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<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>I don't know if my subscription to clug-talk
exists any longer, but if it does, enjoy!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2>Gary Zone</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">From: <A
href="http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3632861,00.html">http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3632861,00.html</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><BR> </DIV>
<P style="FONT: 10pt arial" align=center><STRONG><EM>"Devir was not interested
in the Windows Vista system on his Dell laptop, opting for Linux – an open
source system – instead." </EM></STRONG></P>
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana size=2><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=6><FONT
face=Verdana size=5>Dell customer awarded Windows refund</FONT>
</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<P></P>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=6></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P><SPAN dir=right><SPAN class=text16g dir=ltr><STRONG>Customer refused refund
guaranteed in Windows licensing agreement sues Dell, settles out of court. Case
first of its kind in Israel</STRONG></SPAN>
<P style="MARGIN-TOP: 8px"><SPAN class=text14 dir=ltr
style="MARGIN-TOP: 2px; COLOR: #646464">Niv Lilian</SPAN> </P></SPAN>
<P></P>
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<SPAN id=dbIframeDiv></SPAN><FONT class=text14><SPAN></B>
<P>Zvi Devir from Haifa was recently able to do the impossible: He held Dell to
the fine print in its end-user license agreement. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>Many laptop manufacturers, such as HP, Lenovo and Dell, have an OEM agreement
(Original Equipment Manufacturer) with Microsoft, allowing them to install the
Windows operating system on their computers in advance.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>The companies add the cost of the system's license to that of the laptop, and
that little trick can amount to 10% or more of the computer's selling price.
</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Many of us, however, simply check the box saying we agree to the terms of use
when we turn our new computer on for the first time; but there's money to be
made if you read the fine print. And that is exactly what Devir did.</P>
<P> </P>
<P>Devir was not interested in the Windows Vista system on his Dell laptop,
opting for Linux – an open source system – instead. </P>
<P><BR><IMG oncontrolselect=event.returnValue=false height=265
src="http://www.ynetnews.com/PicServer2/02012008/1426596/IndexOpen-1155353_wa.jpg"
width=408 border=0 HM="1" imageId="1426596"> </P>
<P><FONT style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Read the fine print
(Illustration: Index Open)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13px"></FONT> </P>
<P>Vista's end-user license agreement (EULA) clearly stated that "By using this
software, you accept these terms. If you do not accept them, do not use the
software. instead, contact the manufacturer or installer to determine their
return policy for a refund or credit." </P>
<P> </P>
<H3 class=pHeader>Merits of tenacity </H3>
<P>Devir approached Dell for his due refund, but was told that since "all sales,
services and technical support are handled by licensed distributors," he should
call on the distributor for the refund, despite the fact that the EULA agreement
clearly states Dell is liable. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>Devir had no choice but to take his case to the Small Claims Court, and so he
sued Dell for the cost of the Windows installed on his computer – NIS 550
($137.) </P>
<P> </P>
<P>Dell presented the court with an aggressive defense, claiming that not only
did Devir fail to follow the return policy, he knowingly bought a laptop which
had the system already installed on it, instead of buying one free of any
operating systems. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>The latter claim fails to live up to itself, as Dell Israel's website does
not give the private consumer the option of buying a laptop without Windows.</P>
<P> </P>
<DIV>
<DIV style="FLOAT: right" align=right>
<DIV
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-TOP: 10px"> </DIV></DIV></DIV>
<P>Faced with Devir's tenacity, Dell eventually decided to settle the case by
offering him a $100 compensation – the price of the system as sold by Microsoft
to Dell plus tax – providing he drop the case and sign a non-disclosure
agreement. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>After a brief negotiation, by the end of which Dell forfeited the
non-disclosure clause, Devir finally got a check for $137. The check was signed
by CMS – one of Dell's local distributors. </P>
<P> </P>
<P>Dell Israel offered the following comment: "Dell manufactures computer
components in accordance with the customer's purchase order and requests. That
included the operating system." </P></SPAN>
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