Dugg it.
comment:
You know the old saying "It's not who controls the press, it's who owns the printing press" is especially apt on this issue. The simple fact is that if you can't open it, you don't own it.

If you own a Chevy, should you only be allowed to drive on roads approved by GM for your Chevy?

Computer hardware is no different, you pay for it, you should be able to modify it - or drive it where you want to, as you please.

Spread the word. Join the FSF while you are at it. It will make you feel good, and it will help a good cause - your freedom.

I just had a PC built for me by PCspecialists: (directly off the internet) the good news, they will provide it without an operating system, or one of your choice!
hooray for them: it runs Suse Linux 10.2 beautifully....
What baffled me is why anyone is willing to allow Microsith to dictate to them in the arrogant and patronising manner they do.
As far as I can see, the computer belongs to me, what I do with it and when and how it is used is governed by ME, not a covert agent of the American Government.
I believe that complying with the law is the right and honourable thing to do, and I don't need some smart*** geek to impose it for me...
As to needing to upgrade a machine to run it, that's insane, like going for new tyres and being told I need new wheels before I can leave the garage.
Vista operates as a gangsters protection racket....It's only an operating system for crying out loud, don't fall for it!
My advice: if you been conned into buying it and have upgrade problems...return the software where you can and demand your money back and compensation...

Here's a French translation of this article (also posted here: http://menan.info/blog/?2007/03/02/33-recherche-ordinateur-compatible-logiciels-libres-vista-s-abstenir

Recherche ordinateur, compatible logiciels libres; Vista s'abstenir.

Ce n'est un secret pour personne: ceux qui veulent résister à Vista ont du souci à se faire lorsqu'ils voudront acheter un nouvel ordinateur. La plupart des ordinateurs neufs sont livrés avec Windows pré-installé, et il est d'ores et déjà difficile de trouver une machine qui ne soit pas estampillée Vista.

Un grand nombre d'entre vous ont contribué a exprimer ce problème auprès de Dell en votant sur le site destiné à recueillir l'avis des clients de ce constructeur. Vous avez dit que vous vouliez avoir le choix d'acheter sans Windows pré-installé, ou avec un système d'exploitation libre.

Aujourd'hui la FSF (Fondation pour le Logiciel Libre) a publié un communiqué intitulé "Vers des matériels non bridés" appelant les principaux vendeurs de matériel à admettre qu'il y aurait un intérêt réciproque à établir une relation avec la communauté du logiciel libre, et indiquant les domaines dans lesquels les vendeurs devraient agir pour atteindre cet objectif.

Le communiqué est envoyé en ce moment même par la FSF aux plus grands constructeurs, mais il est vital que les utilisateurs et les consommateurs transmettent eux aussi ce message. Il est absurde que les gens aient à payer un surplus sur le matériel pour couvrir le coût de Windows alors qu'ils vont formater le disque dur et installer GNU/Linux dès qu'ils rapporteront leur machine à la maison.

Vous pouvez commencer en faisant connaître cet article.

Yes it makes me wonder just how much money that you pay for a new PC is actually going out to buy a copy of windows. In the UK I've seen prices between £179 and £369(!) for vista. Even if it's not quite so much with a new pre-built PC that is still a hefty amount of money.

I mean, *we* are the ones buying the new PC, why shouldn't we get the say on what goes on the hard drive (if anything) when we go out and buy a new PC?

Still there's one use for an unwanted windows CD .... pop it in a microwave and watch the light show :) !

ljones

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/andrewkantor/2007-03-02-vista-problems_N.htm

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=desktop_applications&articleId=9012140&taxonomyId=86&intsrc=kc_top

Thanks, mfoetsch. The second article won't load, but I added the first one.

Just tried and it seems to work again. (Maybe server downtime?)

Here's the link to the printer-friendly version of the same article, maybe that's better:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=printArticleBasic&articleId=9012140

Thanks mfoetsch, it worked this time.

Wow, I am so glad (having complained about this previously) that the attitude of this website has changed so much. Less slandering of Vista, more constructive criticism and promotion of Free software!

You're even popular with Digg users now, good job.

Most new computers come with Microsoft Windows preinstalled, and already it is difficult to find a machine not carrying Vista around on its back.

comment of paolo del bene: in past when just in Italy there was of this problems, i take contact with associatons pro consumers (aduc,codacons) to advise them that microsoft was doing in Italy a scorrect policy.

i don't care problems, so i start to write to all those companies that gives pc without winzozz.

you can see my posts on :

http://www.freego.it/show/news/1503 and on http://liste.pordenone.linux.it/lpb-linux/msg06029.html

i sended my work to aduc and it was happy to recive.

but in italy there is too an article of law that says: any person can't accept any type of contract cons his own will so that it's null.

so microsoft can't satisfy his own interest until i and others works to have freedom.

in italy the antitrust has declared the indiscuss domain of microsoft as you can see:

http://www.aduc.it/dyn/documenti/docu_mostra.php?id=126588

i don't know if in the usa or where you are there are associations pro consumers, that help in any problems they got, we in italy yes, but if you do not have, i invite you to constituite one.

happy hacking

paolo del bene

p.s: here in italy i am trying to open a center of assistance for pc (hardware) and i do too the mount of parts of pc and i stall to gnu/linux.

so if you want, you can contact me via direct to:

Paolo Del Bene
Via Virginia Agnelli,12
00151 Roma (Rm)
Italy

Cell Phone Vodafone : 00393475092119
E-mail: paolodelbene@gmail.com

bye bye !!!! pdb

http://www.freego.it/news/show/1503

Following lessons learned from Dell's experience with IdeaStorm (and maybe somewhat of a fiasco), the Free Software Foundation (FSF) published a paper, “The road to hardware free from restrictions” calling on major hardware vendors to recognize t...