July 27, 2010 at 14:01How manufacturers limit the choice of laptops with "alternative" operating systems
I was puzzled a week ago by buying a cheap laptop for home: work, watch a movie and surf the Internet via WiFi. Previously, I read a small blog post by Arkady Shane, where he called the cost of the Microsoft Windows 7 Pro license in 12-13 tr.
So I thought, how can a buyer even buy a laptop without an imposed OS, and how much does the Microsoft product license really cost him.
Of course, I do not pretend to a full and objective assessment in the article, two days browsing the catalogs of Internet shops and one day off spent traveling around three computer shops and then, for fun, four electronics trading networks will not make up a full picture, but will give a rough idea.
Firstly, the question was raised whether there are a lot of laptops that can be purchased without a pre-installed operating system. Secondly, are there really the same laptop configurations sold with or without Microsoft Windows license (FreeDOS, Linux) and what is the difference in the configuration of laptops. And of course, thirdly, the difference in cost of the same models.
To be objective, I looked through the catalogs of several online stores operating in Yekaterinburg and for one compared with the prices of Moscow stores. As a result, I will quote prices for one of their stores, but I won’t call it, the service they have is for blondes, the consultants have the corresponding erudition and the methods of “steaming” the goods.
Let's start in order.
1. Laptops without an operating system are not sold at all, but consultants categorize everything, without exception, laptops without Microsoft Windows (we don’t consider re: Store and MacBook, we don’t buy such things by accident). Moreover, lobbying Microsoft products (otherwise I can’t explain) leads to the fact that laptops most often install FreeDOS or Linux without a graphical shell. Almost all Linux laptops that I viewed on sale had only the kernel and, accordingly, were loaded in command line mode, while working in single-user mode. About partitioning the disk into two equal partitions, one of which was reserved for Linux and was formatted in ext2 (wtf?), And the second in NTFS (I remind you that there was no Microsoft OS on the laptop) I better keep silent. Out of everything I looked at, only two laptops had preinstalled Ubuntu Linux (09.
But in general, there is a choice and it is not as small as I expected. However, despite the fact that I read a lot of notes about the "good company" Dell that produces laptops with Linux, the choice was minimal in the assortment of this company. Sony did not light up a single model with "alternative" operating systems. The richest to choose were (descending) Acer, Asus, Lenovo. Other players had two or three models, in my opinion only for a “tick”.
Thus, the purchase of a laptop is limited to models with a graphical interface.Spherical customer in a vacuum A random customer will not understand the technical characteristics of the same models with or without an OS, and even less will think about how to install the OS later and where to look for drivers for the equipment.
Moreover, in only one of the all-in-one stores - selling electronics from vacuum cleaners to home theaters, I was able to find a laptop without a Windows operating system, and the consultant assured me that the difference in cost would not exceed 100 rubles, so I it’s worth bothering a penny saving. ”
2. The same laptop configurations were also found, which is more than logical, producing different models for different operating systems is not profitable. But at the same time, several models did not fall under the comparison for a simple reason. On identical laptops with all characteristics, different amounts of RAM were installed. Most often, 3GB for Windows 7 and 2GB for Linux versions.
In the completeness of delivery there are also minor differences. Linux versions of laptops do not have any driver disks at all, or a single driver disk for Windows Vista / 7 is included. Neither any utilities from the manufacturer, nor any drivers for Linux were found on the pre-installed systems.
In addition, almost all laptops “without an operating system” are in the category “up to 20t.r.” or “20 with a tail.” And are the simplest working machines. Something with the original design already has a preinstalled system from theevil corporation Microsoft.
Here, however, I am vice versa, I will say thanks to the manufacturers. After all, if someone just needs a working mobile computer, then it is unlikely that an unusual, or even more so, exclusive, design will be needed. And later, no one limits the owner of the laptop in turning their pet into something original.
Most of all the Acer models that came to me and the good (but smaller) part of Asus laptops were matte (!), Which again speaks of their working purpose. In general, I can hardly imagine, let’s say, a service provider who sets up the Internet for a client on a glamorous glossy laptop in the middle of the technical floor of a high-rise building.
3. And finally, the price range ...
At Asus, the price range is strictly graded 500 and 1000 r. depending on version of Microsoft Windows 7
14 "Notebook Asus (K40IJ) (HD) CM T3100 (1.9) / 2048/250 / X4500 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Linux - 17 49 rub.
14" Notebook Asus (K40IJ) (HD) CM T3100 (1.9) / 2048 / 250 / X4500 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / MS Win7 - 17 995 RUR
15.6 "Notebook Asus (K50IJ) (HD) CM T3300 (2.0) / 2048/250 / X4500 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Cam / Linux - 19,99 rub.
15.6" Notebook Asus (K50IJ) (HD) CM T3300 (2.0) / 2048/250 / X4500 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Cam / MS Win7 - 20 995 RUR
Acer’s situation is a little less unambiguous, since it is the laptops of this manufacturer that are seen in different RAM volumes for different delivery bundles, which may be why, or maybe for some reason, but the cost difference is different for different models and reaches 1600r.
15.6 "Notebook Acer eMachines EME440-1202G16Mi (HD) AMD Sempron V120 (2.2) / 2048/160 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Linux - 16 495Р.
15.6 "Notebook Acer eMachines EME440-1202G16Mi (HD) AMD Sempron V120 (2.2) / 2048/160 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / MS Win7 Starter - 17 795Р
difference. 1 300 rubles .
15.6" Notebook Acer eMachines EME730G-333G25Miks (HD ) i3 330M (2.13) / 3072/250 / ATi HD5470 512 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Cam / Linux - 23 995 RUR
15.6 "Notebook Acer eMachines EME730G-333G25Mi (HD) i3 330M (2.13) / 3072/250 / ATi HD5470 512 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Cam / MS Win7 - 25 595 rubles. The
difference is 1 600 rubles.
And this is with OS cost compensation Windows for Microsoft Windows 7 Starter - 400 rubles, and Home Basic - 810 rubles.
As a result, I bought a laptop in the console assembly Linpus Linux from Acer, which came with a single drive with drivers for Windows 7.
The seven itself, borrowed on the Internet for review, was installed flawlessly, the only unpleasant moment came up when I decided to download the latest versions of the hardware drivers. The drivers on the attached disk were newer than on the Russian Acer mirror.
On the newly installed Fedora Linux, there were no problems with the hardware either, except for the fact that the WiFi module, which turned off completely on Windows, pretended to be turned off on Linux, but continued to wink with an activity diode. And so - it all worked out of the box, which indicates a good level of device support in any modern operating system.
The fact that the manufacturer earns in any case is not anything reprehensible. But the fact that there is practically no alternative to Windows on laptops, and, moreover, they put the user in a position where he does not suspect that this alternative exists or, for a number of reasons, is forced to abandon it, causes me some ... annoyance.
Currently, the market for mobile devices and laptops is formed by several corporations, but not by the consumer. The average consumer does not have the opportunity to come and say, I want this and that, how much will it cost? He is confronted with the fact ofmoving to the dark side of power, we have liver function , we have this one and this one more, don't like it - get used to it.
So I thought, how can a buyer even buy a laptop without an imposed OS, and how much does the Microsoft product license really cost him.
Of course, I do not pretend to a full and objective assessment in the article, two days browsing the catalogs of Internet shops and one day off spent traveling around three computer shops and then, for fun, four electronics trading networks will not make up a full picture, but will give a rough idea.
Firstly, the question was raised whether there are a lot of laptops that can be purchased without a pre-installed operating system. Secondly, are there really the same laptop configurations sold with or without Microsoft Windows license (FreeDOS, Linux) and what is the difference in the configuration of laptops. And of course, thirdly, the difference in cost of the same models.
To be objective, I looked through the catalogs of several online stores operating in Yekaterinburg and for one compared with the prices of Moscow stores. As a result, I will quote prices for one of their stores, but I won’t call it, the service they have is for blondes, the consultants have the corresponding erudition and the methods of “steaming” the goods.
Let's start in order.
1. Laptops without an operating system are not sold at all, but consultants categorize everything, without exception, laptops without Microsoft Windows (we don’t consider re: Store and MacBook, we don’t buy such things by accident). Moreover, lobbying Microsoft products (otherwise I can’t explain) leads to the fact that laptops most often install FreeDOS or Linux without a graphical shell. Almost all Linux laptops that I viewed on sale had only the kernel and, accordingly, were loaded in command line mode, while working in single-user mode. About partitioning the disk into two equal partitions, one of which was reserved for Linux and was formatted in ext2 (wtf?), And the second in NTFS (I remind you that there was no Microsoft OS on the laptop) I better keep silent. Out of everything I looked at, only two laptops had preinstalled Ubuntu Linux (09.
But in general, there is a choice and it is not as small as I expected. However, despite the fact that I read a lot of notes about the "good company" Dell that produces laptops with Linux, the choice was minimal in the assortment of this company. Sony did not light up a single model with "alternative" operating systems. The richest to choose were (descending) Acer, Asus, Lenovo. Other players had two or three models, in my opinion only for a “tick”.
Thus, the purchase of a laptop is limited to models with a graphical interface.
Moreover, in only one of the all-in-one stores - selling electronics from vacuum cleaners to home theaters, I was able to find a laptop without a Windows operating system, and the consultant assured me that the difference in cost would not exceed 100 rubles, so I it’s worth bothering a penny saving. ”
2. The same laptop configurations were also found, which is more than logical, producing different models for different operating systems is not profitable. But at the same time, several models did not fall under the comparison for a simple reason. On identical laptops with all characteristics, different amounts of RAM were installed. Most often, 3GB for Windows 7 and 2GB for Linux versions.
In the completeness of delivery there are also minor differences. Linux versions of laptops do not have any driver disks at all, or a single driver disk for Windows Vista / 7 is included. Neither any utilities from the manufacturer, nor any drivers for Linux were found on the pre-installed systems.
In addition, almost all laptops “without an operating system” are in the category “up to 20t.r.” or “20 with a tail.” And are the simplest working machines. Something with the original design already has a preinstalled system from the
Here, however, I am vice versa, I will say thanks to the manufacturers. After all, if someone just needs a working mobile computer, then it is unlikely that an unusual, or even more so, exclusive, design will be needed. And later, no one limits the owner of the laptop in turning their pet into something original.
Most of all the Acer models that came to me and the good (but smaller) part of Asus laptops were matte (!), Which again speaks of their working purpose. In general, I can hardly imagine, let’s say, a service provider who sets up the Internet for a client on a glamorous glossy laptop in the middle of the technical floor of a high-rise building.
3. And finally, the price range ...
At Asus, the price range is strictly graded 500 and 1000 r. depending on version of Microsoft Windows 7
14 "Notebook Asus (K40IJ) (HD) CM T3100 (1.9) / 2048/250 / X4500 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Linux - 17 49 rub.
14" Notebook Asus (K40IJ) (HD) CM T3100 (1.9) / 2048 / 250 / X4500 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / MS Win7 - 17 995 RUR
15.6 "Notebook Asus (K50IJ) (HD) CM T3300 (2.0) / 2048/250 / X4500 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Cam / Linux - 19,99 rub.
15.6" Notebook Asus (K50IJ) (HD) CM T3300 (2.0) / 2048/250 / X4500 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Cam / MS Win7 - 20 995 RUR
Acer’s situation is a little less unambiguous, since it is the laptops of this manufacturer that are seen in different RAM volumes for different delivery bundles, which may be why, or maybe for some reason, but the cost difference is different for different models and reaches 1600r.
15.6 "Notebook Acer eMachines EME440-1202G16Mi (HD) AMD Sempron V120 (2.2) / 2048/160 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Linux - 16 495Р.
15.6 "Notebook Acer eMachines EME440-1202G16Mi (HD) AMD Sempron V120 (2.2) / 2048/160 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / MS Win7 Starter - 17 795Р
difference. 1 300 rubles .
15.6" Notebook Acer eMachines EME730G-333G25Miks (HD ) i3 330M (2.13) / 3072/250 / ATi HD5470 512 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Cam / Linux - 23 995 RUR
15.6 "Notebook Acer eMachines EME730G-333G25Mi (HD) i3 330M (2.13) / 3072/250 / ATi HD5470 512 / DVD-SMulti / WiFi / Cam / MS Win7 - 25 595 rubles. The
difference is 1 600 rubles.
And this is with OS cost compensation Windows for Microsoft Windows 7 Starter - 400 rubles, and Home Basic - 810 rubles.
As a result, I bought a laptop in the console assembly Linpus Linux from Acer, which came with a single drive with drivers for Windows 7.
The seven itself, borrowed on the Internet for review, was installed flawlessly, the only unpleasant moment came up when I decided to download the latest versions of the hardware drivers. The drivers on the attached disk were newer than on the Russian Acer mirror.
On the newly installed Fedora Linux, there were no problems with the hardware either, except for the fact that the WiFi module, which turned off completely on Windows, pretended to be turned off on Linux, but continued to wink with an activity diode. And so - it all worked out of the box, which indicates a good level of device support in any modern operating system.
The fact that the manufacturer earns in any case is not anything reprehensible. But the fact that there is practically no alternative to Windows on laptops, and, moreover, they put the user in a position where he does not suspect that this alternative exists or, for a number of reasons, is forced to abandon it, causes me some ... annoyance.
Currently, the market for mobile devices and laptops is formed by several corporations, but not by the consumer. The average consumer does not have the opportunity to come and say, I want this and that, how much will it cost? He is confronted with the fact of