There is no real Windows tax on the netbooks. Microsoft gives marketing kickbacks to the manufacturers so the total cost ends up being zero. It is why you can't really find Linux based Netbooks anymore, there is no financial incentive for the manufacturers to pre-load Linux.
You may be able to find one if you dig long enough, but I have not seen one in almost 2 years. You can still order such a thing online. System76 sells Linux pre-loaded on machines. I am not sure if you are still technically paying the MS tax since this may be buried upstream in the cost (ie. the various suppliers of System76 may have that buried somewhere). Regardless supporting System76 is one direct way of voting with your dollars. Unfortunately local retailers will have no way of knowing this. It sucks but it is what it is. FYI, the link to the System76 netbook is: http://www.system76.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=105 On Sat, May 7, 2011 at 10:17 PM, <kw...@csa-pdk.com> wrote: > To be fair when the first windows netbooks came out, I preferred them because > they needed more resources and came with them. There is also resale option > as not everyone necessarily wants Linux. > > On the down side, you do need to pay the windows tax. > > Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network > > -----Original Message----- > From: t...@terralogic.net > Sender: clug-talk-boun...@clug.ca > Date: Sat, 7 May 2011 23:06:07 > To: CLUG General<clug-talk@clug.ca> > Reply-To: CLUG General <clug-talk@clug.ca> > Subject: Re: [clug-talk] buy Linux netbook in Calgary??? > > > Try Computer Trends. If it comes with windows I say refuse it. > > > On Sat, May 07, 2011 at 08:53:22PM -0700, Kathrin Komp wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I want to buy a netbook (preferable one from the ASUS eee pc line) with >> Linux on it. I've had one before, so I know that it does exist. However, >> whenever I go into a shop and ask for it, the salespeople just stare at me >> and point to windows-version. Does anyone know where I can get one with >> Linux on it? I live near Calgary, so that would be the best place for me to >> go looking for one. Internetshops would also be okay. >> >> Any tips and ideas are greatly appreciated. >> >> Thanks!!! >> >> Kathrin >> >> _______________________________________________ >> clug-talk mailing list >> clug-talk@clug.ca >> http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca >> Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) >> **Please remove these lines when replying > > _______________________________________________ > clug-talk mailing list > clug-talk@clug.ca > http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca > Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) > **Please remove these lines when replying > _______________________________________________ > clug-talk mailing list > clug-talk@clug.ca > http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca > Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) > **Please remove these lines when replying > _______________________________________________ clug-talk mailing list clug-talk@clug.ca http://clug.ca/mailman/listinfo/clug-talk_clug.ca Mailing List Guidelines (http://clug.ca/ml_guidelines.php) **Please remove these lines when replying
