I walked into Campus Computers today and found that all their iTEC-supplied computers came with XP home. I asked how much off without windows, and they said no can do, which seemed a bit strange. I then rang iTEC (Insite) and asked the sales team, who replied "due to our contracts with Microsoft, we can not supply PCs without windows". After pointing out that I would be running Linux and didn't want to pay for something I wasn't going to use, and that with windows the box would probably not be competitively prived, he gave me some line about why they have to and a retail box would be more expensive. He was somewhat left for words, and I politely pointed out that they couldn't sell me what I wanted and therefore I'd be forced to buy elsewhere (I think it's politically important to say that).
Not that it's any trouble for me, but I find it interesting how MS has the market. The big downside is that boxes bought from Campus Computers are serviced by the university's technicians (I'm talking about departmental machines used by students). Out of interest, I also rang Cyclone (also sold by Campus Computers), and their sales staff said no problem - but I'd have to give a reason why I wouldn't want windows on it. Linux is a good reason. Computer Science bought Cyclone... Volker -- Volker Kuhlmann is possibly list0570 with the domain in header http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.
