On Tue, May 17, 2022 at 4:43 PM Jon Brase <jon.br...@gmail.com> wrote: > > >*I'll note that I don't see the same pre-installed OS options when > > I click on the "HP Zbook Fury 17.8 G8" in the article. I only see > > "Windows 11 Pro," "Windows 10 Pro," "Windows 11 Home," and "Ubuntu > > Linux 20.04." So either HP has changed it, or the "FreeDOS" option > > is not available in the US (the article's screenshots show purchase > > prices in Euro). > > I've heard of modern systems shipping with FreeDOS before: [..] > the acquaintance that told me this said that it was basically a way of > selling a PC without an operating system while still selling something > that would boot (so that the technophobes don't come back complaining > that you've sold them a brick), though I'd think Ubuntu would do that > job just as well, in terms of licensing cost. [..]
I won't comment on the geopolitics you mentioned, but I've also heard that PC manufacturers bundle FreeDOS on systems for this reason. I understand that it had something to do with Windows OEM license agreements with Microsoft, that Ballmer would cut vendors a better deal if they didn't offer "no OS" systems, and preferred that vendors didn't pre-install Linux either. And with FreeDOS, support was easier (customers might call for help with Linux, where they probably won't with FreeDOS). Jim _______________________________________________ Freedos-user mailing list Freedos-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/freedos-user
