptop myself soon, and at any previous time I would have been thrilled about this. However, I think I actually will need to keep a small 'doze partition for one reason: GPS street nav software. Yes, I've tried GPSdrive, but it just isn't the same. I sure wish Linux could compete here. I actually tried Street Atlas USA under Wine, and the result was encouraging (I could browse the map), but probably not *quite* good enough.

How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 7, 2007 19:25 UTC (Sun) by sjj (guest, #2020) [Link] (1 responses)

Dual booting is so last century. Just make sure your laptop's CPU *and* motherboard support virtualization (although vmware will run fine without it).

How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 8, 2007 11:13 UTC (Mon) by drag (guest, #31333) [Link]

I installed Windows using KVM, just on a lark.

Works fine. A bit slow, but is fast enough for Flash playback (for example).

No 3d acceleration and video is a bit slow. Sound works great.

If you don't need it for games then it'll work great for you.

In FACT.. Now that I think about it you may even be able to use Synergy2 to go back and forth between the desktops with copy and paste support and such...

How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 6, 2007 4:37 UTC (Sat) by Holmes1869 (guest, #42043) [Link] (5 responses)

Always good to read articles like this. Just a few proven tips that can really help people out. Articles about the Windows refund have been around for years, but it's nice to be reminded of it every-once-in-a-while.

It's also kinda funny when we talk about the "Windows tax". As with any tax, it's something your forced to pay if you want a PC. Thankfully, today we have many no-OS or Linux pre-installed options.

My company offers laptops for purchase through some random company. This company surprisingly offers Ubuntu (I think) pre-installed, but there's a catch. You have to pay an EXTRA $100 over the Windows pre-installed price. It doesn't cost extra for desktops, though.

The world of supply-and-demand is amazing to me. The current perception seems to be that Linux is prime-time for desktops, but not for laptops. So much so that people are willing to pay an extra $100 for the guarantee that all of the hardware will work (I'm assuming that the somewhat sketchy support for wireless cards is the main culprit). At least this extra $100 is going towards a "service" and shouldn't be considered a "tax". Hopefully, in the coming months and years, the perception of Linux on laptops will change and fees like this will become economically extinct.

How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 6, 2007 9:37 UTC (Sat) by halla (subscriber, #14185) [Link] (1 responses)

It much depends on where you are and how fast you need a new machine
whether you're able to get a pc without windows. I needed a new computer
quick last year, so I took my bike and went into Deventer's town center to
see what was on offer.

There are about four shops selling pcs, mostly the same three or four
models (two Acers, one slimline HP, one Packard Bell). All came with
Windows, all were in stock. There was one shop selling a pc without
Windows. It was 200 euros dearer, had half the memory and wasn't in stock.

And the company that offered it was ran by a young guy who insisted on
telling me at great length that I really didn't need a computer without
windows since windows was really great these days -- there were no real
problems left with Windows.

How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 9, 2007 14:32 UTC (Tue) by hein.zelle (guest, #33324) [Link]

In case someone else runs into this in the Netherlands, my company orders maxdata laptops. After inquiring about the windows "tax" they pointed our system administrator to maxdata themselves, who indicated that it is indeed possible to order the laptops without windows at a reduced price. Due to time pressure we ended up paying it anyway for a preinstalled laptop which was in stock (you do need to order an empty one specifically, ugh) but at least it's an option if you ask.

How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 6, 2007 15:02 UTC (Sat) by pheldens (guest, #19366) [Link]

That's the catch yes. No monetary advantage. Also with HP.
They offer it as a costly option.

Cheapest would be to buy one with windows, then claim money back at MS.

How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 6, 2007 21:55 UTC (Sat) by khim (subscriber, #9252) [Link] (1 responses)

It's also kinda funny when we talk about the "Windows tax". As with any tax, it's something your forced to pay if you want a PC.

Not you, but your vendor, actually. My friend works for huge transnational company. They buy desktops from HP and Dell. How many come with Windows preinstalled ? All of them. How many of these Windows are used ? None. Why ? Most desktops are using Linux and even ones where Windows is installed (it's very hard to develop addon for MS IE under WINE, for example) are using separately purchased copy of Windows!

How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 8, 2007 11:21 UTC (Mon) by tialaramex (subscriber, #21167) [Link]

Actually the "separately purchased" Windows they're installing is probably licensed on condition that they buy PCs with Windows already on them, so they aren't really paying twice here for those particular PCs.

Most bulk licenses for non-OEMs require that you first buy a computer which includes a properly licensed OEM Windows. You leave the OEM sticker on the machine, but install your own bulk-licensed Windows. Any PC with the bulk license Windows on it, but without an OEM sticker, is a license violation under these terms.

[ You might ask, if it comes with Windows, why bother re-installing? OEMs almost always install a custom build with "bundled" software that doesn't match what you want employees to have on their PC, plus they always install the latest consumer version even if your company wants to run the previous version or a beta of the next version. So you almost always need to re-install in a big IT setup but you don't need to pay full price ]

My experience with avoiding the Windows tax

Posted Jan 7, 2007 3:23 UTC (Sun) by pr1268 (guest, #24648) [Link]

A local PC shop in the college town I live deals exclusively with second-hand hardware, but they buy Windows licenses for resale (CD-ROMs and OEM stickers). After I mentioned I wanted to buy a used IBM Thinkpad but did not want to pay for the Windows license, they were kind enough to knock $75 off after removing the XP Pro license key sticker (and quick-formatting the hard disk). Nice!

How to get a Windows tax refund (Linux.com)

Posted Jan 9, 2007 1:20 UTC (Tue) by rzr (guest, #42656) [Link]

If you're feeling lonely about asking for a refund, you're not the only one, please tell us :
@ http://detaxe.org/map.html

How does one get the Windows licence?

Posted Jan 9, 2007 13:46 UTC (Tue) by davecb (subscriber, #1574) [Link]

I tend to run Windows under win4lin, primarily
because my tax program only comes on Windows....
but how does one get a reinstallable copy
to install after installing linux on the machine?

--dave (who knows almost nothing about Windows,
much to his relief) c-b