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Buying a PC without paying the "Microsoft TAX"

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#1

Hi all!

With every new system I buy, I also have to buy Windows XP… I get a new system every 6 months for a tax break, and with every system I get comes with an OEM version of windows from the manufacturer…

The problem with the OEM version is that they always pack them full of Advertisements and programs I never use, thus I always end up going down to local computer shop and ordering a copy of windows XP, reformatting my brand new system, and installing a clean version of windows.

with the OEM version of windows they place drivers for hardware on the CD, which is nice for the first month or so, after that the drivers are usually outdated… This also allows computer manufacturers to give you second rate OEM versions of hardware that relies on software drivers to even function.

On my current dell, I have to have a special drivers for my : Network card, integrated sound chip, USB ports, and for my Graphics card, without these drivers I cant run my system at all. I have to have the Drivers backed up on CD or I cant even get on the INTERNET to get the drivers (until I found KNOPPIX WOOT!!!).

My point is that sometimes if you go with a huge company to purchase a PC, you will more than likely be subject to their marketing BS and them filling your hard disk with worthless applications, and advertisements for AOL, MSN, and Ipod…

Plus you are subject to getting an OEM version of the hardware, witch is very unfair in my opinion… they say you are buying a sound blaster audigy Z2, and when you go to get drivers for it from Creative website, you find out you have to contact your manufacturer to get a compatible version for your OEM hardware… and then when you go to the computer company to retrieve these drivers, they tell you you have to get them from the system restore CD, and to retrieve them you have to install windows from recovery CD.

so there you are stuck again, using the OEM version of windows, and all the BS applications and advertisement traps they set for you…(I really think that they make lots of money doing this kind of advertising)

well anyways, If you don’t want to pay the “Microsoft tax” and you don’t want OEM versions of hardware, there are a few companies out there to help you.

you can buy a “Linux ready” system from a few small manufacturers. I have looked into a few of them and most of them use actual hardware, without OEM… Plus if you do want windows in a separate partition it comes without an AOL or MSN icon on your desktop.

If system is “Linux ready” you will are assured that your hardware is not as software Dependant (makes it run faster, also dose not have as much software takeing up your system RAM for simple drivers. most of stuff to make it work is on the chips, not the hard disk)

Here is the Company I am going with, the price is right, and all the hardware is top knotch… and they don’t require you to buy Microsoft products when you buy your hardware.
http://www.micronux.com/catalog/product.php?products_id=157

I am getting this dual Opteron 64bit Viper system TODAY (under $2000!) I have researched it for about 2 weeks now, and I cant find any thing wrong with it!!!

plus they will partition it any way you want it! I have 6 boxed copies of windows XP here I keep for clients. I am not even going to buy windows from these guys, yet they will give me a little extra time when they format my hard disk, and leave me room for my windows partition for FREE!!! :slight_smile:

I cant even buy a Linux system (A.K.A. Linux BOX) from IBM,DELL,Gateway,Compaq, HP or any of the other big guys unless I am buying a $3000+ workstation/server system under a comercial class licence (need 50+ employees for DELL and IBM). and even then there is no operating system tech support.

well, I made my decesion today, and I am going to buy this system (with 2 gigs, ATIradon 9800+128ddr, and Soundblaster audigy 2!, (WOOT WOOT WOOT!)

#2

I always buy the parts eparately, and assemble them by myself… it’s not as hard as it seems, and you don’t have to buy win xp every time :wink:

#3

eltazar ,

you are very right about this, My friend at the local computer store has been telling me this for a couple of years now…

He says it is realy easy now if you buy Plug and Play components…

The only thing stopping me from doing this is if I have someone else assemble it, they are responcible for it. I always try to get some kind of waranty when I purchase a computer system.

I am realy tempted to do it some day… Thanks for your coments eltazar
:slight_smile:

#4

you build it yourself, it cost a lot more plus you have no central warranty, you buy a second copy of XP to install???

That is madness. Let me tell you a small secret to avoid all this. It’s called: uninstall what you don’t want…

Also if you want an even larger money break, don’t buy a new computer every 6 months.

#5

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>you build it yourself, it cost a lot more plus you have no central warranty<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Costs a lot more to build it yourself? Um, no… The reason why Dell and other manufactured computers can be cheap is the exact thing that Polaris is complaining about… the manufacturers cut corners by putting in their own “special” hardware and loading all kinds of “extras” onto the computer. I could put together an $800 computer that will blow away whatever Dell is offering for $800 (although it may not come with a crappy monitor and printer like Dell might give you).

When you build your own computer, you know exactly what is in it. You only put in what you want.

You don’t need a central warranty because if you’re putting together a computer, you should be able to tell or figure out if something goes wrong, what is causing trouble and get it replaced.

That dual Opteron system looks pretty decent and for under $2000! (although if I was configuring it, it would be more than $2000 :slight_smile:

#6

Y believe the problem is not XP or linux better… etc… the question is “what work whit what”… Y use all kind of 3d packages, 2d packages… play etc with xp pro… do all those softwares works whit linux???.. if yes Y change to linux… but have some dudes… Y don´t want to pass my time downloading upgrades of linux or patches for every software y use… Y see this problem also with Mac Os X… in my job y use it… it´s great for exemple for prepress industry… freehand, photoshop, indesign… but for 3d… it´s a little short… you can use maya… and not a lot more no max… no XSI… etc… well, the day that you can install all kind of software, games etc on your beauty PC-Linux… y will say… alelluyaaaaa :slight_smile:

#7

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>The reason why Dell and other manufactured computers can be cheap is the exact thing that Polaris is complaining about… the manufacturers cut corners by putting in their own “special” hardware and loading all kinds of “extras” onto the computer.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Not only this, but there is no guarantee that all your components are brand new (as in never having been installed in another PC) when you purchase from some of these companies. Sometimes you can get a refurbished component and they won’t even tell you about it.

Another thing is they don’t have to put in all top of the line hardware. They can cut corners (in order to meet that advertised price) by using whichever components will save them money.

When I build my systems (and I have been doing it for years) I have in them exactly the parts I want and I know every part. The result is that I have never really had a hardware conflict or a problem running software because of such a conflict.

Secondly, because none of my stuff is non-standard (i.e. I don’t have some crazy, mis-shaped motherboard made especially for HP or something) I can easily upgrade components as I need to. This is not always possible with store-bought PCs (Gateway, Dell, HP, etc). Building a computer yourself can prolong the life of the machine by allowing you to upgrade just what you need. This, in the long run, will save you even more money.

#8

I buy w2k oem with hdd, it was legit last time i did it ;). If something goes wrong with hardware, well, every part has a warranty.

#9

@King Salami,
It depends on where you buy your stuff and who you know, I am good friends with local computer shop, and when he buys he gets bulk rate… He passes on the savings to me because I “brown nose him” and teach his kids how to make video game stuff for “the Sims” for free…

the reason you buy a new version of XP is so you don’t get forced into installing anything you don’t want or need… just windows. I have never seen an OEM version that dose not at least force you into installing the AOL installer.

By installing stuff you still have a dirty registry, and undesirable DLL’s still installed allot of the time.

OK the money comes out of my pocket every 6 months , but on paper it actually came from the corporation that I own 78% of…

I do it for creative paperwork… it dose not effect my net worth… all from the company till :slight_smile:

@Deam Walker,

Yea, it is going to be around 2350$ after I add ram and GFXcard, and network adapter…

still it blows away all the big companies, and I get it the way I want it, built truly custom…

the reason the big guys can pass on savings is because they use OEM Bull sh!t.

@designa,

I totally agree with you , I suggest everyone use a “Mainstream” OS, along with X. this way you have 2x the possibility’s, and you can get some software that is truly cost effective. (plus Linux is allot of fun for people who like tweaking things like me )

@ Dan,

Thanks for the good words :slight_smile: I really might try making my own system next time…
I guess I like the instant gratification of opening my PC box and playing with it that day :slight_smile:
I really should start building my own, I bet I would learn allot more than I do now. (plus then I get something to tweak :slight_smile: )

@eltazar

Thanks again for your comments :slight_smile: some day I will build my own from all new components.

#10

I feel your pain. :smiley:

In the past I used to build my own computer and I may do so again in the future. This last time around, however, I opted for the easy way out and bought a Dell Dimension 8100. The sound and video are Dell versions of the Turtle Beach sound card and NVidia TNT video card. I have recently upgraded all that though. I replaced the 1.3GHZ processor with a 2.6GHZ proc from Powerleap. I replaced the video card with an ATI 9800 Pro 128MB card. I added another hard drive and upgraded the RAM (800MHz Rambus) to 1.5 Gig. I upgraded from WinME to WinXP Pro. I must say I am far happier with it now than I was but after all the Dell related headaches I have experienced I have decided that next time I will not “make mine Dell”. :smiley:

With regards to building a PC…you would be surprised at all the cool options that are out there from bare bone kits to custom towers etc. It is very easy to do and is much cheaper than buying a prebuilt system. If you build your own you have the added luxury of knowing exactly what components and drivers went into it.