 |
 |
On Fri, Jun 21, 2013 at 04:00:31PM +0000, Al Puzzuoli wrote: I got two of mine recently - one a rackmount I am using as a server and one a desktop, both without any OS, and then loaded FreeBSD Unix (www.freebsd.org) on each with no problem. I suppose you could also put an (inferior) OS such as something from MS on them as well. I ordered these through the MSU Computer Store. ////jerry > Hi all, > We are looking at upgrading our department's Assistive Technology lab this summer. We want to purchase all-in-one touch screen PCs, and are currently focusing on the Dell XPS27. I would prefer to buy something in the Optiplex line, perhaps the Optiplex 9020, except that in order to use some of our assistive technologies, we require HDMI in, and the optiplex apparently only offers HDMI out. I want to roll a Windows 8 Enterprise image out to all these machines, so really don't see the need to spend money at time of purchase for an OS, but according to our Dell rep, they won't sell us a machine without some version of Windows. He stated that the Windows 8 Enterprise licenses sold by our computer store are "upgrade only", so we would be out of compliance with Microsoft in any case if we were to install that version to a bare machine. Can anyone shed more light on this? Is there any way to get around the waste of buying a machine with a version of Windows which will immediately be blown away and never used again? > The rep did indicate they do offer the option of selling select machines with Linux installed but alas, they apparently don't do that for any of the machines we are interested in. > Thanks, > > Al Puzzuoli > Michigan State University > Information Technologist http://www.rcpd.msu.edu > Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities 517-884-1915 120 Bessey Hall East Lansing, MI 48824-1033 > > > > > > > > > > > > > >