ere’s an interesting story that we should all pay attention to. An ingenious PC user got a refund for their copy of Windows, after they refused to install Microsoft’s operating system and its license. This industrious user whose name shall remain anonymous was paid $155 from Dell after they purchased a studio 1555 notebook that had Windows Vista along with a free upgrade for Windows 7. Instead of just accepting the Windows 7 upgrade, this user installed Linux Mint instead.

Now you have to ask yourself, why would anyone refuse to install Windows 7? Why would anyone reject the operating system that Microsoft has been hyping as the cure to all of the miseries caused by Windows Vista? The answer to this question is this, Microsoft’s end user agreement. Just by starting up your new computer, you agreed to a large set of secondary software terms.

If you go online and check out Microsoft’s end-user license agreement, it’s pretty odd what you are agreeing to. So why do you have to agree with them at all? Just because you buy a new computer that has Windows installed, doesn’t mean that you have to accept the end user licensing agreement. It pretty much boils down to whether or not you have the equipment and technical skills required.

By downloading Linux on a separate PC and burning it onto a CD, anyone can install Linux. Just boot the new computer with the burned Linux CD in CD drive the first time the computer is started and install. By not using Windows, you don’t have to accept the terms of Microsoft’s end user licensing agreement and that entitles you to a full refund of the price of Microsoft’s operating system from the company that manufactures the computer.

While getting around the installation and licensing part of this deal was easy, getting a refund is a lot more difficult. It took our ingenious PC user about two months and over 10 e-mails to receive their refund. If you’re worried about Windows 7, this method just might be your saving grace. It’s very important to keep in mind that with a little more searching, there are always more options.

Laptops which are laden with full features are often bulky, too big and don’t satisfy your need of battery life but these are traditional ones and are old now with the launch of newest series of laptops from Dell: Inspiron 14z and Inspiron 15z whose starting cost is $599 and  are extension to the Inspiron 11z which are first member from the “Z” family. The “Z” is important here as it stands for the mark of identification of the specific models being about one inch thin laptops (14 and 15.6 inches screen) in the family of Inspiron among their siblings: the best selling Inspiron 14 and 15. An added advantage is that these laptops are powered by ultra low voltage processors from Intel and hence have an outstanding battery life consisting of 6 cells which can last about 8 hours long if laptop is used in airplane mode i.e. by dimming off the screen and switching off the wireless. The latest ultra low voltage Intel processors are efficient and provide you the performance needed for videos, photos, music and more and with the optimised energy-efficient technology, longer battery life is enabled.

The sizes of these laptops are svelte but this doesn’t make them less in features. In fact these laptops are full featured and include built in webcams, DVD burners, wireless networking and 16:9 cinematic standard HD displays. The laptops are upgradable up to 8 GB of memory and 500 GB in hard drives. The respective weights of Inspiron 14z and Inspiron 15z are 4.4 lbs along with battery consisting 4 cells and 5.07 lbs with 4 cell battery. Two colour choice are available with these laptops: cherry red and black.

Dell has an understated feature called “Expresscharge” which is available in “Z” series laptops. This feature enables you to be up as well as running in more efficient way by recharging 4 and 6 cell batteries up to 80% in an hour, so even if you plug in the battery while away for a while the laptop will go on entire day.

The operating system of Dell Inspiron 1525 is provided with Windows Vista. However Laptop news and laptop reviews reveal that person generally prefer, Windows XP as the operating system in the Laptops. Laptop reviews and Laptop news after a research work on Windows Operating systems also reveal that Windows XP proves to be more users friendly. However, without doubt Windows Vista is much more advanced. Nevertheless people prefer to install Windows XP at the operating system in the laptops. There are various procedures to install Windows XP on Dell Inspiron 1525 provided at laptop reviews.

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