Yesterday I was making the rounds on the Internet and ran into an interesting story about a person getting a Windows tax refund for a Dell system purchased in the Netherlands. The story stated that the person bought a Dell 530 desktop system which came with Vista preinstalled.  Seems that the 530 is not available with Linux. Anyway the story states that after rejecting the EULA the computer was reformatted and Linux was installed on it.

Here is where the story gets interesting. The person than emails Dell asking for a Windows tax refund. Dell at first says no, than changes their mind and issues a refund. Though I vaguely recalled some articles in the past claiming people are entitled o what is referred as the Windows tax, this story of an actual refund being sent was the first I read for Vista.

In doing a Google there are all kinds of stories in which some folks are stating that we consumers are in fact officially eligible for a refund. I was able to find this 1999 CNN article in which it was stated that in the EULA it stated:

If you do not agree to the terms of this EULA, PC manufacturer and Microsoft are unwilling to license the software product to you. In such an event … you should promptly contact PC manufacturer for instructions on a return of the unused product(s) for a refund.

I guess my question is this. Has anyone REALLY received a refund after rejecting the Windows EULA?

Comments are welcome.

CNN article is here.

Tags: eula, windows, refund, tax, microsoft