Hello all-
I'm heading to Vancouver, B.C. in a few days and wondered if anyone could suggest a place to purchase good, inexpensive laptops...new or refurbished with no OS (I'll be bringing my copy of Umbuntu) or one with linux already installed.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Neil

Personally, I would take the opportunity to try and get the Windows refund, but you may not want that hassle.

finding a retail store selling computers with no OS is probably not going to work.

Some laptops still come with Windows XP---especially where cost is a major issue---in these cases, you may save nothing by getting it with NO OS----So just buy it, and then install Ubuntu.

I live in B.C. and went through this a few years ago. I was not able to find a laptop with no OS or linux installed. Now you can find the netbooks with linux if you look hard.

I did find a couple of small shops that said they could order one Acer model in with no OS. It had minimal specs. It was cheaper to buy at big box stores and eat the microsoft tax.

I believe ncix.com is a local Vancouver store. You can phone them. They have lots of refurbished stuff.

Thanks for the replies... you are right about getting a windows laptop and just either partition the HD and dual boot or just going with pure LINUX. That would be easier then locating a shop that sells linux ready lappys. I will check the shop that 'fair is fair' mentioned. And too, maybe with the Christmas sales I find something decent.
Heading out there tomorrow.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I live in BC too. I just bought myself a new ASUS laptop for Christmas. I am going to try to get a refund for the full price of Windows 7 since I will be using Fedora only. Should I take it up with the store (Future Shop) or the manufacturer (ASUS)? Also any tips will help.

Here's what the Windows 7 EULA says:

These license terms are an agreement between you and
· the computer manufacturer that distributes the software with the computer, or
· the software installer that distributes the software with the computer.

By using the software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept them, do not use the software. Instead, contact the manufacturer or installer to determine its return policy. You must comply with that policy, which might limit your rights or require you to return the entire system on which the software is installed. As described below, using the software also operates as your consent to the transmission of certain computer information during activation, validation and for Internet-based services.