5 ms·

Here are the instructions from HP[0], Lenovo [1] and Dell [2] respectively on how to reinstall the Windows that comes with the machine. So it's not really "base

• benchaney 9y ago
  I don't think you understand what "based on experience" means in this context.
  • bgee 9y ago
    I was trying to say that this argument can be based on fact instead of experience.
    • deleted 9y ago
      [deleted]
• Apfel 9y ago
  I'm not saying my experience is more correct or better than yours. I have no idea where you were/are in China, but it was impossible to buy a genuine copy of Windows or a computer with it installed when I was in Guangzhou.
  • forumuid 9y ago
    This is not related to experience, but common sense, all big brands of computers should sell legitimate products, such as HP, DELL, as far as I know, they also occupy a large share of the Chinese market, they are large-scale piracy in the Chinese market? Perhaps there may be some misunderstanding or communication problems, as far as I know, some big brands of computer have pre-installed operating system on the hard disk recovery partition, does not provide the operating system install disc, but the restore disc.
    • Apfel 9y ago
      I've said this in another comment, but here goes again: Actually, the laptops I tried out were almost all Dell + Lenovo (I wanted a thinkpad or XPS). I think, as another commenter said, they were probably Linux + FreeDOS systems originally. What the store owners would do is use Norton Ghost to put whatever (illegal) OS I wanted on there. I think maybe there are large regional differences in product availability or regulation. I know it was a lot harder to buy iPhones in certain tier 1 Chinese cities than others when I was there, for example.
  • HowardMei 9y ago
    Maybe you were not trying hard enough. https://microsoft.tmall.com/ https://microsoft.tmall.com/
  • jza00425 9y ago
    What you're saying is after staying in China for years，you still know nothing about China at all. Probably could not speak a word of Chinese.
    • dang 9y ago
      We've banned this account for violating the HN guidelines despite our requests to stop.
  • eitally 9y ago
    In Shenzhen, I have had both of your experiences. In buying mass market, name brand laptops, legit copies of Windows were normal. But from the same electronics malls, my experience was that almost nobody bought these [much more expensive] computers, and instead preferred the cheap knockoffs with tons of pre-installed pirated software. There were also -- always -- hawkers offering ripped copies of software, music & DVDs on the street outside.
    • forumuid 9y ago
      those are not knockoffs,but DIY counter or shop,no named brand,Do It Yourself,at your own interest and risk.most these DIY shops only exist in electronic components shopping malls,visitors of such malls of course prefer DIY. Most normal people just buy named brand computers pre-installed OS in normal malls,electrical shops，brand stores,and even in big supermarkets such as Carrefour. so I am very strange and shocking that Apfel can not buy a named brand computer pre-installed legal OS in the third largest city of china
      • Apfel 9y ago
        For the record, I also checked my local 大润发 and 国美电器, where they did the same shit.
• barrkel 9y ago
  The person you're repyling to explicitly told us his experience. If you say it's not based on experience, you're calling him a liar.
  • cynix 9y ago
    I think bgee was saying that their side of the argument (that legal Windows is available) is not based on experience.
  • HowardMei 9y ago
    Or maybe he had an experience not reflecting the reality, which often happens when someone fails to overcome the language barrier.
    • Apfel 9y ago
      I speak Chinese and I was with my Chinese wife. Thanks for the patronising attitude though :P
  • forumuid 9y ago
    His experience is very shocking, he can not buy a HP or DELL computer with a legal copy of windows installed on it in GUANGZHOU.
    • Apfel 9y ago
      Actually, the laptops I tried out were almost all Dell + Lenovo (I wanted a thinkpad or XPS). I think, as another commenter said, they were probably Linux + FreeDOS systems originally. What the store owners would do is use Norton Ghost to put whatever (illegal) OS I wanted on there.