Windows 8

[llamekuf]

Someone has been told by staff at PCWORLD/CURRYS that a payment of £30 + must be paid before Windows will be installed in a Laptop prior to leaving the shop.
They were also told it would take at least 3 hours and that the customer should come back the next day to collect the Laptop.
Is this correct procedure.
Surely Windows is included in the selling price ( or should be )

[Old_Geezer]

Would not know the specifics of the PCWorld/Curry offer you refer to, but PC's can be sold without an operating system. Customers may wish to use their own choice of one. I find it difficult to believe all PCWorld/Curry computer offers are excluding an operating system though. Are you sure it isn't just the one selected by the customer ?

[SlackAlice]

Widows is normally already on the laptop, was this for an upgrade? More details required.

[SlackAlice]

Widows = Windows

☺☺☺ apologies

[Alex_Higham]

I think am thinking along similar lines to SA. Windows 8 will be installed as part of the equipment and a charge is being made to update to W 8.1

Either buy the machine as it stands and up-date at home with a free download (which can be as long as 3hrs) or hang-on a few weeks until new machines have been released by manufactures and pre-loaded with W 8.1

[llamekuf]

Thank you OLD_GEEZER, SLACKALICE and ALEX-HIGHAM.
They were told that this applied to all computers in the shop and that also AVG is useless and that they should buy a ' far superior product ' from the shop.

[hc4361]

Well, I have just 'bought' a laptop online from PCWorld and no extra charges.
http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/laptops-netbooks/laptops/laptops/703_7006_70006_xx_xx/xx-criteria.html

[CheekyChops]

AVG is an anti-virus program, completely separate from Windows.

They still can't make you purchase their anti-virus software. Tell them you will get your own and object to paying £30 for software you don't want or need. Then go home and install AVG or Avast (both free and perfectly decent programmes).

[Old_Geezer]

Shop salesmen & women are not always the font of all knowledge, especially if they are on commission for what they flog you. Still sounds very strange though.

[Alex_Higham]

Hi@ hc....What have you bought and what is it replacing.?

I agree with both CC and O_G. Although my preference for a free AV programme is MSE.

[SlackAlice]

If they are selling a laptop without an operating system then make sure you get it at least half the ticket price. All the ticket prices I've seen include an operating system, whether it's Windows or Android.

Well, of course they want you to buy one of a paid security product (which they just happen to have in stock). They get a sale and the salesman gets a bonus.

Bet the charge is to upgrade from Windows 8 to 8.1, which is as Alex-Higham states is free of charge and you can do it at home.

I use MSE as well for my virus protection which is free. Other free options also exist including AVG, Avast and Kaspersky.

[llamekuf]

Thanks HC4361, CHEEKYCHOPS and again OLD_GEEZER, ALEX_HIGHAM and SLACKALICE.
Good input from you all.
Beware of PCWORLD/CURRYS staff bairing gifts - or not.

[llamekuf]

should read ' bearing ' gifts.

[hc4361]

Alex, I haven't actually bought one. I just went through the motions to see if anything was added to the advertised price.

[hc4361]

Tell your friend to buy from Amazon. Superb customer service, no faffing and usually a very good price.

[Alex_Higham]

Hi again hc... I should have spotted the fact that you did put the word 'bought' in inverted commas. Sorry for my being un-observant.☺☺☺

I fully agree with your views on Amazon. I had occasion last Christmas to make issue on a faulty toy product ( One- armed Bandit) and was given an immediate refund without any fuss.

[Old_Geezer]

Just so long as they are not baring gifts !