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Neil Williams wrote: > On Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:27:06 +0000 > > Nice to see the reverse for once - so many still think that Windows is > easy to install and everything else is hard. It just isn't true. As you say it is common. Worse the OEM integrators often bundle a load of software you don't want in Microsoft Windows (often stuff they are paid to bundle onto YOUR new machine). Running old Windows versions on newer hardware is a nightmare compared to GNU/Linux where you can usually just upgrade the kernel (or in the case of Debian a couple of times I've had to use a newer version of the Debian installer to install older versions of Debian). Either way on GNU/Linux it is usually just boot from normal installation media and change some settings, rather than anything complex. Typically you find drivers weren't written, or the drivers are restricted by agreement with Microsoft. For boring rack mountable, no funny hardware servers from DELL I had to create my own W2K install CD with SP4 and some drivers slipstreamed into the installation just to get the installer working. Personally I think Rob should buy from a vendor who supports Linux directly, rather than messing around with refunds from a company notorious for poor support of Linux. That said I think Acer make nice laptops, and the folks at the repair centre near Plymouth were helpful when I needed them and not too scared by my laptop booting something other than Windows. They were slightly phased by a end user turning up in person I think. -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html