The Old Microsoft Rug Pull Trick
So as well as being extremely happy with my new laptops performance under Ubuntu Feisty Fawn, I wanted to see how far I could push the manufacturer/distributor of my laptop in the direction of refunding me for my unwanted (bloated) copy of Windows XP Professional.
So after reading the necessary documents and arming myself with the relevant texts and this passage from the Windows XP Professional EULA (from microsoft.com)…
YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS EULA BY INSTALLING, COPYING, OR OTHERWISE USING THE PRODUCT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, DO NOT INSTALL OR USE THE PRODUCT; YOU MAY RETURN IT TO YOUR PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR A FULL REFUND.
…I began writing my high-horse-riding, pompous-cap-wearing emails of indignant displeasure, even before I got my laptop in my hand. When I finally set about the process of turning on my laptop, I had my camera phone in hand, ready to photograph every step of the EULA rejection process (a nod towards David Mitchell).
How deflated did I feel when I got to the EULA screen in the OEM setup and read this?…
By installing, copying, downloading, accessing or otherwise using
the SOFTWARE, you agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA.
If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, you may not use or
copy the SOFTWARE, and you should promptly contact Manufacturer
for instructions on return of the unused product(s) in accordance
with Manufacturer’s return policies.
VERY! “in accordance with manufacturer’s return policies….”
Damn them….
A Fortnight later….
Its been two weeks since I last posted to my oh-so-neglected blog. Ah well…. So whats going on on this side? I hear you cry. In short…not much.
Got my laptop, and I’m incredibly pleased with it. Ubuntu Feisty Fawn Beta has blown me away, giving me Wireless Roaming and composite-Desktop-Effects OUT OF THE BOX. Very tidy I thought. Absolutely no problems with it except that the brightness keys seem to just turn the screen off for a split second *shrugs*.
No update to my photos yet, even though I have quite a few to add, due to the whole _phone being stolen_ incident, but soon my children.
In the meantime, why not have a look at the most amazing youtube video EVER.
Good ol’ Nintendo.
Later.
Everything moves in circles…
So the weekend eh?
Well I went home for the first time in about a month. Young O’Neill had returned from his cat infested bedsit in ‘Worthing’, just long enough for the imbibing of vast quantities of Harp and a thorough trouncing of J.C. & co and the good ol’ quiz. But despite the enormous sense of victory (and the 3 pound each cash prize), my mood was foul, for beloved Sony Ericsson k800i decided to take its leave of me…..
The Silver Beauty is missing, presumed dead. But no worries eh? I just popped on the phone to O2 and some pleasant scottish girl, and a not-so-pleasant english git, barred my phone and sent me out a replacement. Nice.
Also to boost my spirits just a tad I ordered my laptop. A sleek Lenovo/IBM Thinkpad r60e, which lines up as follows:
- Intel Centrino Core Duo T2300E 1.66GHz
- 1024MB DDR2-667MHz (expandable to 3GB )
- Integrated Intel GMA 950
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 15.0″ TFT
- 80GB S-ATA
- DVD Writer
- 802.11 a/b/g
- Bluetooth
…and a nice 5.2 hours (average) battery life, weighing in at 2.3kg, repeat after me….TASTY. Comes with a (fully-bloated) XP Professional installed with a FREE* Vista Upgrade Disk. Might install Vista just so I can KNOW why I should hate it, rather than just assuming, but then its being completely purged of its factory-induced swelling, and graced with the presence of the Feisty Fawn.
Freedom!
BeboMess – annoy people!
Gallery has been refreshed
Here, you, aye…you. Ya lack-lustre indefinable excuse for blog-readers, check out the new albums in the gallery. 3 Albums and 53 Photos, covering everything from The Union, to Glasgow, maybe even a silent nod towards Boston.