• LeFantome@programming.dev
    22·
    2 days ago

    Wow. $211 is a steep discount. People are going to buy with Linux just to save money, some will try it (because it is there), and some may like it and stay.

    At the very least, people may learn that Windows is no easier to install (or even harder).

    • serenissi@lemmy.world
      1·
      2 days ago

      Windows is no easier to install (or even harder).

      I’ve installed both recent windows and common distros many times by hand (where unattended wasn’t trivial) and found everything except latest windows 11 quite similar (including arch) and very easy. Current windows 11 afaik needs registry hacks but I’ve not installed one yet.

  • perestroika@lemm.ee
    12·
    2 days ago

    Shipping it with Linux is the easiest way to convince a consumer that it does run Linux. :)

  • dryfter@lemm.eeEnglish
    29·
    3 days ago

    It looks like (at least here in the U.S.) that this is the only model that allows selection of the OS. I looked at cheaper models of different product lines by them and they all include Windows 11.

    I don’t understand why companies don’t offer more Linux options these days, there’s zero excuse

    • Demdaru@lemmy.world
      2·
      2 days ago

      Instal Windows everywhere and get cheaper Windows.

      Offer Linux and lose the offer from MS.

      So, offering linux was bad for business. Was. Bevause thanks to work communities did in Linux and marketing from Steam…and Proton, Linux stopped beimg a thing you’ll easily lose clients over.

    • Aux@feddit.ukEnglish
      11·
      2 days ago

      Because no one buys Linux PCs. Dell used to sell multiple lines of laptops with Linux, but pretty much no one was buying apart from a few freaks.

  • Enceladus_One@lemm.ee
    25·
    3 days ago

    Awesome, I wish more computer manufacturers did this and actually gave you the ability to choose the OS to ship your PC with, especially with how much cheaper it is to not include Windows with activation. Wow.

    • serenissi@lemmy.world
      1·
      2 days ago

      Exactly. I currently have a notebook which is very well made. But it still sucks that I had to pay the windows license which is of no use : (

      • LouSlash@sh.itjust.works
        61·
        3 days ago

        Some time ago i checked some polish stores to compare W11 vs Linux / no OS prices and i found out that the difference isn’t flat and it’s actually about ~10% of product price (so the more expensive the notebook is - the higher the price of W11 is)

      • LeninOnAPrayer@lemm.eeEnglish
        401·
        3 days ago

        When https://massgrave.dev/ exists it’s even worse.

        I think this tax on tech illiterate people is getting too high.

        Should I start selling USB drives for $5? I don’t wanna encourage Windows. But I feel bad for the normies. $211 is insane.

        MS literally allows massgrav on GitHub. They have for years. They do not give a fuck.

        Paying for windows at this point is a normie tax. And it’s gotten too damn high!

      • TabbsTheBat@pawb.social
        8·
        3 days ago

        When I was getting my PC they tried to upsell me for a 250€ windows license even if I insisted I didn’t need one x3

    • Ulrich@feddit.orgEnglish
      7·
      3 days ago

      I hope more OEMs start showing the price like this during configuration. People would probably think A LOT harder about using Windows if they were offered a $200 discount for trying something else…

    • limerod@reddthat.com
      10·
      3 days ago

      Wait, I had to do a double take. I thought they were charging $200 extra for Fedora and Ubuntu. They could consider sending some money to those distros for development which would still be cheaper than buying windows.

  • asudox@lemmy.asudox.dev
    1411·
    3 days ago

    Let’s see who considers the Linux options when they see they can get the same machine for 200 bucks cheaper. I hope other brands start considering doing this too.

    • lemmeBe@sh.itjust.works
      301·
      3 days ago

      It’s more probable people buying cheaper and then installing Windows afterwards - a lot more probable than starting their tech life from scratch.

        • Droechai@lemm.ee
          26·
          3 days ago

          I once installed Linux on my machine and my physical keyboard magically transformed into a Dvorak keyboard and the mouse vanished, replaced by a note saying “Terminal is more ergonomic”.

          Made the setting up ritual way harder than it should have been :(

      • Ziglin (it/they)@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        3 days ago

        Then they could just not have an is preinstalled. No need for Linux first unless you don’t already have a device to create the ISO with. (Which is something I’d expect most people to have access to if they know how to install windows)

        I really do believe that this is marketed towards people who want to use Linux.

      • aski3252@lemmy.ml
        9·
        3 days ago

        People who are tech savy maybe. Most consumers have no clue how to install windows (or any OS) with an iso though.

      • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
        9·
        3 days ago

        Yep, get ISO from Microsoft’s website (don’t even need to sail for that part) then activate it using a super easy to find tool…

      • spooky2092@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
        42·
        3 days ago

        You’re really saying that they’d buy a laptop for cheap and install a new OS and aquire a key and all that? While I have your attention, are you interested in this bridge I have to sell you?

        Suggesting that the average end user is more likely to reinstall an OS and aquire a key than to just learn how to use the new OS is fucking laughable.

          • lemmeBe@sh.itjust.works
            2·
            3 days ago

            I’ve seen that on so many PCs when someone would call me that something doesn’t work on their PC. People aren’t bothered by it as one would think. 😄

        • lemmeBe@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          3 days ago

          Your POV is laughable. 😄

          Don’t you know that everybody has that one friend, nephew, neighbor, colleague etc. that they ask for advice when buying a new laptop?

          I am one of those friends, nephews, neighbors that helps out in such situations. I don’t sit on my high Linux cloud smartassing average people to throw away that little bit of tech literacy they’ve gathered over the years while using Win and Win related software for a Linux learning experience they don’t want.

          I help them out to save money and still get what they need.

          As for people that don’t have such a person, they won’t be saving money to get an OS they’ve never heard of. They’ll get the option with Win installed. If anyone thinks differently, obviously has no contact with regular people outside of tech. 😄

          • spooky2092@lemmy.blahaj.zoneEnglish
            31·
            3 days ago

            Your POV is laughable. 😄

            Right back at ya champ 😎

            Don’t you know that everybody has that one friend, nephew, neighbor, colleague etc. that they ask for advice when buying a new laptop?

            I was that guy and did front line tech support for a few years, and still do when I have to.

            Plenty don’t, or can only rely on their work IT guy who may or may not be able to help them. Assuming they have an IT guy and haven’t farmed the work out to an MSP who doesn’t always have the time to help.

            Just because your limited life experience says it doesn’t happen, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.

    • circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org
      11·
      3 days ago

      I love it.

      Though some people will certainly take it wrong. The “iPhone is more expensive because it’s better” people will happily pay their Windows tax, assuming they’re even in the market for a Lenovo.

  • Որբունի@jlai.lu
    811·
    3 days ago

    They always refused to reimburse the cost of Windows licences before this even if it was illegal in the country you lived in. I’m very surprised.

    • olympicyes@lemmy.worldEnglish
      20·
      3 days ago

      I paid about $100 less to have my workstation shipped with Ubuntu instead of Windows 10 Pro 3 years ago. United States.

    • ByteJunk@lemmy.world
      141·
      3 days ago

      The market is shifting…

      For at least half a decade I’ve been seeing computers - both brand-name laptops as well as custom built desktops - sold with FreeDOS as default, and you have to pay extra for Windows.

      The most important part is that you wouldn’t get a pc with an instant desktop experience that would just let you just boot up and go to Facebook or whatever, so it had little chance of actually harming Microsoft.

      This may actually change things!

    • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
      8·
      3 days ago

      This may help them absorb the tarrifs by advertising it at current rates while raising the price by 200 bucks.

  • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
    692·
    3 days ago

    $211?!

    Surely that can’t be US dollars, that’d be wild. The 24-hour clock also has me thinking this isn’t the US.

    Looking at the UK site, I’d 100% go for “No Operating System”, then install Fedora Workstation anyway.

      • TheGrandNagus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        20·
        3 days ago

        I know. It effectively means you pay $211 for Windows

        Which is is such a high dollar count that this simply cannot be USD, a theory further corroborated by the time being 24-hour format, which is uncommon in the US.

        I was simply curious to what type of dollar it is in the image. Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, something else?

        • GamingChairModel@lemmy.world
          4·
          3 days ago

          Which is is such a high dollar count that this simply cannot be USD

          So I haven’t used Windows on my own machines in about 20 years, but back when I built my own PCs that seemed about right. So I looked up the price history, didn’t realize that Microsoft reduced the license prices around Windows 8.

          I remember 20 years ago, Windows XP Home was $199 and Professional was $299 for a new license on a new computer. Vista and 7 were similarly priced.

          Since Windows 8, though, I just don’t understand their pricing or licensing terms.

        • porous_grey_matter@lemmy.ml
          21·
          2 days ago

          24-hour time is equally uncommon in Australia and New Zealand, but it looks like it could be one of them based on the currency conversion, could also be Singapore though, which has Dollars very close in value to those

        • letzlo@feddit.nlEnglish
          3·
          3 days ago

          I’m not that surprised. I believe it costs less on itself but there might be a surcharge for installation.

  • alehel@lemmy.zip
    3·
    2 days ago

    Interesting. Only Fedora seems to be available in Norway.

    I’m still 2 years away from a new work laptop (my current one is doing just fine anyway), but when the time comes, I might go for this. Was thinking about going ThinkPad+Linux anyway.