Best Buy and Linux

[montana1054]

I recently inquired at Best Buys about a new HP desktop, it came with all Windows 7 and all the bloat ware. I ask costumer service about installing Linux on it and here is their email response, which I also sent to HP to verify what they were say is the truth. I'm awaiting HP offical response about this.




From:
"Best Buy Consumer Relations" <cr@bestbuy.com>

Thank you for contacting us. I'm sorry for our delayed response to your email. Yes, if you install a Linux Operating System that will void the manufacturer's warranty. This is because you would be modifying the computer from the manufacturer's specifications. I hope this information is helpful! Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to assist you.

Best Regards,

Kelli
Best Buy Consumer Relations
68496335

[michael_cheah]

That sounds like Bull* to me. I own a HP laptop, installed openSUSE on it the first day I got it, and it did broke down multiple times (4 to be exact, the famous nVidia problem), and HP Malaysia fix it for me every time. Maybe it's a different division though, I can't say for sure about HP USA, but I'm sure you hold certain consumer rights though.

And.. what is "manufacturer's specifications"? Do the manufacturer get to say that I can't run OpenOffice.org on my Windows installation? What about SpeedFan? RMClock? You think running Windows won't hurt huh BestBuy (and virus that totally destroy the BIOS.. Good try..)

[chief_sealth]

My first PC was a Packard-Bell (no relation) and it was a POS. At one point, a PB tech person suggested to me over the phone that by installing software, I was modifying the computer from its specifications. "Stick with the pre-installed bundle," he said. That was when I scrapped it and returned it to the store.

[Jonathan_R]

Read this; Welcome to TechNewsWorld

1) Do you really want to deal with Best Buy. Dell and others sell computers with Linux preinstalled. Believe it or not, HP does to, although that is more for their enterprise customers. Workstations. But you can get them.

2) Any time you alter the device/computer from its original settings, you void the warranty. Technically, if you install software on there that it didn't come with, then you void the warranty. Add new hardware...you void the warranty. The question is, should this stop you?

When I bought my computer from Best Buy several years ago, they were configuring it before it left the store. I told them it wasn't necissary, that I was going to format Windows off and install Linux as soon as I got home. They said, "you'll void the warranty". I said "Ask me if I care". I got home, and formatted Windows off and installed Linux. I didn't even check the HCL (Hardware Compatibility List), and no recovery CD's to fall back on. The only issue I had was with the hard drive, and HP was willing to help. Turned out there was some how, some static charge, and we just needed to clear it.

So think carefully. There are other places where you can get a computer with Linux. Or, if you just don't care about the warranty, then the field is wide open. But I suspect it does, since you emailed them.

[caf4926]

I gave up even going in these stores over 3 years ago. Complete waste of space!
When I'm buying Computers, Hardware or Electronics, I know exactly what I want and it isn't even remotely like anything such stores can offer.

The closest I come to any interest is the latest showing of 'Chuck'

[palladium]

this is not the first time, nor the first vendor, who has reserved the
right to VOID the warranty if you change operating systems..

i bet if you read their warranty you will see that plainly written (if
you are a graduate of Harvard Law school, have specialized in IT and
have about a million years experience)..

think about it! pretend you were selling Linux computers and you
bought a motherboard to put into them which had a sound subsystem
engineered to work with Linux and had never been tested nor designed
for Apple, BeOS, Windows, PlayStation, Wii or any other system....and
you sold that computer with Linux...and, someone bought it, loaded
Windows and then wanted the machine fixed because the sound didn't
work.... i bet you would say no way, i sold it as a Linux machine and
if you try to change it, too bad!!

now, most folks who want to 'cheat' (and change OS) make sure they
have all that it takes to restore the machine to its factory installed
OS prior to sending the machine to a warranty station for repair..

but, the BEST way to use Linux and have a machine warranted by the
maker is to buy a machine with Linux installed by the maker..

HP sells machines pre-loaded with Linux--as does DELL, IBM, Levono,
Asus and several others..

then, if they sell it loaded with Ubuntu you are probably STUCK with
using that, or voiding the warranty....

i agree with caf, buy components and build your own

--
palladium
Ubuntu is an African word meaning "I can't set up Debian."

[Dwarfer99]

I too agree with Caf, I have never owned a brand name desktop system. My philosophy has always been, do the research, buy the components and set it up yourself. That way it is what you want, how you want it and probably at a lot less cost. Also if a component goes south, it has a warranty regardless of the operating system. I absolutely refuse to speak to the drones in the PC World type stores as most of them are care in the community cases who wouldn't know how most of the stuff works anyway. Buying main components, MBs etc., is always best done, IMO, at small shops where the owner knows what s/he's on about.

[Knurpht]

No way in the EC. No way they contacted the manufacturor.

When my previous ASUS broke down completely (mobo went berserk), the support centre even called me, asking how to move the entire content of my HDD to a new one, so that it would not hurt my openSUSE install.....It was me who forgot that the disk-ID would be different, but that was easily fixed.

[Chrysantine]

No way in the EC. No way they contacted the manufacturor.

I concur, things like this would never fly in EC - the manufacturers are required by the law to provide 12 months of warranty no matter what happens (with certain restrictions of course but installating another operating system would never, ever void the warranty).

However you might lose content on repair unless you specially specify that you had Linux or other alternative OS on the machine.

[Knurpht]

However you might lose content on repair unless you specially specify that you had Linux or other alternative OS on the machine.

I remember ASUS even advized me to stick an A4 on the laptop, stating "Contains linux OS" or something like that. They stated they did not support linux on my laptop, but that I was free to do so, no danger to warranty.