Important Windows Refund Day co-ordination News

Seth David Schoen wrote in with a report on coordinating the Windows Refund Day festivities on monday. I've attached his full message below, so hit the link if you're curious. You may also want to check out the Windows Refund Day resources page for other information relating to this whole deal.

The following was written by Slashdot reader Seth David Schoen

As everyone should know by now, Monday is Windows Refund Day. A number of co-ordinated regional events and/or group requests have been planned for Refund Day. If you have software to return, please bring along all of your (unused) original installation media and supporting documentation, including manuals, Certificates of Authenticity, any purchase receipts, and evidence that you have never used the copy of Windows for which you will be seeking a refund. In most areas, interested people who are not returning software are also more than welcome to tag along.

Most importantly, however, participants in those regions where there are organized refund efforts should not simply show up at Microsoft offices on their own; that would cause unwelcome chaos and confusion. Polite and orderly refund requests are essential to the success of this event, as well as to obtaining continued favorable media coverage.

Therefore, several regional Refund Day organizers have designated advance meeting places or contact procedures for participants in Northern California, Southern California, New York City, France, New Zealand, Japan, and the Netherlands. (In some of these places, a single representative will make requests on behalf of everyone; in others, group meetings or demonstrations are planned.) Please examine your regional Windows Refund co-ordination site and carefully follow the directions there; this will also ensure that you get the most recent and accurate news possible.

Check the list of efforts at the Windows Refund Day resources one more time to get the most recent news for your area, and good luck on the 15th!

3rd Monday of every month?

[unitron]

Why not make this a once a month event? First month's publicity attracts people who missed hearing about it beforehand, second month's publicity attracts people who didn't know there was a non-MS choice unless buying an Apple, pretty soon we could be talking snowflake becomes avalanche.

Is this really necessary?

[Anonymous Coward]

Do events like this really contribute to a positive opinion of Linux users? What does this gain other than (possibly bad) publicity? You know and the press knows that refunds on pre-installed Windows products can only be gotten from the OEM in question, not Microsoft.

Seems like the possible result of this is a general public opinion that Linux users are a frenzied group of fanatics. Were I not already a Linux junkie, I might question the idea of using it, because I don't want to be "uncool".

I guess I miss the days when Linux users were of the helpful "lets create the best UNIX on a PC" type. Sigh.

who cares?

[curtisf]

So what if Linux users look like a bunch of freaks? Linux is already gaining corporate acceptance, and that was due to the quality of the OS, not it's image. This display is only going to look weird to outsiders, who may not have even heard of Linux yet and see this Monday's events on the news when they get home from work or school. A rebellious edge can't hurt. The timid will not use Linux until the brave have gone first, and that's the people who count right now. Once the leaders embrace Linux, then the lemmings will follow. . .

--curtisf

European Law

[gavinhall]

Posted by ChristianC:

Forced tying of sales of distinct products ("dependent sales") is prohibited by European law.
This means that EVERYONE, not just Linux/other OS users, who has bought a computer with Windows installed is entitled to a refund. Considering the amount of machines with Windows in Europe, the refund could run into several billion euros.

Here's what you can do:

[nickm]

Start an event of your own. You see, we're in California, and so we started an event in California. Silly, I know, but it's easier for us to get to.
There are also events in New York City, Japan, The Netherlands, France, and New Zealand. Now that isn't the whole world, but it's getting closer.
If you're genuinely concerned about the lack of an event in your area, feel free to start one.
--

Yes!

[Anonymous Coward]

3 points
1. Any publicity is GOOD publicity
2. Give the media something to film!
3. Frenzied fanatics have a tendency to get their way.

Is this really necessary?

[AShuvalov]

I think this will not grow into crazy manifistation, battle with guards, etc.. :-)

I hope people will take fun, play rock'n'roll, show some funny messages. And be interviewed.

THERE AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE IN MY AREA.

[linuxci]

If they're really aren't enough people in your area (remember it doesn't have to just be Linux users - any user who has ditched their pre-installed MS-OS, even NT users who have decided they didn't want Windows 95/8 on their machine) then just go it alone (or with the few that are there). Every single person who asks for a refund on Monday are helping get the message across.

Personally I can't do anything. I don't have any MS licences. In fact my PC is MS free. I bought it from an independent supplier and asked for NO OS. I insisted on it. This was even before the time Linux was popular. Only a few people had heard of it and linux.org was a site hosted on a modem with all its links to offsite resources.
--

Uh, not to be obtuse, but...

[Anonymous Coward]

Monday is Presidents' Day. Are we even sure Microsoft offices will be open in the United States?

MUAAAHAHAHA!!

[PHroD]

I live and work like down the road from the one in Mountain View...aif its not raining, maybe i'll walk down to VA Research :)

---------------------------------
HotsOS home http://hotsos.8m.com/

I'm no European, but...

[JamesKPolk]

It's my understanding that the Euro Parliament's laws have no binding effect. They have to be implemented by each individual nation's government.

Does this rule apply everywhere in the EU?

Is this really necessary?

[Anonymous Coward]

The publicity for Windows Refund Day has been very good so far. Reporters have been sympathetic and encouraging.

Participants in Windows Refund Day have already learned that their OEMs won't honor the EULA; therefore, they're going to take their case up with Microsoft, which is ultimately responsible for EULA enforcements. This should promote a reasonable, consistent settlement, and avoid any litigation.

The issue of operating system choice is important to many Linux users, and Microsoft's own existing EULA conveniently provides for a way to get a refund, which makes the economic burden of choosing some other operating system much less. Therefore, Linux users who want Linux to be more accessible -- or at least affordable -- to people who buy machines from large national OEMs should support the enforcement of the EULA and the granting of refunds for unused copies of Windows.

What do I don't If their's nothing in my area??

[deeny]

The difference between the "dumb ass California people" and you is that we got off our butts to do something. If you think a mail/telephone campaign works better, ORGANIZE IT!

This is the open source community. That means if you want something done and it's not being done the way you like it, you are free to change that.

_Deirdre

Don't just stand there!

[deeny]

Come to the events. As the SVLUG says, "if you don't like the news, make some of your own."

If there's not an event in your area, model it after the existing ones. Show up, make a difference.

Thanks.

_Deirdre (coordinator for Orange County, CA, see http://www.deirdre.org/rebellion.html)

Is this really necessary?

[Anonymous Coward]

I would agree with you if the whole thing becomes ugly and say people start a riot or something like that.

But if the organizers of this event keep the crowds in "control" and not let the situation (no matter what type of a response they get from Microsoft , the press or the law enforcement) get out of hand everthing should be fine.

The main thing is keeping the calm while they make their point and their mark.

The sites organizing the even keep reminding people and readers to be "polite". Let just hope the crowds that show up for the events keep the peace.

sidster--
enough cookies for the day ...

Image is a factor

[Intermod]

If corporations didn't care about an OS's image, and instead based their decisions solely on the quality of the OS, wouldn't every corporation be running Linux right now? Only the most tech-savvy companies have already embraced Linux. The fact is, most corporations are still running MS operating systems because its image is still very positive among the majority of consultants.

Events like these will only cause companies to continue to dismiss Linux as an OS maintained by a group of young, immature "hackers". As its image gets worse, they will only become less likely to take the time to evaluate Linux's quality.

Is this really necessary?

[deeny]

Let me put it this way: in buying a machine with Windows, and finding it difficult to buy one without (putting it together notwithstanding), this points out to the Justice Department how little real "choice" we have.

Besides, this is something Microsoft *offered*. The EULA specifies to return it for a refund. That's what we're doing. What's wrong with that? I for one will donate the $ to one of the free software groups.

_Deirdre

I'm no European, but...

[bitwize]

I'm no European either. But I say that in a few years, France, Germany, Italy, etc. will be little more than convenient regional nomenclature. Districts of one huge nation called "Europe". Asia and the Americas will soon subsequently follow a similar plan.

Image is a factor

[Intermod]

If corporations didn't care about an OS's image, and instead based their decisions solely on the quality of the OS, wouldn't every corporation be running Linux right now? Only the most tech-savvy companies have already embraced Linux. The fact is, most corporations are still running MS operating systems because its image is still very positive among the majority of consultants.

Events like these will only cause companies to continue to dismiss Linux as an OS maintained by a group of young, immature "hackers". As its image gets worse, they will only become less likely to take the time to evaluate Linux's quality.