Quite correct Neville, I do not like Windows or their hang on companies. I have Windows 11 on a laptop, this is only because my volunteer work with the CFA (Victorian) fire brigade uses it and only it. A bit of a bother what with everything popping up while trying to do volunteer work. If something different crops up, then it is pay, pay, pay. Not a good way to keep a volunteer. (50 years and gaining).
Rodney Jackson
Good on you Rodney. I never volunteered for the RFS ( NSW Rural Fire Service) but I have been in emergency teams fighting grass fires out west. It is great to see how so many people help when there is a need.
Regards
Neville
to all the volunteer Rural Fire Service and emergency teams fighting grass fires, plus those at sea in the RNLI or similar, ST Johns, Red Cross or similar.
Thank you for your kind words Neville.
P.S. You have helped me out in the past with various Linux problems.
Again,
Thank You.
Rod.
I just want to point out that I raised this topic here in January 2023, and it was pretty well discussed. Except for one thing: it should be illegal for any manufacturer to have such firm control over what we can and cannot use, and I would be grateful to know if there have been any attempts to break this virtual monopoly.
I am guessing you chose the wrong place to purchase your computer. As I stated earlier, I purchased my computer at a local computer shop, when asked what I wanted installed, I answered nothing to do with Microsoft or Windows, I wanted it bare so I could load Ubuntu 2004. They knocked off the price of Windows and sold it to me as a bare machine, I took it home and installed Ubuntu 2004, no problems.
Think the difficulty of trying to break the link between makers of computers and Microsoft is almost imposible … MS control the operating system and need more speed and power to make it run so makers have to sell new boxes with bigger faster disks memory etc so they are all incestuous making sales for each other. Yes linux runs on older boxes and not as big a demand so no interest to upgrade.
An individual can break it , just like @Rodney_Jackson did.
but
what you mean is how to stop them forcing the link onto people who do not understand.?
Nothing short of government legislation would do that.
There is hope. Our Government is currently trying to stop teenagers using social media… I they succeed with that they can do anything.
@nevj
Yes, it is still an individual choice as to how a PC is used, but most are just to lazy to explore other options!!!
Its good that someone got a empty machine to be able to install what they want in terms of operating system and better still it was at reduced price.
But not everyone is capable of that.
Many years back we had the browser wars and Microsoft were forced to make available a selection of browsers to choose to install.
Perhaps the computers should come with a startup menu where you choose windows, linux (version… mint, ubuntu, etc) at the first switch on , then go from that.
But its a major move on makers and which version of linux ?
I still get calls from people saying just bought a computer can i go and install it, they really mean set it up, connect it to internet and get their gmail working. Some want files transfering but most just dont know where to start
There is a place for a third part to help with that.
If we can have insurance brokers, why can we not have operating system brokers or computer purchase brokers.?
But that should be your local computer shop.
A client of mine had his computer stop whilst i was on holiday, did not want to bother me, so went to a shop, there are 3 in one town and 1 in another, none of them would help with his linux problem. I desperation, he chose one shop who took linux off and installed windows as that was the problem ! … 125 euros later armed with windows 7 he still could not get the drawing tablet to work, which was the issue to start with.
Couple of hours of my time, linux back on, drawing table connected and working no problem, it was just missing the software to use it.
Expensive lesson for him.
But how these shops make money
Especially for this group is Chromebook or the Flex a viable good alternative option. So they kick one big-tech giant (MS) in favor of another ( Google).
But they nearly all take the easy way out and just flog windows boxes. They are as lazy as most consumers.
I want a broker who will look at all options and find me the best for my purpose.
Ideal world Neville, but reality is Money talks, who gives best return on investment. Like the dealers of printers or computers, this week buy X because its on promotion, either we have a big stock to shift or the profit margin, commission is bigger on this brand.
Every industry is the same, buy a car better take out a loan because the loan company gives a commission on value sold.
This one insults me yet, first I did not want to react on this.
But I feel so upset, and it doesn’t calm until I write it out, so… sorry.
This is SCAM! I’d be knocking on the shops door with a battering ram claiming a refund. 
Probably I would be arrested, but anyway…
Ehhhh…
Sorry for the rant!
Now it’s better.
Sorry, how did i offend you ?
Do you work in a shop selling boxes ?
I would never knowingly offend anyone, so if, so please accept my apologies
My experiences are mainly with english based shops
A friend who is a car dealer explained how the commission system worked for him on profit margins , he would never accept or offer a reduction for cash always wanted to sell the loan even for silly amounts on second hand cars.
I think I worded it wrong.
It was not you, but that shop in that story, which have put Windows onto that machine, ripped your client off, took his money for nothing.
I imagined, I’d pay for solving a problem, the workshop does something (equals to nothing), I pay for it, but the problem stays or gets even worse.
I had to write my words, as my blood pressure was rising.
Glad i did not offend you.
Sometimes words get mixed up when not your first language, or in anger, or just because.
Although english is my first language i spend every day speaking french so sometimes i cannot find an english word or write it wrong, but its even worse if i try to write in french… google sometimes is worse than me !
Yes rip off shops dont help, but in this case my client talks to so many people they all know the rip off that happens and how I sorted it and did not charge. I am at a place in life where i can work for nothing and get the benefits later, nice bottle of wine instead.
You are saying that the best deal for me is not the same as the best deal for the shopkeeper.
That could only be because I lack willpower and get sucked in by promotions.