If you bought your Windows from an OEM, you're pretty much screwed because Micr0$0ft has transferred all responsibility to the OEM, and, the OEMs don't want to issue refunds because that costs them on their deal with Micr0$0ft. (A questionable business practice on M$ part, at best). However, every time I have purchased a copy of Windows from Micr0$0ft or from a store without a computer, discovered it didn't work, called Micr0$0ft and insisted that they deliver what they promise, they have cheerfully offered to refund my money, and, I have always gotten my refund within 2-3 weeks of sending them their piece of shit product. If you're OEM doesn't refund you, the simplest course of action is to print out the EULA you didn't agree to which says in clear text that you are entitled to a refund from your OEM (at least the last time I looked at one, which, was probably NT4 or W2K at the latest). Attach that to your small-claims filing, and, have the OEM served (certified mail usually works with corporations). It's always good to name the CEO as a party in the suit and send the service to him personally as well as the corporation generally. In any case, my point is that at best, they'll refund your money. They don't feel they have any responsibility for the consequences of their actions. Owen --On Tuesday, September 23, 2003 11:01 AM -0400 Henry Yen <henry@aegisinfosys.com> wrote:
On Mon, Sep 22, 2003 at 10:02:57AM -0700, Owen DeLong wrote:
Ok then different idea, assuming that we're all agreed its MS's responsibility to ensure users are patched promptly and without extra cost to the end user.
The problem is that while we agree, Micr0$0ft does not. They feel they should have no "responsibility" whatsoever to the end user beyond cheerfully refunding their money if they decide to stop using Windows.
Microsoft does not issue refunds if you stop using Windows, whether or not you were satisfied with the XPerience.
My interactions with Microsoft have never been "cheerful", which is a state mostly reserved for New Product Launch(tm) parties and advertisements.
Nor can one readily obtain a refund from an OEM, even if you never use Windows and reject the EULA (http://windowsrefund.net/index2.php). -- Henry Yen Aegis Information Systems, Inc. Senior Systems Programmer Hicksville, New York