This is yet another argument on why building a computer is better than buying a pre-built box.

Dell is one of the very few OEMs that offers consumer PCs bundled with GNU/Linux instead of Windows as an option.

But let’s say for the moment you don’t like Dell for whatever reason and decide to go with another OEM like Gateway or Hewlett-Packard.

Do you have any option for a Linux distribution OS or a “No OS” option on purchase?

No.

What happens is that you’re forced to pay for Windows as being bundled with the computer in order to operate it – so the OEM states. This is part of the reason why Linux fans the world over think Microsoft is “evil” (although they aren’t because it is the OEM that’s being “evil” by doing that – not Microsoft.)

Simply put, if you want a box with absolutely no operating system on it so you can choose your own free GNU/Linux distro, you build it. The hard drive you install will be blank – which is exactly how you want it to be. Then you can install whatever you want without having to erase Windows first.

It has been proven that Dell will give a “Windows tax refund” to those with new Dell boxes who are (very) persistent. So to those who think Dell is evil, they can’t be that bad if people have been successful in getting cold hard cash back.

Even so, getting your refund is a long arduous process. It is much easier (and more fun) to just build your own box. This gives you total control over everything, and if you’re a huge anti-Microsoft type of computer user, building is always your best option; Microsoft will never see one red cent.