MS EULA nets Dell user $90
p2pnet.net News:- The online version of the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition EULA states unequivocally, “You agree to be bound by the terms of this EULA by installing, copying, or otherwise using the software.
“If you do not agree, do not install, copy, or use the software; you may return it to your place of purchase for a full refund, if applicable.”
Cheers! – said freelance programmer and sysadmin Dave Mitchell from Sheffield in the UK.
He didn’t install and thus was able to winkle a $90 refund from Dell for the unused copy of Windows XP Home SP2 bundled with his new Dell Inspiron 640m laptop.
“Dell also refunded the tax, for a total of £55.23 ($105),” says NetworkWorld, going on:
“The language in the version that Mitchell received was slightly different. It read, “If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, you may not use or copy the software, and should promptly contact manufacturer for instructions on return of the unused product(s) for a refund in accordance with manufacturer’s return policies.”
Dell hasn’t asked Mitchell return his Microsoft hologram sticker, “or any other materials bundled with the system,” says the story, pointing out the laptop didn’t come with a Windows CD.
“Mitchell was careful to document that he did not run the Microsoft product or accept the EULA,” adds NetworkWorld, which has Mitchell saying:
“I booted the laptop, then photographed every step of the boot process up to and including clicking on the XP ‘no I don’t accept’ button. I also scrolled through each page of the EULA, taking a photo of each page.”
Sung to the tune of This Could Be The Start Of Something Big.
Also See:
NetworkWorld – GDell customer gets Windows refund, November 7, 2006
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November 8th, 2006 at 8:36 pm
Well it’s in Dell’s interests to do this. Refunding the guy £55 for Windows is better than him returning the entire system and them having to refund him the £300- 400 (or whatever he paid for it) instead.
November 9th, 2006 at 2:31 am
getting money back from OEM’s for windows is very very old news
http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,17442,00.html
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kdsde
November 9th, 2006 at 2:45 am
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Tax
November 11th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
REMIND people that they have this option.
I personally, didn’t even know that this even existed…so I got an ‘education’ by it.
November 5th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
IT WASN’T HER COPY! IT WAS DOWNLOADED USING USENEXT, OLD NEWS
NEW SCAM!
November 5th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
HAVING THE LAST NAME OF WINKLE SUCKS!