Get your Windows license refund(en.refund4freedom.org)
715 points by smartmic 13 days ago | 325 comments
tl;dr: The FSFE and Italian Linux Society are campaigning for consumers' right to refuse and get refunds for pre-installed Windows licenses on new laptops, arguing manufacturers shouldn't force OS purchases. The site details each major vendor's refund policies (HP and Dell refuse; Lenovo, Asus, and Acer have procedures of varying difficulty) and documents successful case histories, mostly in Italy, where users obtained refunds ranging from €40–129, often only after legal action.
HN Discussion:
  • Personal success stories obtaining Windows license refunds from manufacturers
  • Buying from Linux-friendly vendors or switching to Linux is a better alternative
  • Expecting vendors to offer OS-free hardware is unreasonable since hardware needs software
  • The root problem is Microsoft's anticompetitive OEM licensing discounts that should be challenged legally
  • ~The campaign is limited (Italy-only) and refund policies vary significantly by region and vendor