Like I've definitely bought a normal laptop before and re-partitioned the drive to do dual boot. But I'm really hating on Microsoft and Gates now, and I'd just really like to not give them a cent if possible.
I see some websites listed when I Google "laptops without Windows", but the selection ain't great and the selection often doesn't have great video cards. Has anyone had any luck with this? Thanks.
This was a dude who only selled tech and repaired computers, not a supermarket chain nor anything like that.
Right. Anything sold in a box is essentially going to come as-is (with Windows preinstalled and the Microsoft Tax already collected). The only way to avoid this is to get something custom ordered, or picking from the handful of devices provided by large companies like Dell with a "no OS" or Linux option (Usually these are business machines targeted towards companies with site licenses though, not gaming PCs). There are also boutique Linux laptops offered by companies like System76, but these tend to be more expensive than the mass-produced shit.
Until we seize the means of production, those laptop factories will be slapping Windows in everything and passing the cost onto you, whether you use it or not. Same with smartphones for that matter.
Hell, even if you want to use Windows, it's much nicer to install it yourself (maybe even five finger discount) than deal with removing all the shovelware and free trial bullshit the manufacturers put on them. Windows has gotten better about autodetecting hardware and hunting down obscure laptop drivers isn't as much of a chore as it used to be.