Unfortunately Windows is not sold separately from the computer when you purchase one from Futureshop. So if you wanted to return the windows software that comes with a machine bought at Futureshop and you wanted to return it to Futureshop you would have to return the entire machine. For other options you may contact the computer manufacturer to see what they have available.
In this case, the 'installer' is the computer manufacturer -- Windows is installed on the system even before it reaches Future Shop.
Windows and the computer are part of the same retail purchase. Future Shop cannot provide a refund on the Windows license alone -- you'll need to contact the manufacturer to see what they can offer.
As a heads up as well, even if you could get a refund, it wouldn't be anything what you expect. Manufacturer's get the Windows licenses at a serious discount over what you and I would pay in store as they get them at very high quantities. For example, manufacturers can pay anywhere between $10-$50 for a license (these numbers are very much approximate and may actually be lower).
Then, the manufacturers get trial software from other companies such as Microsoft (e.g. 90 day trial of Office), Norton, etc. that they install on your computer. They also install links to companies like NetZero. These things help to subsidize the price of the computer, so if you get a computer without the OEM version of Windows installed, you would lose these subsidies.
At the end of the day, the subsidies may actually end up covering the entire cost of the OS or very close to. This means that the ultimate refund may be little more than a couple of dollars.
Basically, if you don't want a computer with Windows preinstalled, then your best bet is to purchase one that is custom built and does not have Windows installed. You'll notice that the cost of these though are typically no less than the computers with Windows preinstalled. Even the cost of Linux based laptops are typically no less than their Windows counterparts, and this is even with Linux being a free OS.
I tend to agree with Krypto on this one. Even if you could get a credit in whole or in part for the preloaded operating system it is not likely to be substantial enough to make the process worth your time. You may as well have the Windows license in the event that you decide you need or want to use it down the line in a dual boot type environment.
When you consider a full retail license of Windows 7 is sold at half the price of a new computer (or the full price of some netbooks) you need to consider the OEM versions that are loaded are substantially subsidized and otherwise discounted.
Krypto wrote:...You'll notice that the cost of these though are typically no less than the computers with Windows preinstalled. Even the cost of Linux based laptops are typically no less than their Windows counterparts, and this is even with Linux being a free OS.
Amazing reply Krypto, as usual
...
But I'll have to disagree on that last part, at least for desktop computers. If you chose to go with a custom built and chose components similar to the one found on prebuilt machines like the ones Future Shop sells, it's always (say, 99.99% of the time) going to be cheaper with a custom built computer without any OS. The problem is, you need to know how hardware works and which parts to chose to be able to save that money or you're going to end up paying fees for the assembly or for more expensive part.
But back to the topic, if you look closely at the quote taken from the wiki and read the reference for that part, you'll end up on THIS .pdf file with this line at the end:
"You may also have other rights which vary from country to country."
Once again, if you look at that quote, the price is in € (Euro), not in CAD, suggesting that this might not be valid in Canada.
I'm not a lawyer or anything like that, just my 2¢
.
Ah yes, you brought up a good point that I had purposely steered away from!
I was actually primarily comparing the price you'd get if you purchased a computer from a company (say Dell) either with or without the Windows OS. So, let's say Dell has a computer with the Windows OS on sale for $699 and lets say you could call and request a custom built computer of the exact same model, but without the OS (or with Linux instead). My guess is that the computer would still cost $699 or pretty darn close.
You caught me on my semantics, Morfanos! Good eye (as usual!).
And you're right, you can make a desktop computer for cheaper if you're a smart shopper, but if you're looking for a laptop, it'll be a bit harder to source all the parts, so the options are limited.
Well, I wrote to e-machines, and their response was surprisingly straightforward:
| Response (Amruthsen MS) | 03/02/2010 03:49 PM |
Dear Thufir Hawat,
However, that's just one vendor among many and they don't specify the amount. If I did get a refund on the OS, would that effect the hardware warranty from future shop? For e-machines, for example, I'd *definitely* want a warranty
-Thufir |
Woops, pasted the wrong thing:
the e-mail from e-machinese:
Discussion Thread
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Response (Roshan KS) - 03/03/2010 02:39 PM
Dear Thufir Hawat,
Thank you for contacting eMachines. I’ll be happy to assist you with this issue.
I understand that you are facing an issue with refund and you need to get it.
Thufir, we can refund for the operating system. In order to proceed with this, you will need to register the computer from the support site then contact our technical support department, and schedule the computer to come in to our service center.
You will need to ship this in at your expense, and we will low-level format the drive and remove the Certificate of Authenticity sticker from the bottom of the computer. We will then ship the computer back to you, and you will be able to install the operating system of your choice.
follow the link to register your computer.
http://support.gateway.com/register/default.aspx?s
For more details please contact- www.support.emachines.com
Thank you for contacting eMachines support.
Have a Great day!
Respectfully,
eMachines Online Technical Support
The simple english response of "we can refund the OS" is, again, surprisingly straight forward
I only wonder about the impact upon the hardware warranty from future shop...
-Thufir
