Is your Windows for realz?

My PCs all run Linux, so it's a non-issue for me. My brother's PC is running a pirated version of XP, and my Mac is running a legit version of OSX 10.4.

As a Linux user, it really pisses me off that more OEMs aren't shipping OS-less PCs, and that MSFT is now getting on the case of overseas or small-time providers for doing just that. They claim that "selling blank PCs is aiding pirates" because EVERYONE who buys a PC with no OS is going to pirate windows.

Because Linux doesn't exist. Or something.

This is why I'll always build-ideological soapbox ranting aside, I'm not paying extra cash for software I'm never going to use. If they sold a packaged standalone license of XP with OEM boxes, then fine, I could resell it. But no, can't do that either.

For the times I need Windows on my laptop for software that isn't available on Lin/Mac, I use a copy of XP that I get through Illinois Tech's MSDN partnership.

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Originally Posted by RacinReaver

How many people do you know that would buy a Dell instead of building their own custom computer and prefer to have a Linux install on it over Windows?

Ask deus@zelan, if he re-registered. He runs Slackware on a Dimension.

Just sayin'.

There's nowhere I can't reach.