Vendors sell OS-free laptops

Two leading hardware vendors, Dell and Lenovo, are quietly selling laptops without preloaded Microsoft Windows to Linux customers who know where to look, says Lincoln Durey, CEO of EmperorLinux, an Atlanta reseller that customizes, installs and supports Linux on the major-brand laptops it sells.

Durey says that “basically all of the Latitudes” are now available without an OS. EmperorLinux sells Dell’s D420, D520, D620, D820, D620ATG, and M90 with Linux. Of those models, only the ruggedized D620ATG and the M90, which is part of the Precision series, require the customer to buy preloaded Microsoft Windows, he says.

Dell has been smoothing out the ordering process for the Windows-free laptops since introducing the option last month, Durey says.

“There were some ordering hiccups. They would call back and say we can’t do that, and you would say, you can do it,” he says. EmperorLinux’s two most popular Dell laptops are the D820, available without a Microsoft licence, and the M90, which is not.

Customers aren’t saving money by passing up the OS licence, though. “The Dell price is identical. Windows or nothing, it is exactly the same to the penny,” Durey says. “I’ve actually seen one-time discounts on the Windows side that are not reflected on the Linux side for a week, so you could end up getting the Windows ones cheaper,” he adds.

Lenovo, however, passes on a savings of about US$40 to customers who order ThinkPads without the Microsoft licence, Durey says. Currently EmperorLinux sells some T Series ThinkPad models without the Microsoft licence, but Durey says he has not yet been able to order an X series ThinkPad except with the licence.

“The nice thing about not having the OS licence is that it will lower the total cost of the solution,” says Randy Hickel,

Would you recommend this article?

Share

Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think of this article!
We'd love to hear your opinion about this or any other story you read in our publication.


Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

Featured Download

Featured Articles

Cybersecurity in 2024: Priorities and challenges for Canadian organizations 

By Derek Manky As predictions for 2024 point to the continued expansion...

Survey shows generative AI is a top priority for Canadian corporate leaders.

Leaders are devoting significant budget to generative AI for 2024 Canadian corporate...

Related Tech News

Tech Jobs

Our experienced team of journalists and bloggers bring you engaging in-depth interviews, videos and content targeted to IT professionals and line-of-business executives.

Tech Companies Hiring Right Now