yeah, this is probly a topic with a footpath already, but why do all these computer retailers sell their computers with only the windows option?

ive checked Dell, and they only offer redhat on their servers

Gateway, im pretty sure it is only windows on everything

ive tried a ton of websites, is there a single one which will package linux? ( any distro at this rate )

Browse offers of smaller firms. In Poland they offer preinstalled Linux quite often. Not sure how is it in the US.

In short, it is illegal for a computer manufacturer, or indeed any manufacturer, to sell you a product you do not want.

Imagine that you're buying a car...


You: Hello, I'd like to buy this car please.
Dealer: Certainly sir, that's 100 fish with the stereo or 150 fish with the big stereo.
You: I don't want a stereo, thanks.
Dealer: Fine sir, that'll be 100 fish please.
You: So is the smaller stereo free?
Dealer: Oh no Sir, but we'll charge you 100 fish anyway.
You: I actually have my own stereo that I'll install myself.
Dealer: Yes, sir, but we can't sell you a car without a stereo made a Melkosurf.
You: Actually, my current stereo is made by Melkosurf.
Dealer: Yes sir, but as you didn't buy that Melkosurf stereo with this car, we have to sell you another one.

This is called "bundling" and Adobe have already lost a case in the Scottish courts on exactly this point. Sadly, little rules don't apply to Microsoft. Funny, hey?

Regards

Walmart will install Lindows. Don't know of anyone else.
Here

Here is an internet re-seller who provides gentoo preinstalled and not only (you can choose whatever mainstream disro you want) http://qlilinux.com/

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catal...A41937%3A86796

The Microtel PCs come with Mandrake 8.2, Lindows, Windows, & without any OS at all.

The company that donated a server here also offers desktop pc's with Linux installed. http://www.aslab.com/

I heard that HP gives you the option when you order a computer from them, to have it pre-installed with Linux, and also some IBM's. This is I guess because they have heavily invested in Redhat, so they ship with Redhat.
Look at their websites,

Leveraged contracts are the name of the game. That's why the larger manufacturers are fairly exclusive with their OS's. If you're trying Linux, then you must have a bit of do-it-yourself spirit in the first place. Build your PC from components! Then you'll know every piece of hardware that goes into your machine, and you'll have a good idea on how to fix it.

In general Linux users usually prefer to buy a computer with a "no OS option" and not have part of the proceeds from the sale go to Micro$oft anyway. They would rather choose the Linux they want to install, and how it is to be installed. Unfortunatley, the major manufactures signed contracts with Micro$oft to license every computer they sell to run Windows.

Another question, why only Red Hat, why not have other distro like Mandrake, Debian or Slackware.

BTW: I'm not sure about United Linux (SuSE, Turbolinux, Caldera & Connectiva)

cuz RedHat is the biggest Linux distributor. They were the first to brandish a serious looking Linux box set back in late 1998. Redhat 5.0!!!! woah! which even came with a ready to go boot disk!!! man that was so sweet!,
So right now, Redhat has the biggest Linux market share, near 50% all for it self...

hm. i think it'll be a good move if slackware can convince a hardware vendor to slap it on their machines. then again, i guess Patrick's not completely into a popularity contest.
also, i think stuff like rpm and dpkg are winners when it comes to installation and uninstallation... for slack, you've had it if the guys who made the package didn't include the uninstall option in their makefiles...

this is not true. they tried to sell computers with no OS HOWEVER their micro$oft windows selling licence has a clause in it that says they cannot legally sell a machine with no OS if they also sell computers with windows XP.

they are getting round this by selling computers prepackeged with FreeDOS. you get a computer with no OS installed, and you also get a CD with FreeDOS on it, which you can then choose to install on the machine.

Not to be a stickler, but this should be in the general forum.

But anywho, it is very true that many companies sign these damn agreements with others to save themselves a few bucks, but in the end it sacrifices customer service.

For example, Dell will not sell me the laptop I want without M$ on it. There usual excuse is that they need to install an OS to test everything and make sure it works. Fine. Then you install it, test everything, and then delete it off. That seems simple enough. but they wont do that.

As a result, they will lose money from me. I will just go to ebay and buy it. The one I want is available by many others.

This is one of those areas I am a real bitch. In my opinion, a company either sells me what I want, or they dont get my business. It is wrong for these companies to try to force something on you that you do not want, no matter what it is. I work hard for my money, and if I dont want any part of it going someplace, then I should have a the right to stop it.