Why You Can't Buy a Naked PC

ZDOne writes "A piece up on ZDNet looks at the issue of naked PCs. ZDNet UK phoned around all the major PC vendors and not one of them would sell a machine without Windows on it. IT professionals are being forced to adopt Microsoft's operating systems — even if they tell their PC supplier they want a system free of Microsoft software. On the other hand, even if it's almost impossible to buy a PC without an operating system installed, companies like Dell and HP are now committed to supporting Linux as well. 'Murray believes there is a market for Linux in the UK but is also aware of the issues facing any large supplier who wants to make Linux boxes available. "It means diverting production lines and that is a lot of money and so we have to prove the business case," he said. However, he made it clear that he is enthusiastic about the idea and wants to make it work. "We just have to show it is worthwhile," he said.'"

I blame the Religious Right

[morgan_greywolf]

I blame Bush, the Religious Right and the Christian Coalition. As soon as you talk about anything being naked, they're hitting the speed dial to call their lawyers...

How Can I Buy An Apple Computer W/O An OS

[BSDetector]

Can someone tell me where/how I can buy an Apple-branded computer without an Apple-supplied O/S?

Danged nanny state...

[Boadi]

Anyone above the age of 18 should be allowed to decide for themselves whether they want to see a naked pc. Wait...

Spoils the fun

[L. VeGas]

It's kind of like lingerie. A lot of the fun is getting it naked. If it just shows up to your door without anything, it just seems too clinical and a little tawdry.

Yep. I'm a geek.

Re:Why does it matter if it's free?

[Hektor_Troy]

Great, just great ... another groups of people who won't swallow.

Re:I blame the Religious Right

[heinousjay]

The first requirement of a joke, being funny, was not met in the original post. Only the most rabid of Bush haters can still laugh at the same jokes 6 years later. The rest of us are just waiting for the next shithead so we can make new jokes that you guys can copy for years after.

Re:I'm a PC

[stratjakt]

Mac: I'm a PC too, just dont tell the elitist douchebags who own me - they shelled out a lot of cash, and think they bought something "high end". Also, I go with your drapes and swing both ways. Let me just pop up my collar and we'll buy some songs on iTunes, I know *ALL* the indie bands.

Re:Why does it matter if it's free?

[jfengel]

I used to work at a McD's. (Yeah, I'm a professional computer programmer now.) I can tell you that we absolutely, positively did not give a rat's ass about your special order. Maybe the guys over at BK were paid enough to care, but I was working for four bucks an hour. A special order came over the printer every once in a while and we ignored it until it went away.

Whew, that's a relief

[iPaul]

For a minute I thought I had to get dressed to buy a PC.

Re:Yes, clients as well

[PitaBred]

You can either have your advertising subsidized Windows crapware, or you pay a bit more for the hardware. Why do you want to have your cake AND want to eat it? It doesn't work that way.

Re:Why does it matter if it's free?

[dynamo]

I can't stand the default install on any off-the-shelf computer

Get yourself a mac and it will actually be in a useful state to build upon when you get it. No crapware, no ads, no huge glaring security issues, even if you decide to connect the machine to a network.

In the meantime, enjoy martyrdom.

Re:Because It Isn't Free

[iminplaya]

Why get Windows when you can Linux installed for only $699? You (censored)-smoking tea(censored)

Re:List of vendors selling no-OS computers

[Celeron1point2ghz]

pcsforeveryone [pcsforeveryone.com] gives me this fine choice!

No Operating System with System Testing Fee [ + $49.00 ]
Microsoft Windows XP Home [ - $89.00 ]

You'd think they'd been there before.

[Kadin2048]

Color me impressed, but IBM took some of the most obtuse and obtrusive things in windows and smoothed them out perfectly!

Yes, I think they called it OS/2 ...

Oh, wait, that's not what you were talking about. Nevermind.