My computer is six years old, which is getting a little long in the tooth. It’s still running fine, but I’m worried that things could start breaking, so maybe it’s better to be proactive and get a new computer now.
When I bought this computer, I was still a Windows user. About four years ago, I switched over to Linux. I did the dual-boot thing for a couple of months, then I went all in, and never looked back.
So, when I buy a new computer, the first thing I’m going to do is boot it to a USB stick, wipe the current partitions, and install Linux from scratch. I know I could buy a computer with Linux pre-installed, but I doubt I’ll find one with my preferred distro (Kubuntu), though I admit I haven’t looked into it.
I do play games, but mostly older ones (Baldur’s Gate, Morrowind, Oblivion, to name a few). The only current game I play is Elder Scrolls Online. So I do want to buy a gaming rig, but it doesn’t need to be top-of-the-line. Getting something with a graphics card capable of 4K would be nice, so that I can upgrade my monitors at some point in the near future. I’m thinking this limits my choices if I choose to buy a computer with Linux pre-installed.
So the question is: how much of the cost of a Windows computer goes to Microsoft towards a Windows license that I will never use? Is it worth it to shop around for a computer that comes with Linux to save a little money, even if I still have to start over with Kubuntu? My Google-fu is not strong, I’m only getting hits like “how much does Windows 10 cost?”
I assume rather little. You can buy single-use OEM keys for around $10. Which aren’t really intended to be resold but gives a reference for what they cost any major system builder. I wouldn’t be surprised if places like HP and Dell are paying, at most, a few bucks a pop given their volume. Retail purchases of Win10 is what kills ya.
Generally most new computers, it costs negative money to get with Windows vs Linux, because they get paid by the shovelware installers to pre-install Norton or McAfee, stupid mobile games, etc.
Ah yes, and I don’t care if the computer comes chock-full of garbage, because I’ll be wiping it anyway. Ok, cool, thanks guys. I won’t worry about the Windows license.
I get computers custom built rather than ‘off the shelf’ That way you get the components you want. Typically it doesn’t cost any more. If you go that route just tell the builder to not bother installing the operating system (Windows). Otherwise you’d not only be paying for the Windows license, but also for the installation time/labour.
Almost impossible to get a decent GPU these days without going through a system integrator though. Either someone like Dell or one of the major gaming oriented ones (Cyberpower, iBuyPower, etc). They tend to have Win10 baked into the price.
Most of those online builders, they charge the same price as if you bought Windows 10 retail, so about $100 for Home 64-bit, another $29 on top of that for Pro.
Sorry if I was unclear. Nowadays, most builders just include that by default, but if you call them and specifically ask for no OS, it’ll be $100 less.
This seems to have been a relatively recent change; I look at custom builders’ sites in my work downtime a lot and as recently as early last year, most of the custom build forms started with “No OS” by default, and you had to then select a Windows version if you wanted them to install it, as this kept the initial advertised price lower, but it seems that most of them now include Windows 10 Home by default and the price starts $100 higher than it would have been before.
In that case, I’d be tempted to have them remove the OS and install it myself.
I actually built my own computer. It was before the chip shortage, so I had access to GPUs.
But then I decided to wait a bit for used prices to go down when the new cards would be released, which, of course, was the opposite of what happened. Now I’m stuck on my GT 1030, which now sells used for double what I paid for it new. (I can’t sell it, though, as then I’d have no graphics at all.)
Struth. We built all systems over the past decade save for the last. We had planned a new build for my wife’s desktop, but ended up getting a prefab from Corsair with a RTX 30something. I repurposed her old 1070.
Yep, it’s a desktop. I’ve never had a computer for this long without doing major upgrades. I’m basing my statement off of my experience from 20 to 30 years ago, though, when parts were obsolete in a short time, and/or didn’t last very long.
I recently bought a new custom computer. It was put together by a local shop that’s been around a good number of years. It’s a PC so Windows is the operating system. No other option but Windows 10 these days. I’d held off buying as long as I could because, well, Windows 10. My main computer was a Windows 7 machine and it’s 9 years old (i think) so it was time.
I suggested I’d like to install the operating system myself but the shop said they like to do it to make sure, blah, blah, blah. OK, whatever.
Anyway, the reason I post is to say I spent the next couple days or so getting rid of all the proprietary rubbish - complete and total rubbish - that comes with Windows 10. Why I’d held off for so long in the first place.
So if you’re an experienced user who likes to be in charge of your own computing rather than have the operating system dictate what the software is that you use and how you use it, then save yourself some grief and install the operating system yourself. Presumably you would be able to deselect a lot of the crap that Windows (Microsoft) wants to install.
All told I’d say I screwed around for about a week, off & on, getting the new computer to look & behave more like Windows 7. Windows 10 has moved a lot of familiar things. Renamed them and changed the appearance of them for no apparent or logical reason other than change for the sake of change. Kind of like someone who likes to rearrange furniture, just because.
However I concede that Windows 10 is very responsive. Starts up really fast etc. Will have to wait until I’ve filled the drive with a load of software & files to see if that responsiveness holds.
If I use my corporate account to shop for a custom-built HP Probook 650 G8 laptop from HP, here’s what their little builder widget gives me as choices for operating system:
Windows 10 Pro: Included
Windows 10 Home: -$92
FreeDOS: -$233
So for this model of HP laptop, the cost to include Windows ranges from $141 to $233. Of course, that’s what HP is charging and includes whatever they’ve built in as overhead – it’s not necessarily just their cost for the Windows license.
Might not be the right crowd for this but as an aside WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) might be a viable option if you want to keep Ubuntu (and load KDE). There are still a few issues to deal with there, but it’s already a viable option for the majority of users who’d want Linux on the desktop and improving all the time.
For servers, Linux all the way, of course, but WSL may both simultaneously kill and save Linux on the desktop.
That thought crossed my mind but who knows what Windows 11 will bring. Probably a lot more ‘social’ type functions I would guess. Cameras; interactions. I have little interest in that. It also is usually a couple years after release before obvious bugs are worked out with updates & newer releases.
My computer is showing some promise now. It took a bit of effort and getting used to. I was in a pretty vulgar frame of mind about it for several days.