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Equal opportunity for Linux - let us choose at the checkout what operating system we want for our laptop (backtoeu.eu)

submitted 1 year ago by darko@feddit.org to c/buyfromeu@feddit.org

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As we all know, the EU loves regulation, sometimes even overregulation. One area where I feel that regulation would help is computer hardware sale. When I want to buy a laptop and I visit the online retailers, normally 80% of the laptops come with Windows, 10% Linux and 10% Freedos or without any. I would very much welcome if the EU made it mandatory for manufaturers to offer the choice of OS when buying a new laptop. Just like you chose the color, how much RAM you wanted, SSD size, you could also chose what operating system you want it with. As part of that, manufacturers would be obliged to send a fix donation after every sold piece to the corresponding Linux distro team, which would help the chronic underfunding issue. Not sure how much the manufacturers pay for Windowsfor the license, but theoretically the Linux equivalent machine should be cheaper even after the donation. Any views are welcome.

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[–] curbstickle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 year ago

A bunch of companies had or have an agreement with MS not to sell hardware without an OS, FreeDOS was the workaround, basically loaded to get wiped.

MSI did it for sure, same with HP and I think Asus. Not sure how many still do it though. I haven't bought premade new (including laptops) in quite some time.