@ mark 177
"Historically, yes. But those monopoly days are over for MS. Now we can tell them to take a hike."
Try buying a laptop from a major vendor without Windows (or Mac). You can either go the somewhat specialist route of system76 or the like, or start arguing with sales about Windows refunds which is often near impossible. Acer will let you buy the computer then mail it to support (at your own cost) for an unspecified refund. Dell used to offer some linux machines but that is harder and most Dell's suck.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
