Why dont pc companies offer a no OS option?

[758]

I've noticed while browsing around at new PC's, no one offers (at least out of Dell, HP, Gateway, etc) a "No Operating System" option. And only in the server department is there a Linux option. Is this because of their contracts with MS or something? Because thats an extra 100 bucks I could be saving....because I'm just going to install Linux on it when I get it!

[techieMoe]

I've noticed while browsing around at new PC's, no one offers (at least out of Dell, HP, Gateway, etc) a "No Operating System" option. And only in the server department is there a Linux option. Is this because of their contracts with MS or something?

Bingo. There are likely other peripheral reasons as well (a perceived "lack of interest" for example), but that's about the main reason: Microsoft doesn't want their major OEM partners offering any alternative to their OS, and they still own 90%+ of the home PC market in the world, so the major OEMs don't want to anger the beast, so to speak.

A lot of smaller PC vendors have picked up the no-OS or Linux-preinstalled flag and are making progress into getting this as a more popular option, but to my knowledge the big 3 OEMs (HP, Dell, Gateway) don't offer them...yet. I think it's just a matter of time though.

[758]

Yes you're right...angering that beast would probably just end up in lawsuits or something of the sort that in no way would help the consumer, it would only help the ego of that company, but I'm hoping MS will loose some of that grip in the near future (a few years near future). I also hope that OEM's start sending all their device drivers for Linux on the reinstall disk also! That would be quite convenient. I do know however that Lenovo is supposed to have a Thinkpad R60 (or T60, I forgot) that offers Linux as an alternative, but I have yet to find it on their website.

[techieMoe]

I do know however that Lenovo is supposed to have a Thinkpad R60 (or T60, I forgot) that offers Linux as an alternative, but I have yet to find it on their website.

Well Lenovo has a good relationship with IBM (since they bought IBM's ThinkPad line a while back) and IBM has a pretty good relationship with Linux (advertising for it, offering their enterprise software solutions for it, etc). If anyone's going to break ground it's probably Lenovo.

[gtmtnbiker98]

You can buy Dell PowerEdge Servers without an OS. I've purchased two within the last year without an OS and yes, I installed Linux on both. What drawback to this approach is the lack of suitable graphics and sound cards - but these servers are simply that, servers running Linux.

[easuter]

i think Dell was planning to offer linux on as an option several years ago, but microsoft threatened to take away their licence for redistributing windows.
that would have meant the end for them, so they dropped linux...

[apoorv_khurasia]

Well Lenovo has a good relationship with IBM (since they bought IBM's ThinkPad line a while back) and IBM has a pretty good relationship with Linux (advertising for it, offering their enterprise software solutions for it, etc). If anyone's going to break ground it's probably Lenovo.

My friend's thinkpad came with pre-installed RH9 sometime back, but now there are lenovo PCs and they come with WinXP. Simple buisness policy: if I were the head of a PC company I would provide my customers with Windows. Think how many of them have actually heard the word Linux before.

The only "best" thing I can do is that provide them with an option of choosing the OS (at the time they place their order) they want their PC to be pre-installed with ,default being Windows XP.

[hazel]

Tiny used to provide cheap desktops with Linux preinstalled. I don't know if they still do.

[Dapper Dan]

Dell does offer a no OS desktop pc. I've purchased two of them in the last year. It's the "N" series. You have to really look for them at Dell or you won't find them. They come with no OS, but do include a FreeDos CD. To me, these computers are well worth it. I've been very happy with them.
Link 1
Link 2

These are available with Factory installed Linux...
Link 3

[Redman]

One of the reasons I won't buy any computer there.
Because I won't buy something and pay for something I'm not gonna use.

But I am told if you actually buy your computer there and call them to tell them you won't accept the EULA, you can send back Windows and get a refund ....