selling linux preinstalled.
 

yes... I find the thought of it quite interesting, and I don't know who else is doing it nowadays. But... we are.

I work at a shop in the Austin (TX) area. Up until now, we have been slapping win98 on all computers that come into the shop which need an OS reinstall (and also old donated ones we plan to sell). But now, my boss isn't wanting us to do this anymore because he just found out it was illegal ( I could have told him that) and he doesn't want to take such a risk.

Also, most people know that windows XP is just a big piece of bloatware which will barely run on 128mb memory and <~500mhz processor. Also, it costs about 200 bucks to load up XP pro (100 for home) and then for MS office, add another 100 bucks.

Nobody wants to pay that.

Not to mention the fact that most computers we get in here will not even RUN XP.

So, what we're gonna do is start setting up computers with linux. My boss is not very knowlegdeable so he says we should put 'Lindows' but i'm like nuh-uh... I'm setting the computers up with Debian. More specifically, Ubuntu. If you haven't tried it out... it's really nice, and makes a clean replacement for Debian and is great for n00bs.

So, my hope is that getting a functional OS out there that people can use (and that is immune to current viruses, the most often overlooked plus of non-MS)... bundled with technologies like Cedega (winex) or if you're really ambitious, VMware, could really get linux somewhere in the desktop market.

( although vmware costs just as much as windows so it kinda defeats the purpose)

heh also...You know the other thing about Linux that is often overlooked? it doesn't rot. It doesn't break unless you break it ;)

Just thought that someone would be interested in this news.

--cheers, brandon

fenderman11111; ah yes without license
from MS it is illegal as is with linux. that is the business end of ends. I agree ms w is way over what it really worth(opinion) compared with linux(any distro). but my view i would pay any distro for going $. even go as buying pc
preinstalled with linux (as MDK EU) except its only in EU. oh well thats life.

wait... liscense from linux ? meh what are you talking about?

linux is free in every sense of the word.

although I do have mixed feelings about the whole thing. Linux (imo) is a much better os than msw, but then again, the people who don't like computers use windows. so i guess you might say that MS did us here a favor by keeping linux from going mainstream... you know? it's the same thing where a really good band gets a lot of publicity and it ruins them, turns them into radio pop music crap.

but installing linux on these computers will be an interesting experiment... for me at least ;)

hey people
 

Hi people

Linux is free; but it still needs a license (the GPL), that specificates that is free.

I use Linux and i know its free. But there is a lot of people in public offices that dont know (it seems impossible that there is a person in this world that doesnt know that Linux is GPL but still there ARE such persons), and could deliver me some problems. So i have my GPL printed (just if i ever need it).

Apart from that, i think its absolutely needed (or at least advisable) for someone transporting a PC to another country to have a printed version of the GPL (just in the case...)

fenderman11111 & folkenfanel; both are
correct with the individual purchase or download. however to preinstall in a pc
to sell publically a license is needed. just as ms to sell even with individually
cd,s retailed as stated within cd,s license protocol. that what i stated. sorry for misunderstanding.