[nylug-talk] Pre installed Linux systems

[R. Drew Davis]

On Sun, 2006-12-24 at 14:32 +0000, Eric wrote:
> Gary Mort wrote:
> > Just curios, anyone know where I can order a system with Fedora Linux 
> > pre-installed?
> > 
> > I hate the idea of buying a  Windows box and wiping it to install Linux 
> > on it, but really don't feel like buying a bunch of components to put 
> > together(or more specifically, I have no problem doing it when it is my 
> > system and if I muck up the CPU installation or something the only one 
> > impacted is me.  But if I'm putting together a system for a client, I 
> > really don't want to be on the hook for a burned out CPU because I 
> > mucked up something)
> > 
> > I suppose the flavor of Linux is not too important, as I can always wipe 
> > that and do a reinstall with my preferred flavor.

> In the latest issue of Linux Journal the cover story is about a company
> called R cubed (thats R^3) that sells laptops that "completely work with
> linux".  Obviously a laptop is gonna cost you more than a desktop..
> also.. i think "emperor linux" is a company that does the same thing.
> 
> -Eric

A friend of mine has spoken highly of http://www.asacomputers.com - says
they can deliver a system with Linux or with BSD.  I tried contacting
them to ask some questions and got no replies, so your mileage may vary.

Dell sells PC's without Windows from http://www.dell.com/nseries but
they don't inatall Linux on the nseries machines, leaving that chore for
you.   They do offer Linux on some workstation models, such as

http://www.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx/precn_n?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

but they don't offer much in the way of choices of Linux on it and I
didn't like Dell's return policy:

http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/policy/en/policy?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~section=010#total

Mostly it's a 15% "restocking" fee, and no refund of Shipping and
Handling fees and you have to return the unit within 21 days of the date
on the packing slip.   For n-series machines, it's only 14 days.    You
need to get an RMA # within that returns-OK window, and then need to
ship the unit back within 5 days of getting the RMA number.    No
returns on any software that you've opened, so don't break any seals on
any CD's.  Keep all the original packing material.

Me?   I finally decided to hold onto my money except for treating my old
notebook to a bigger faster hard drive and was able to revive the
notebook so I could continue to live with it as is.

Drew