The problem is a lot of companies pay the manufacturers like Dell, HP to load on software. Google have done this, Real, and lots of less scrupulous players. So it may actually make the computer cheaper with Windows than Linux.
Of course, another reason to get Linux, unless you intend to re-install windows. This does suck if you want to not give any money to Microsoft.
I am pretty sure Microsoft don't charge $100 for the netbook version of XP.
I believe Microsoft charges OEMs $15 for XP and $50 for whichever edition of 7 which goes on netbooks. Though it wouldn't supprise me if larger vendors had a little negotiation room. Also, security companies like Mcaffee and Symatec also pay OEMs a lot to bundle their trials.
Comments
The problem is a lot of companies pay the manufacturers like Dell, HP to load on software. Google have done this, Real, and lots of less scrupulous players. So it may actually make the computer cheaper with Windows than Linux.
Of course, another reason to get Linux, unless you intend to re-install windows. This does suck if you want to not give any money to Microsoft.
I am pretty sure Microsoft don't charge $100 for the netbook version of XP.
I believe Microsoft charges OEMs $15 for XP and $50 for whichever edition of 7 which goes on netbooks. Though it wouldn't supprise me if larger vendors had a little negotiation room. Also, security companies like Mcaffee and Symatec also pay OEMs a lot to bundle their trials.