I have a Windows 7 Ultimate key, FULL Retail version...Want to buy next laptop without buying a 2nd key. Is it possible?

Well, the title pretty much says what I'm trying to accomplish. I've recently come upon a ThinkStation desktop from Lenovo (the E20 I believe), which is available as a DOS-only version, meaning you have the choice as to whether you want to buy a license for Windows 7 or not. This translated into $150 savings. Seeing as I have a FULL retail version of Win 7 Ultimate, not an upgrade license, not an OEM, not a Technet or MSDN, no, a full retail version that is not tied to any laptop and has no pre-requisites of any kind. I really do not care to purchase more licenses than I need, i.e. one (1).

Is there a way to buy a ThinkPad without a Windows license? There ought to be, especially if you buy a new CTO (Configure-To-Order) model, one would hope. Not online, although the Thinkstation E20 is available even online with and without a license for Windows 7. Hmmm...

 

Don't assume for a minute that the key you 'own' is worth even close to the retail price of any version of Windows 7.

 

All PC makers are required to bundle a Windows license with their PC's because they get a nice discount from MS for bundling it with their PC's.

I don't think theirs a PC maker who will sell a PC without tying it to a license. You're better off building your own PC.

 

The only ways you can buy a computer without a license is A) through a university purchasing program that offers MS-DOS or B) through an OEM that offers Linux for reduced cost.

 

Well yea, and I found one today. The company's called Lenovo.

Check it out: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/workstations/thinkstation/workstation/e20

The left one is DOS only and $150 LESS expensive than the one on the right, which includes Windows. It also says "No software included" for the left one! Really? You mean to tell me that I can forgo all the useless bloatware with a preemptive strike like that? Even better!

@newsposter: So at the very least, my Windows 7 key is worth $150 in this scenario. Ya see? That's a good amount of money to be saved if you ask me.

I've seen both IBM and Lenovo offer Linux-based computers. I am not sure if if the option exists for the ThinkPad, but one way or another, I'm getting my W701 seriously discounted, and this might just be an additional avenue to get the price cut by $100-$150.

There are a lot of funny things you can do if you just call in and start talking. Retention is one of my favorite words.

 

All big names, such as HP, Dell and Lenovo. You just need to know what you want and the selection isn't always that wide.

 

You can buy dell linux laptops. Although, some of them might actually be more expensive than the windows version.

 

This is still going on??? This was the big thing way back when Vista came out as well.

This is still going on.....seems like years now peops have been trying this.

 

There's info out there on the interwebs where you can not accept the user agreement on the first boot, then contact MS for a rebate (or refund, I dunno which word you'd use)...
It's been a while since I've seen it but it's out there somewhere

 

http://www.xoticpc.com/sager-np8760...stom-gaming-laptop-p-2660.html?wconfigure=yes