| The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
Team member in staff
       posts: 2128 since: 10 Dec, 2000
 |
 |
1. The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
last updated at 17 Mar, 2004 20:06 (1 times) Question regarding Windows that usually gets pre-loaded onto system when buying from larger hardware vendors. When calculating on the hardware price here in Sweden on for example laptops the Win XP "tax" is around 10% of the price. So to the question; I know earlier that there where something in the Microsoft licens that agreed that one could return the OS and refund the money.Has anyone experience regarding above topic, ie trying to return a not needed and not wanted product that actually has been forced up on you to Microsoft? In my case I ordered a laptop couple of days ago and it will be, of course, pre-installed with Win XP home edition. No, need for it.... but Dell this case claims that they can't deliver the system without OS since of the agreements made with, M$. Sugestions, tips regarding how to refund the money? /Kim |
| Date: 17 Mar, 2004 on 19:19 |
|
|
Premium member in user
       posts: 125 since: 04 Feb, 2004
 |
|
2. Re:The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
I told my supplier to deliver a PC without win or I would go buy it somewhere else.. we argued a while and finally I got €100 off the price but still windows was installed:-) I think that as soon as you walk out the shop with it then you do agree to it.I know of someone who tried a refund from M$ and it did not work.They refuse it very simple and nothing to do about it. Maybe if a (large) group of people (OS2/linux) would stick their heads together it should work? |
| Date: 18 Mar, 2004 on 10:22 |
|
|
Premium member in user
     posts: 121 since: 17 Jul, 2003 |
 |
3. Re:The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
I don't think it would. IMO, there is only one defense: know your shops - which will sell you a machine without paid useless software. Such shops can be detected easily: they sell not only winblows and M$ Office but also something useful  We have a few such shops here in Czech Republic I am buying my HW and SW only there. |
| Date: 18 Mar, 2004 on 13:50 |
|
|
Premium member in user
       posts: 125 since: 04 Feb, 2004
 |
|
4. Re:The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
Yep, I found this artikel ; http://zdnet.com.com/2100-11-513723.html?legacy=zdnnM$ does not give money back!!! But searching on the net I found a lot of people who got a refund from their shop ; [quote] when i got my TP600E i opened the box, got the WindozeNT package out and gave it back to the sales guy and asked for a reduced price, he accepted my offer þ H.I.C. & D.B.S. þ OS/2 Warp þ Hellas þ þ ServerConfig þ ConfigEdit þ OS/2 UK UG þ [end] Oficcialy (a long time ago) M$ did agree to give the money back when you did not ever boot winds in any way.. This includes even demo's and testing and shows in the shop. Noboddy ever got a refund from M$ !!! |
| Date: 19 Mar, 2004 on 09:59 |
|
|
Premium member in user
     posts: 53 since: 08 Mar, 2003 |
|
5. Re:The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
| Date: 19 Mar, 2004 on 13:24 |
|
|
Team member in staff
       posts: 2128 since: 10 Dec, 2000
 |
|
6. Re:The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
| Date: 19 Mar, 2004 on 19:35 |
|
|
Team member in staff
       posts: 2128 since: 10 Dec, 2000
 |
 |
7. Re:The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
| Well, it seems there is something going on at SlashDot.org as well: It is also like Microsoft and their "anti-piracy" campaign. They required all distributers to ship only Microsoft Windows with a computer. Retailers weren't allowed to sell a computer with a non-MS operating system. Nor were they allowed to sell a computer without one. Later on, when the DoJ was coming down on MS, they relaxed it to allow non-MS OSs, but by then the OS market was compeletely destroyed, so very few even bothered, and many didn't want to support an OS they didn't understand and few wanted (because they didn't understand the nonMS OSs as well). They couldn't sell a computer with no OS, so you were left with one choice: to pay the Microsoft tax. Even when you installed OS/2, Linux, BeOS, or FreeBSD on the computer, you still had to pay for the OS you never wanted and will never use. DRM the result of copyright infringement? That is FUD, pure and simple. DRM will offer the MPAA, RIAA, and Microsoft whole new areas of abuse, that is why they want it. To say copyright infringment is hurting them on the scale they claim is absurd at best. Even when their sales have gone down (and not just the lies when their sales have really gone up), the reason is the economy (which has been in the crapper for 3 years), not to mention the fact they all make crappier and crappier products. Above post was made by moncyb |
| Date: 20 Mar, 2004 on 10:43 |
|
|
Premium member in user
       posts: 125 since: 04 Feb, 2004
 |
|
8. Re:The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
I tried to translate this Itallian page (electronically) and still it doesn't get very clear.. As I understand someone got a refund for about €275?.. But from whom or what he got this refund because as far as I understand its a pure Itallian issue.. the artikel is for Itallia only? It only works in Itally? I understand that is says "refund is possible but its extremely difficult, there are many things you have to forfull and I even read something about opening the box where the PC is packed in? And about what brand of PC you buy?". What I would likle to know then why its so locally (Itallian issue). Whom is doing the refund?.. is the Itallian M$?.. or Itallian shops?.. At the same time they say??/advice?? to buy a MAC or a second hand PC?? would be a better solution?? |
| Date: 20 Mar, 2004 on 12:07 |
|
|
Premium member in user
     posts: 53 since: 08 Mar, 2003 |
|
9. Re:The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
The article it says basically it's lenghty and difficult to get refunds and never from MShit due their way of licensing the products. It all stay in the EULA.txt file of the various versions of Win.The refund will have to come from the Supplier or Seller and not MS, so the whole thing it's passed on to them and most of the time they know or pretend to know nothing about. The thing to do it's never to use the MS OS by not accepting the licensing screen it first open when you install the system the 1st time, not even a triall. It's best to deal with the Sellers/Shop and try at least to get a discount or coupon for something else. Most Supplier/Retailer etc. they will insiste the system can't be sold w/out OS, but that's no true and the argumentation will need to take place immediateley, prior the final purchase. The Italian writer of the article resides in England now as it states, also in articles it request some feed back from others, so there might be alink to it's e mail or something on the page. I'll check it out later and let you know if I find something. It's not an Italian issue only, if anything else, in Italy with its myriad of confusing laws it's quite difficult to achieve much as anend consumer, for this the writer get lenghty on the but and ifs of the issue, other Countries are much looser on the refunds and warranty services. Here for example the Cash register receipt dosen't prove anything, only an Invoice it's proof of purchase to the law. In Green color in the article are listed Companies that did supply computer systems without MS on board, also the probe could be extended to other MS products like Word, Excel etc. if not wanted. ciao, os2power |
| Date: 20 Mar, 2004 on 13:11 |
|
|
Premium member in user
       posts: 125 since: 04 Feb, 2004
 |
|
10. Re:The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
Thanks... os2power.. Well OK.. I knew already but now its confirmed Kim, DELL should have to give you the refund.. no use to contact M$. So... don't buy anything from DELL again  They are lying!!Chris |
| Date: 21 Mar, 2004 on 02:15 |
|
|
| The Worldwide Microsoft Tax |
|
|
| All times are CET+1. |
< Prev. | P. 1 | Next > |
|