2026-04-19 09:49 UTC
>I hate how the author frames Linux as “cheap”.
I don't like it either but it's definitely an aspect. Why should I continue paying money for (or even pirate) something that exploits me and makes my life worse? Linux is cheap _and legal_. E.g. I can use it to experiment with old hardware without needing to make a cost-benefit evaluation first.
"Free" has a double meaning that should be pointed out each time one says FOSS, but "as in beer" is not a bad thing.
>Windows is “free”, too, if you never activate it.
OK now I'm stumped because it's so long I actually used Windows. I rcently installed Windows on some work computers but I had to enter the code on the laptop or I couldn't even finish the installation (I think). AFAIU that code was _purchased_ with the laptop. Did I get that wrong?
And in what way is usability hampered if I don't activate it?
Replies (3)
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@chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world 2026-04-19 14:49
You can click the small link at the bottom of the installer that says "I don't have a product key" and proceed through. It will then ask you what edition of Windows you want to install. This is because many PCs have hardware entitlements, so they never got a key. The only limitation is you can't customize your desktop/themes and there will be a permeant watermark in the lower right corner asking you to activate.
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@lemmyng@lemmy.world 2026-04-19 13:12
...you guys paid for Windows?!
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@Regrettable_incident@lemmy.world 2026-04-19 10:00
Yeah, I thought windows was only free if you pirate it? Can't imagine why someone would want to do that, but people are weird sometimes.