Trying to Purchase a Laptop Without Paying for a Windows License

Today I got a response from HP. Simply put they don't offer laptops with out the windows operating system installed. They also don't offer a refund for the license if you return it to them. They actually go one step further and indicate that if I were to purcahse a laptop from them and install a different operating system onto it I would void my warranty.

I've composed a response to HP that I sent to them indicating that I've found an article that explains how HP does have laptops for sale that don't include windows. I also indicated that I was concerned that I couldn't install a different operating system on their laptop without voiding my warranty.

I also received the IBM response. Similar story there, they don't ship Laptops without and OS and they only use windows as their OS. So much for a linux friendly company.

HP got back to my second email message and I was a little happier this time. They do not void my warranty if I were to install another operating system onto the laptop, however I wouldn't get support for the other OS (but I didn't expect that). I also got two suggestions on laptops which I could purchase from them that sort of meet my requirements. They cost about $1600 each, not too bad I guess but still not exactly what I'm looking for.

Fujitsu got back to me today as well. Same story though they don't offer laptops without an operating system and they don't refund the OS either. They also informed me that currently they do not support Linux at all. At least I'm a valued customer.

So that makes three contacts that were made yesterday with three responses in the negative received today.

Today I sent out this message to several of the vendors I had mentioned yesterday. I sent this message vai email to Dell and have used the online forms of HP/Compaq, IBM and Fujitsu. The remaining three companies I will need to contact via phone.

I received a response to my email inquire to Averatec on the 15th. Their response was short and sweet. It told me that they do not ship any computer without an operating system and they don't offer refunds for windows.

Today I've decided that this is going to be significantly harder than I had originally thought. As part of my search I will be sending out letters via email at first to all of the major computer vendors (HP/Compaq, Dell, IBM, Gateway, LG Electronics,Fujitsu, ASUS, Toshiba). Upon sending the email's I will post them and their responses here as well.

I have also started looking seriously at having to custom build the laptop in order to get what I really want. This is also an endevor as well, as I don't know many retailers that allow for this and the information I found on Canada Computers seems to indicate that this will end up costing me significantly more than the $1500 that I'm willing to spend.

I sent of an email to the sales people at Averatec to see if it would be possible to obtain their laptop without the windows operating system, or if I could get a rebate for the operating system if I were to return the license to them after I purchased.

Researched laptops on the net to determine if a laptop of my desired specs actually existed. Searched on some of the more common web sites for information (TigerDirect Canada, Future Shop, Canada Computers, Network Supply, Best Buy). Much to my disappointment it seems that small laptops are not really popular unless you want to buy a Mac. I did however find one item that seemed to fit all but one criteria, the Averatec 3225HS which was selling for $999 CDN. However this item comes with Windows XP installed by default.