• Morley
  • #! CrunchBanger
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  • From: Albuquerque
  • Registered: 2010-02-17
  • Posts: 127

Topic: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Does anyone know a good place to buy computers (laptops and desktops) that come with Linux pre-installed, or no OS at all?  Is the price for these machines lower than a typical PC because you are not paying the Windows / Apple tax, or are they more expensive because you are paying for what amounts to a specialty item?

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  • omns
  • #! Die-hard
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  • From: non-local
  • Registered: 2008-11-25
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Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Most vendors have told me that it's not cheaper because Windows is bundled with the machine. They will however remove it or not install it for free hmm Go figure...

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  • Morley
  • #! CrunchBanger
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  • From: Albuquerque
  • Registered: 2010-02-17
  • Posts: 127

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

omns wrote:

Most vendors have told me that it's not cheaper because Windows is bundled with the machine. They will however remove it or not install it for free hmm Go figure...

I know that is the common line when asking for a refund, but never heard it pulled when asking for a no OS computer.  I will keep hunting around.  I know back a year ago or so, the Dell Mini 10 with Ubuntu was $20 USD cheaper than the Windows version, but they don't seem to carry it anymore.

I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation!
  • hinto
  • #! Die-hard
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  • From: Cary, NC
  • Registered: 2010-12-08
  • Posts: 566

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

TigerDirect?
No OS http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications … 1711_21711

FreeDOS http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications … 8462_18462

NewEgg?
FreeDOS http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi … rchInDesc=
-Hinto

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  • Registered: 2009-08-05
  • Posts: 69

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Linux Preloaded

  • GuruX
  • #! Die-hard
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  • Registered: 2009-01-18
  • Posts: 522

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Dunno about laws in your country, but in Sweden, it's actually possible to return just the Windows OEM license after buying the computer. It's a hassle to do it, but it's possible.

  • pvsage
  • Internal Affairs
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  • From: Section Six
  • Registered: 2009-10-18
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Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Dell used to sell a few systems with Ubuntu (actually a customized "Dellbuntu") or FreeDOS.  If I recall correctly, my netbook was about $50US cheaper with Dellbuntu than it would have been with Windows XP.

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • From: Leicester, UK
  • Registered: 2010-06-08
  • Posts: 14

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Aleutia have a good line in nettop computers.

Edit..

Oh yeah and has anyone mentioned System 76.

Last edited by ninjaguardsheep (2011-01-13 23:06:07)

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  • Morley
  • #! CrunchBanger
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  • From: Albuquerque
  • Registered: 2010-02-17
  • Posts: 127

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Thanks for the links!  I will most likely be buying my next computer from Zareason or System76.  I like the simple, solid construction, nice minimalist design, and of course, Linux with pre-configured drivers, etc.

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10 Reply by ali

  • ali
  • #! Die-hard
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  • Registered: 2010-05-31
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Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

i always checked for laptops without windows preinstalled obviously because instead of paying an extra $100 for some crap its better to have $100 extra worth of hardware

openbox-logout exit on escape
  • From: Stockholm, Sweden
  • Registered: 2009-01-23
  • Posts: 241

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

I don't have to go far for no-OS computers, less than 100 m actually:
http://www.gardefelt.se/ (sorry, all in Swedish)
I don't know if they help out with installing Linux but they do have the knowledge since one of the guys there double as a Linux sysop.

/Martin

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  • Registered: 2009-02-09
  • Posts: 555

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

I check out the system 76 site often,And have even thought of purchasing one from them.
But i know id just end up wiping it and trying other distros on it.

  • Awebb
  • #! Die-hard
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  • Registered: 2009-07-23
  • Posts: 2,470

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

I don't know where to buy OS-free laptops, but if you want a new desktop, we can recommend parts to you and you build it by yourself. It isn't that cost-inefficient anymore.

I'm so meta, even this acronym
  • Registered: 2009-07-06
  • Posts: 25

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Awebb wrote:

I don't know where to buy OS-free laptops, but if you want a new desktop, we can recommend parts to you and you build it by yourself. It isn't that cost-inefficient anymore.


If only it were so easy to build laptops sad

  • From: In my head.
  • Registered: 2011-01-12
  • Posts: 66

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

CyberPower will let you essentially build a computer from scratch by letting you pick parts, and you'll be able to choose whether or not you also want to buy Windows. You'll end up getting a machine at your door just the way you wanted it without having to open the case...
...but the ease comes with a price tag, of course.

If you understand, the world is just the way it is. If you don't understand, the world is just the way it is. -- Zen Proverb
  • Registered: 2010-09-02
  • Posts: 347

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

If new I don't know.
If used try eBay, usually a lot of them.

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  • From: /home
  • Registered: 2009-01-20
  • Posts: 84

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Another link not yet mentioned.

http://3btech.net

Computers do not have problems, they have users.
~Cope57

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  • From: California, USA
  • Registered: 2008-11-29
  • Posts: 8,647

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

^ where are the laptops with Linux or no OS? From a brief look I just see Windows machines.

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  • Morley
  • #! CrunchBanger
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  • From: Albuquerque
  • Registered: 2010-02-17
  • Posts: 127

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

I also found this place,

http://www.pugetsystems.com/alternate_os.php

But they seem waaaaay overpriced ...

I willfully participate in a campaign of misinformation!
  • From: 127.0.0.1
  • Registered: 2010-07-02
  • Posts: 1,266

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

If you have a few Gs burning a hole in your pocket you could get a sweet tough book with a preconfigured linux on it here: http://www.emperorlinux.com/

  • Awebb
  • #! Die-hard
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  • Registered: 2009-07-23
  • Posts: 2,470

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Wow, emperorlinux looks as expensive as apple :-D

I'm so meta, even this acronym
  • pvsage
  • Internal Affairs
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  • From: Section Six
  • Registered: 2009-10-18
  • Posts: 5,999

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

What about this?

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • From: In my head.
  • Registered: 2011-01-12
  • Posts: 66

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

That one might be a little out of date... when Pentium-II processors are being toted as a good thing.
(That said, this used laptop is only using a P3.)

If you understand, the world is just the way it is. If you don't understand, the world is just the way it is. -- Zen Proverb
  • pvsage
  • Internal Affairs
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  • Registered: 2009-10-18
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Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

You're right; I should have tried a few of the links.  Even the ones that aren't dead point to pages with P4 and Xeon as the latest-and-greatest CPU's.  Sometimes Google is not our friend...

while ( ! ( succeed = try() ) );
  • From: 127.0.0.1
  • Registered: 2010-07-02
  • Posts: 1,266

Re: Best Place to Buy Linux / No OS Computers?

Awebb wrote:

Wow, emperorlinux looks as expensive as apple :-D

Yeah, but would you rather have a macbook or a i7 running crunchbang that could survive being ran over by a tank?