Buying computer with English OS in China

[Crivens200]

Has anyone bought a computer in China and had Windows installed in English on it? In my local computer market they are willing to install English but can't get me a legit version of windows with it and a dodgy copy of windows is no use for updates.

I've seen an HP laptop that I want to buy and the HP shop also say they can't install a legit English veriosn of windows on it.

Can get to Shanghai easily - anyone any ideas?

Cheers

[roddy]

Dell, last time I looked at their website, gave you the option of an English OS. I certainly had a Dell desktop with a legit English XP install, although it was second hand to me.

If the extra expense is acceptable, you can also install a dodgy copy, then attempt to go through the Microsoft validation process - it'll tell you it's dodgy, but give you the option of downloading the files necessary to make it legit for whatever price, and (if I remember correctly) switch between home and pro. I've only done this from the UK, not sure if it's possible from China. Cost in the region of GBP100, I think, so the cost isn't negligible.

[Senzhi]

If you go for Vista Ultimate (and Ultimate only!) you'll have the license to download all OS language packs for free.

However, Vista Ultimate is not cheap.

It'll be very difficult but not impossible to find legal versions of XP in English. As I'm in Shantou, I contacted IBM in Hong Kong for my T60. No problem with them, as long as I was willing to pay the price (which wasn't cheap either).

[Crivens200]

Yeah noticed that with Dell - been trying to see if HP do a similar thing. Don't particularly want to shell out GBP100 for a copy of windows when the laptop itself is only about GBP500.

My local computer shop has a legitimate copy of english windows xp but it's rmb1700 and the key-code is visible through the packet so I'm assuming it's already been used 1000 times.

[Pengyou]

I usually buy my software in the U.S. and have someone send me the keycode by email. Then I go down to the local pirated software shop and pick the software up for the 5 or 6rmb they want...and when I install it I use the serial number from the legit copy I bought at home.

Just a thought...

[roddy]

Here's an example of an HP laptop with Linux listed as OS. Assuming that makes it cheaper than the equivalent Windows version it might go some of the way towards covering the cost of a legit version.

[Battosai]

Has anyone bought a computer in China and had Windows installed in English on it? In my local computer market they are willing to install English but can't get me a legit version of windows with it and a dodgy copy of windows is no use for updates.

A pirated XP gets the same updates as a legit one,

In poor countries (like China) most people cannot afford any Microsoft products, if Microsoft was really strict ,most people in the 3rd world would switch to a free operating system. Although officially against piracy, until now Microsoft has never dared to do something drastic that would make pirated XP users even consider switching.

Having said that, I would not recommend using a pirated XP because there are plenty of free alternatives.

You can download and install Linux for free. Probably the friendliest is Ubuntu , it comes with an Open Office suite, an IM client, an email client and thousands of free programmes. It is also virus and malware free. Installing Linux is easier than Windows (because most drivers are usually included in the installation media)

Linux can do anything that XP does and a lot that XP doesn't. However it has its limitations , the one that most people complain about is that very few games run on Linux in comparison with Windows, the other is that the Skype version doesn't support video (but you can get video chat with aMSN as well as other clients)

You can easily switch languages in Linux.

[cdn_in_bj]

A pirated XP gets the same updates as a legit one

Windows Live Update (or whatever it's called) will not work with blacklisted key codes.

[Battosai]

Windows Live Update (or whatever it's called) will not work with blacklisted key codes.

I think that the pirated versions here are much more advanced, they regularly pass the WGA tests

Anyway , I don't support piracy. As a free operating system (when pirated) Windows is okay , but I hope that high price and the mediocrity of the software will drive more people to experience with alternative OSs.

(interesting related article "windows is free")

[cwmccabe]

If anyone is considering getting a pirated Win OS in China, here's a few vocabulary words to be familiar with first. Pirated software in China is notoriously packed with these.

Trojan

Spyware

Backdoor

Just know what you're risking when you buy pirated software...

I too would suggest checking out Ubuntu Linux. But I would caution you to check it out only if you don't mind tinkering with your system sometimes. Although Ubuntu has made huge strides recently, there are still some configurations and occasional trouble shooting that computer-phobics wouldn't want to deal with.

Sorry. Off subject. Back to the OP's topic...

[Crivens200]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Actually, I still need to have windows - not really interested in using linux.

For all the stick it gets, for near on 100% of users, Windows really is the most approriate system to have installed. It just works.

[ipsi()]

I'd also recommend Ubuntu. .

[roddy]

Best thing about Windows is that the people who use it aren't constantly trying to persuade people who don't to switch OS, even when they've specifically said they don't want to . Feel free to start a Windows vs Linux topic though.

Are you looking for XP or Vista? In the UK I think you can get legit OEM versions of XP for 50-60 pounds.

As for viruses, etc, from pirated OS and software, I've never had any problems despite running quite a bit of dodgy software and an 'official Shanghai Government edition' version of XP in the past. Probably pays to be careful though.

[imron]

Best thing about Windows is that the people who use it aren't constantly trying to persuade people who don't to switch

Well, that's obviously because it's not worth switching too

[roddy]

Imron and his pesky logic

XP Home, English for about 600Y here. OEM again.

[renzhe]

For all the stick it gets, for near on 100% of users, Windows really is the most approriate system to have installed. It just works.

Unless you want to change a language.