Likewise, why don’t they put Linux preinstalled on some of their larger notebooks?

Nope, I don’t trust them.

You don’t have to keep it a secret that you live in one. Just be open about it, K. The world can cope with deranged FLOSS cultists.

“I wonder what life is like in your padded cell, kozmcrae. Should I come visit you?”

Interesting you should mention padded cells.

I wonder what life is like in your padded cell, kozmcrae. Should I come visit you?

“No, it isn’t true. True believers like you indeed think that every piece of FLOSS is perfect. Bob even thinks FLOSS cures cancer. Much better than holy water.”

Still putting words in our mouthes. Expressing our inner most thoughts for us. You are a real piece of work Chris. A real wacko!

This is how it was and is actually done for small local OEMs. You tell the OEM (if there is any and isn’t the store itsef doing the assembly) to leave the hard drive blank, and then you typically install pirated Windows.

But you know, major and global OEMs have to be less obvious and pretend they actually give an OS with the PC. So they install Ubuntu which costs $0, and the result is the same. I had bought the fairy tale too. You know, the one that says that Chinese users, unencumbered by Windows legacy software, happily embrace Ubuntu. Then I saw an Acer Ubuntu PC that had a winmodem that wasn’t even supported by the OS, and I said “I see what you did there”. Ubuntu was there to pretend they give an OS. HP is doing the same, by offering computers with FreeDOS. Should we also assume there are millions of FreeDOS users out there, that somehow don’t show up in the stats?

There is also the case people buy Ubuntu PCs, get frustrated that it doesn’t have the apps they want and the fact upgrades break every six months, and decide to install warez Windows.

‘Toshiba technical support recognise the Linux default hardware diagnostic tools. They don’t recognise any one the ones that come default with Windows.’

I know its your modus operandi to lie about things and then lie even more about things to cover up your previous lies, but c’mon now – Toshiba tech support only recognises diagnostic tools that come standard with the unit. For a Windows machines, the diagnostic tools are simply Windows-based, not Linux-based. What the tech support does not recognise, however, is the tools you find in your average Linux distro. No “ifs”, no “buts” – just no.

The idea of the general OEM/retail disc does not fly. Since if the hardware is defective you have to reinstall the OEM image or pay for them to reinstall the OEM image or use Linux.

Chris Weig I hate it because I very much don’t have a choice. Its the OEM way or the high way. This is all because windows hardware diagnostic tools are that poor OEM’s don’t respect them.

Would other than the fact you are now missing the Toshiba tools for warranty.

Toshiba technical support recognise the Linux default hardware diagnostic tools. They don’t recognise any one the ones that come default with Windows.

Hate? There are mild annoyances to be found in Windows, too. I’m not ignorant of them. But I don’t hate them. They’re just not important enough to devote such intense feelings to them.

Honestly, if you have a product which does, let’s say, 95% of what you want it to do, but then you find yourself constantly hating it because of the 5% you don’t like, then this shows me that you are either not well mentally or you have misjudged your own requirements and bought a wrong product.

Okay, a real annoyance then. The Japanese IMEs in Windows don’t honor your local keyboard layout. Fixable via registry or adapting one’s thinking a bit.

Really what pisses me off the most with Windows is like a brand new Toshiba laptop with Windows. 2.5 hours before you can login with Windows then you have to make the restoration discs and remove preinstalled crapware to get to a workable machine.

Why don’t you just use a regular install medium to do a clean install? You shouldn’t blame Microsoft for your inefficiency.