I intend to buy always laptops/computers which are first Linux compatible (i.e. no weird type of hardware which can't be run on Linux at all). Secondly I chose computer without Windows/Mac pre installed i.e. those which comes with FreeDOS, Linux or without OS, so that I do not have to pay extra for Windows.

Then I install Linux on it.

Bought a motherboard and bits, built a wooden case with speakers and a small amplifier,
got a DC powersupply able to run from 8 V to 35 V DC source
got an ssd and hard drive
installed Ubuntu 12.04 as my default system; heavily tweaked using gnome fallback
and windows 7 as well, which I only turn on to be updated and to know how it works
because I'm teaching computers and they all have windows
talked one student into using Ubuntu instead of win xp when going on the net
so he now has dual boot ( a happy compromise)
otherwise all I do works on Ubuntu

I always set up a dual boot - and then almost never boot into Windows. :P
I sometimes wonder why I don't just expunge Windows entirely but I guess I'm like a hoarder that way. I know it's junk, but I might just need it some day! :P

I totally sympathize with you Qlue. I noticed this sentiment in lots of comments " have windows - never use it - but keep it anyway"

Like you said: maybe one day I'll need it. I update it once a month; then restart back to Linux.
It's like having a second car in the garage and top up the petrol (gaz, gas) tank with the amount that evaporates and then never use it and unable to sell it again because it is ....... and no refund there for dissatisfied customers.
Apologies for the sarcasm; but to think that MS employees get paid for their "work" (my guess is that there are hundreds of bludgers and work wigglers working under the MS umbrella) and Linux gets developed by enthusiasts who don't care about dollars but are happy to make a valuable contribution. Hail Tux !

One reason to keep the license of a windows version was the fonts -- at least in the good old times (tm)(R)(C) . Then one could use windows fonts legally even on linux.

...or you could make your own...

My own what? Fonts? I worked in a font-creating business once, so I know for sure that any acceptable (let alone good and pleasing) font is way beyond me.

Or did you mean computer? Look at my signature .

As a new member I was pleased with the response to yesterday' thread I presented on Mint 17 suspend.Frankbell said he had installed Mint with no such problem. This spurred me on to have another look at mt EUBI. I had to alter this to install Linux . Perhaps I should have put things back the way I found them. So. I did this and presto my suspend problem vanished, Maybe ths might help someone else. Archie

I've used since Linux exclusively, on self assembled machines, since I got a broadband internet connection over 10 years ago. The laptop I'm using now (Advent Notebook with old dual core Intel processor, 8gb RAM + 1tb storage) was purchased in a hurry as working away from home (Windows 8 replaced with Ubuntu 14.04). Trying to download Fedora using a tethered mobile phone without much success... I regret deleting W8 as I have an old Canon high definition scanner (photo negatives and transparencies) for which there are no Linux drivers.

Are you sure you deleted the hidden windows restore-partition (or whatever else they call it)? If not, there is still "hope"...

I just killed the Windows install of my new to me Z600. Does that count

It's not listed in System Monitor. I'll borrow my son's gaming machine if he'll let me...

I don't know system monitor. Alternatives are tools like gparted, fdisk, cfdisk... Jut have a look with one of them at your partition table.

All of my laptops are dual boot with Win 7. I bought a Win 8 box and wiped it and installed Win 7 & Linux...

No backups untill just Linux and I always delete the restore partition as well, if I'm twisted in to using closed-source I VM...