From: Gary Britt 

Does Dell pay a licensing or other fee to Microsoft on machines they ship
without Windows?  Does Dell's contracts with Microsoft require a fee for
every computer sold irrespective of whether Windows is sold with the
machine?

Gary

Rich wrote:
>    These aren't new.  Dell has been offering these for a while.
>
>    As for a supposed savings, I priced an E520 from there and an
> otherwise identical one with Windows XP Media Center and a free upgrade
> to Windows Vista.  The system with freedos was $10 cheaper.  Dell
> supports the system with Windows and it will support it with freedos.
> It doesn't support it with linux or other non-dell installed OS.
>
> Rich
>
>
>     "Ad"      > wrote in message
>     news:45b733b4$1{at}w3.nls.net...
>     Blimey are Dell turning into knowing accomplices of pirates?
>
>    
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/e510_nseries?c=us&cs=19&
l=en&s=dhs
>    
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/segtopic.aspx/e510_nseries?c=us&cs=19
&l=en&s=dhs>
>
>     "Are you looking for a desktop on which you can run LinuxR  or other
>     open-source operating systems? Look no further!
>
>     Dell's new open-source n Series desktop solution provides customers
>     with
>     a DimensionTM  E520, E521 or C521 desktop without an installed or
>     included MicrosoftR  operating system. With the n Series desktop,
>     customers have the flexibility to install an alternative operating
>     system (such as a version of LinuxR ), and help reduce the price of
>     this
>     system. In addition, the n Series desktop comes with a non-formatted
>     hard drive ready for your custom installation. Dell's n Series desktop
>     ships with a copy of FreeDosTM , an open-source operating system
>     that is
>     ready to install. "
>
>
>
>     Adam

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5