[ubuntu-uk] Windows makes PCs cheaper to buy! ... we need to respond [Dell crapware]

[Mark Harrison]

Yup - boys and girls - it's unpalatable but it needs addressing.

Manufacturers like Dell now receive as much money in subsidies and fees 
from companies like AOL and McAfee for installing crapware on your new 
Vista machine as they have to pay to Microsoft for the Vista licence.

I think we ought to be making a far bigger play of the whole "Crapware" 
thing, which has done a great job of introducing hidden costs to running 
Windows:

- Did you know that a new typical Vista PC only includes the initial 3 
month trial? After that it costs £75 per year to remain protected. 
Ubuntu comes with anti-virus security for life as standard.

- Did you know that a typical new Vista PC only comes with a 30 day 
trial of graphics software? After that, it costs an extra £50 to carry 
on editing your photos. Ubuntu comes with full-featured graphics 
software as standard.

- Did you know that a typical new Vista PC comes with a limited office 
suite called Works that doesn't read your work files properly? Upgrading 
to the full version of Office costs an extra £300. Ubuntu comes with a 
full Office Suite as standard.

M.


> I refuse to purchase any more hardware with Windows installed. It is easy to 
> avoid on desktops - simply build your own or buy with FreeDOS or Linux 
> installed - but laptops are much more difficult. My last two came with XP 
> which I wiped as soon as I got them. 
>
> Mark
>
>