Comment on Lenovo Cuts the Windows Tax and offers Cheaper Laptops with Linux Pre-installed

Buffalox@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

• GhostlyPixel@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Yeah I didn’t believe that amount, looked it up, and it looks like digital W11 Home keys are $139 USD directly from Microsoft.

  I’m surprised manufacturers aren’t getting some sort of license discount.

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  • slumberlust@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    They are, but likely not passing the savings on.

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  • Buffalox@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    When Microsoft battled Android to make their own phones, they demanded a $35 license fee for “Microsoft Patents” on Android!.
    AFAIK that was about the same as a Windows OEM license! Just about every Android phone maker folded and agreed to pay!

    So IDK Microsoft can be very aggressive in their license pricing. There are also different versions of Windows, and a multi language is AFAIK more expensive.

    Still for me it would be absolutely insane to pay that much, as I would just format it anyway, and install Linux.

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  • IronKrill@lemmy.ca ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    If I were to guess, I’d say they may get a discount but Lenovo could be reducing their margin to incentivize people away from Windows so they can stop paying out Windows licenses in the future.

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    • GhostlyPixel@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      That makes the most sense

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• sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

  Yeah, they only gave me like $50 or so off when I told them I didn’t want the Windows license. Granted, it shipped w/ Linux, so they likely still paid for the license, but still.

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  • Buffalox@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

    We had a campaign here several years ago, and $50 was the accepted rate most places.
    I don’t think you can legally demand it anymore, but you used to be able to demand that windows was removed, and you were compensated for the price of the license.
    Here in EU what made that possible was AFAIK regulation about anti competitive practices.

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    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago

      Exactly. And my understanding is that they pay something close to the retail rate, whereas they get a discounted rate from Microsoft, so they’re getting shafted multiple ways.

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