this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2025
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And for some reason when I buy a laptop I need to also pay for that disgusting spyware. How is this scam still going on?
Yeah, the OEM deals in themselves are shady as fuck once you think about it for a couple seconds.
MafiaSoft is definitely taking their piece of the action, but laptops from smaller companies like System76 end up costing a fair amount more extra for equivalent hardware than the $50-$100 tax you’re otherwise paying for an OS you’re going to promptly replace. I’d say vote with your wallet, but I realize not everyone can afford to do so.
There are alternatives. I bought a Lenovo direct from their site with no OS installed. The saving from not having Windows was enough to afford double the RAM.
Yeah, the lack of mass production causes higher prices. Framework and system76 are doing good things and deserve support. However, the issue imo is a legislative one. You shouldn't be forced to purchase an operating system with your hardware.
Couldn’t agree more. Feels quite monopolistic that everyone buying mass-produced, commodity hardware is also forced to buy a Windows license.
Only when you buy a windows laptop. You can buy MacOS, Android, chromeOS, linux laptops.
You can also buy a framework which doesn’t come with anything
ChromeOS and android are about to be the same thing. I know you can buy laptops with Linux for a while (e.g., RHEL on IBM/Lenovo machine); however, it is definitely not the norm. It's getting much better now, but if you want your choice of hardware it's probably going to ship with windows. MacOS is quickly becoming a walled Garden too. I just want to be refunded for an operating system that I immediately wipe, and everyone else should too.