Gregory's Server@EU_Commission Please push PC manufacturers and companies to allow people to use the OS of their choice :)
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26 comments
 @drizzy Right now people need to know them and how to install them to do so. You don't know you have choice until you know.  @drizzy Most Pre-built PC and/or laptop manufacturers don't give options, information or any sort of indication even that other operating systems exist. You're just paying the price for a windows license with the PC that you may not even want and cannot really get refunded. @Rush @drizzy the thing is that the majority of people wants a computer that works out of the box. Windows is the de-facto standard, but you can also get machines with popular Linux distributions pre-installed from the likes of Dell. Apart from that MacOS is also extremely popular, would you disagree? @flying_saucers @drizzy I would disagree. Wanting to ship something out of the box doesn't mean having the customer pay for the Windows License without knowing, and not giving them any other options at purchase. This isn't about wanting to ship an OS, I get that, it's about not offering any other option than Windows (most companies). It's the reason that I think Linux in retail stores is important. @flying_saucers Other than that, there is companies like System76 or Tuxedo, but they're much more niche than something like Lenovo or Dell. I find it somewhat unfair. Especially because the Windows EULA tells you your license can be refunded at the manufacturer, and most manufacturers upon asking tell you to ask Microsoft support.  @flying_saucers Dell has their shitty "recommends windows" propaganda to make people believe their computers will somehow "perform better" is they use windows. HP used to sell laptops without windows, eitheir freeDOS (so no micro$oft tax) or Suse, which just feels… too "corporate-setup wonblows" 😬 Not sure if that's still true. And some HP laptops are much shittier than others… Lenovo is what I have for work, running Debian. Hardware is over-priced and sucks, their USB C [.…] @flying_saucers docks suck. DisplayLink protocol (not to be confused with DisplayPort and not Lenovo-specific) suck… If it means giving money to fund Micro$oft's propaganda through Dell, of buying over-priced shitty hardware… No thanks. And then, what distro with they use? Some bloated Ubuntu with their own "apps" and trackers like windows and android? and charge for it "See, we offer a Linux option, you have no reason to ask for unlocked UEFI/bootloader"… Again, no thanks. @flying_saucers There's no need for having bloated "Linux". It would only convince people it's OK to have locked hardware over which they have 0 control. BUT buying hardware without micro$oft tax, nor stupid hardware locks, should be possible… Just because some people want computers that crash into black/blue screen on the first startup and have to troubleshooter once a week, doesn't mean everyone should pay for ripoffware they don't need and won't use. @Rush @flying_saucers I agree it's important, but in the context of EU policies how would that look like? The only realistic way I see is forcing easy options to buy without OS or easy way to refund. Because you can't force Linux by policy. Then there'd be cries FreeBSD was left out etc. @drizzy @Rush that's a tricky one. What are the possible options? Here's some ideas 1) Force no OS, have customers install it themselves -> not consumer friendly, increases barrier to technology @drizzy @mehdi_benadel we need that for non-PC devices though. Mainly phones, then more other devices  @mexicancartel @drizzy @mehdi_benadel fully agreed; PCs, generally speaking, are fine. Phones, though, are definitely not. Or tablets, or game consoles. This gets fuzzy though awfully quick. Yes, IMO, this means you should be able to change the OS on your television.  @drizzy @mehdi_benadel Microsoft offers discounts to hardware companies in exchange for guaranteeing pre installing windows.  @mehdi_benadel @EU_Commission more than a on paper only option for mobile phones and other oem stuff  @mehdi_benadel I don't think there's any other big laptop makers or platforms that restrict what os you can have installed  More to the point, please push car and washing machine manufacturers to allow people to use the OS of their choice :) :) @khleedril @mehdi_benadel @EU_Commission I think this is a joke, but in all honesty with the amount of spyware on new cars these days I would love to wipe it and put a secure OS that doesn't phone home.  @banjofox2 @mehdi_benadel Mine does. It’s called copper and some capacitors and resistors, pretty cool experience  @mehdi_benadel @mehdi_benadel So, what you're basically asking for is : Make computers manufacturers to believe their "permission" is required to install another OS… What could possibly go wrong? |
@mehdi_benadel really curious - what do you mean? What would that look like? Tons of people are running OS of their choice on their PCs and nobody is preventing them. Do you want to force manufacturers to support OSes?