You could use Dell ImageDirect. This allows you to pre-build your image through a web interface which allows you to enter your own keys or you can upload your own image. Then when you order your computers, you
should be able to order them pre-imaged. I used this at a previous employer when I had to order dozens of laptops/desktops at a time.
Joshua Wortz
RHCT - RHEL5 | MCSE - 2K3 | MCTS - Exchange 2007 | MCTS - Vista - Configuration | MCDST
Systems Administrator
Collaborative Services & Support @ IT Services
Michigan State University
517.432.5304 (Office)
From: Al Puzzuoli [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2013 12:01 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [MSUNAG] Possible to Buy Dell or any other major brand Pc without an OS?
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