If I buy a Dell Laptop with Linux, can Install a Windows on it? Or are they locked to Linux?
Dell Laptop with Linux
Miscellaneous Forums/General Discussion/Dell Laptop with Linux Do you seriously think that there's a license saying that you can't install Windows on a computer which came pre-installed with Linux?
You should just be able to reformat and install Windows, or both of them. The only thing to be aware of is the price of a boxed version of XP/Vista. Its a lot more expensive if it doesn't come with your computer...
You should just be able to reformat and install Windows, or both of them. The only thing to be aware of is the price of a boxed version of XP/Vista. Its a lot more expensive if it doesn't come with your computer...
You can always buy a SystemBuilder version, better known as OEM software. It's the same software as the full retail version, but without the nice box and without support from Microsoft. If you need support from MS, you can of course still buy that from them.
A SystemBuilder version of Vista Ultimate costs around 170 Euros here in Germany, whereas Vista Ultimate Retail costs around 440 Euros.
A SystemBuilder version of Vista Ultimate costs around 170 Euros here in Germany, whereas Vista Ultimate Retail costs around 440 Euros.
The only thing to be aware of is the price of a boxed version of XP/Vista.
Additionally, with my Inspiron, I don't have to reactivate Windows (XP) when I reinstall it -- as long as it finds Dell hardware it's good to go with zero (or as near to zero as Windows gets) faffing. For me that's a pretty compelling reason to start with Windows and add Linux as required rather than doing it the other way around.
I bet Dell's warranty has something about installing other operating systems, (although I haven't ever bought a Dell or really read their warranty, so don't take my word for it). If you don't plan to break your laptop, you should be fine ;)
You can have both with a partition (just make sure vista/xp) goes on first, as it's a fussy moaning git when its not the center of attention (ie. on partition 1).
The OS doesn't matter for the warranty. They just won't answer support calls when you use something other than the officially supported OS for that machine.
There are two reasons for a machine that comes with Linux pre-installed: It is cheaper than a Windows machine, because they don't have to pay the "Microsoft tax" and you can be sure that the hardware is fully supported by the pre-installed Linux distribution.
However, those Linux offerings are mainly aimed at those people who actually do not want to use Windows at all and therefore are not willing to pay the "Microsoft tax".
There are two reasons for a machine that comes with Linux pre-installed: It is cheaper than a Windows machine, because they don't have to pay the "Microsoft tax" and you can be sure that the hardware is fully supported by the pre-installed Linux distribution.
However, those Linux offerings are mainly aimed at those people who actually do not want to use Windows at all and therefore are not willing to pay the "Microsoft tax".
Additionally, with my Inspiron, I don't have to reactivate Windows (XP) when I reinstall it -- as long as it finds Dell hardware it's good to go with zero (or as near to zero as Windows gets) faffing. For me that's a pretty compelling reason to start with Windows and add Linux as required rather than doing it the other way around.
You want to be pleased its not a Compaq Presario (Or similar)... I made some recovery DVD's when a mate got a new system (With XP Home installed) and was quite literally shocked to find it filled TWO dvd's!!! That's a 8 gig backup of a fresh XP install!!!
Obviously, the vast majority of it was the cack they pre-install... Which I sharp shifted for him!
Dabz