>>>>> "LL" == linuxlingam <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
LL> On Friday 27 September 2002 01:25 pm, you wrote:
>> L,
>>
>> This is quite normal. I have never used the joystick port
>> behind any of the PCs I have owned, yet no one ever offered me
>> a discount if I took a machine without it. Their costs do not
>> go down, which is why, if you do not accept their EULA, they
>> will refund what you paid for the Windows Licence. Show them
>> the line on the Invoice that says "MS Windows XP Home - Rs
>> 7500", they will honour (perhaps).
The first person to try this and succeed (at least on the 'net) was an
Australian who got a refund from Toshiba for Winduhs on his laptop to
the best of my knowledge. Read all about it here:
http://www.netcraft.com.au/geoffrey/toshiba.html
Since then there have been a slew of people returning Winduhs software
boxes unopened and getting refunds for the software from their
vendors.
The important thing to do here is:
1. Do not ever boot Winduhs on the machine, not even for the first
time. If you do, you have used it and are then bound by the EULA.
Simplest thing to do is to have a Linux install CD in the drive and
the boot sequence set to CD-HDD-Diskette when you switch the machine
on for the first time. Zap Winduhs, install your favourite flavour of
Linux (or favourite 10 flavours if you're eclectic) and send me 10% of
the refund you receive from the dealer ;-)
2. Do not open the shrink-wrapped Winduhs box. Opening it is also
implicit acceptance of the EULA.
It doesn't matter whether you do this right at the dealer's premises
or at home: just state that you have not booted Winduhs and return the
shrink-wrapped software box unopened, and the dealer is legally liable
to give you a refund on Winduhs. After all, it's that EULA which can
get you into jail if you don't honour it, isn't it?
Other useful links:
Windows Refund Center Home Page:
http://www.linuxmall.com/refund/
Google :)
http://www.google.com/search?q=linux%20eula%20refund%20windows
A rather funny account of a group of people who tried to get into the
MS offices to get their refunds from them:
http://marc.merlins.org/linux/refundday/
Regards,
-- Raju
LL> they sounded rather confused on whether they wish to even
LL> honour a refund fee. am still looking for that clear,
LL> voice-from-heaven from branded vendors, who clearly mention in
LL> their ads, or their salestalk, or to customer queries "yes, if
LL> you do not accept the eula, we will honour the refund. here's
LL> a photocopy of a check given to a customer as proof." or
LL> something similar.
LL> if they could mention this in their ads, would be even sexier
LL> "/microsoft/piracy/howtotell.html" we also ship / refund
LL> windoze against a gnulinux installation:
LL> /gnu/piracy/gotohell.html"
LL> so in the meantime, if ilugd guyz could ask vendors, get
LL> quotations from them, and we could compile a list of vendors
LL> who are willing to refund, or to ship boxes with gnulinux
LL> pre-installed, it would be a major service to endusers and
LL> customers.
--
Raju Mathur [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://kandalaya.org/
It is the mind that moves
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