French Judge Orders Refund For Pre-Installed XP

Racketiciel writes "A French user asked for a refund after buying an ASUS computer that came with Windows XP and other software pre-installed. ASUS tried to apply a procedure which cost more money to the consumer than they will give back... The court ruled in favor of the user, who received back 130 Euro (~200 $) for the software. Here is the ruling (PDF, French). In France, this is the fourth victory for refund seekers during the last two years, and many people are now filing for refunds (in French). Two French associations (AFUL and April) published a press release on this victory the same day an important hearing happened." The English-language press release linked above gives a pretty good idea of what happened here, for those unsuited to wading through French.

I for one...

[Anonymous Coward]

welcome our anti-XP French overlords.

I see that the French term for OS is...

[jejones]

.."système d'exploitation". In the case of Windows, that seems appropriate.

Re:French

[Anonymous Coward]

Heil Clippy!!!

Re:French

[Anonymous Coward]

Can't MS just send some programmers over there to take over the country?
It's not like they'd put up a fight...

Congratulations! You have just won the "dumb fuck post of the week" award.

Re:I see that the French term for OS is...

[Red Alastor]

The best part is that the abbreviation is SEX. It's not even a joke.

Re:How does this make sense?

[Max Littlemore]

To me this feels like she bought a car with power windows and AC then went back to the place that sold her the vehicle and forced them to take out the parts.

Nah, that's a bullshit analogy. That's like your saying that a car needs power windows or AC to be usable - it's as if you're saying that an OS is an optional extra.

To be really useful cars, whether or not they have AC, need roads. Even off-road cars don't last long without them. Roads are the things that facilitate the application of the tool (car) to the task (transport), much like computer operating systems are to computers.

For a better analogy, try this:

To me this feels like she bought a car with power windows and AC then went back to the place that sold her the vehicle, complained that it only allowed her to drive between the car dealer, a MacDonalds and the local infectious diseases clinic, charged tolls on otherwise free roads and the stereo automatically put earplugs in the ears of her passengers when she listened to the stereo. She forced them to allow her to drive her car wherever the fuck she wanted and give her a new stereo.

See the difference?

Re:How does this make sense?

[Cassius Corodes]

Only if its applied by stupid people, for whom common sense is a little too much to ask. My guess is you have spent too much time in the US.

Please, stop with the stupid car analogies...

[WoollyMittens]

So in your reasoning: If I bought a boeing jet-line, but it only came with passenger seats and I wanted a cargo version, you could force me to buy all the passenger seats?

Stop with the stupidity

[Nicolas MONNET]

1. It's the law. If you don't like French law, stay out of the fucking country, it's not like Asus was forced to come here anyway.

2. It's the fucking law.

3. The EULA says that if you don't agree, you are entitled to ... A FUCKING REFUCKINGFUND. The judge said that a refund should be a full, no question asked, no bothersome bullshit ship your computer at your own cost pseudo refund.

4. IT'S THE FUCKING LAW.

Microsoft should rejoyce

[blind biker]

After all, they're only interested in their customer's benefit. Surely MS is glad that french customers have now more choice than ever.

Re:I'm torn about this subject

[Anonymous Coward]

"If applicable" appears to be legalese for being forced to by a judge.

Re:No it's not, and quit the stupid analogies

[Anonymous Coward]

As you mention, this law killed the availability frozen vegetable macédoine in France. Now you have to buy 6 bags of different frozen vegetables and mix them yourself, which is kind of a pain. I also miss ice cream napolitaine.

Re:I see that the French term for OS is...

[Yvanhoe]

SEX is better when it is free

Re:French

[SpaghettiPattern]

not to mention the Italians which switched sides in both world wars to avoid being the losing side.

Yea yeah yeah, blame us Italians again and again for being on the winning side. All is fair in war and love. And at playing football.

Besides, how the hell are we supposed to produce Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Maseratis? By playing a righteous and possibly loosing game? The world isn't waiting for "Italian character" or needing it for that matter. It just wants the insane and magnificent works of art. And yes, I count the cars produced by aforementioned companies as works of art.

"But how 'bout the shitty cars we produce?", you may ask. Well these generate the capital to be able to create artworks. Having said that, currently Fiat isn't doing badly. Also, Alfa seems to have closed the horrifying period that started in the 80ies and went well on into the late 90ies. Now if they start making lighter, rear wheel driven cars and a bit more stuff lke the 8C they will truly excel. Again.

Art is the ultimate expression of civilisation. When everything alse is achieved, that's what you will consider next.

In short, our apologies for being crap at fighting righteous wars. However, we do compensate.

Re:French

[Hal_Porter]

2) English are pompous

I believe you mean imperious, you colonial peon.

Re:I for one...

[mjwx]

welcome our anti-XP French overlords.

I would have welcomed them as well but they surrendered before I got the chance

Re:French

[ozmanjusri]

However, we do compensate.

I think Ferraris are commonly considered overcompensation...

Re:French

[Skrynesaver]

Fix
It
Again
Tomorrow

Re:French

[digitig]

I'm sure some countries see American's as all cowboys or some other equally ridiculous thing...

"Burger-eating invasion monkeys" is a memorable phrase that has been heard on British TV.

i miss the tagging frenzy...

[Anonymous Coward]

where's my dear suddenoutbreakofcommonsense ??

Re:This is a silly ruling

[c6gunner]

Hmm, before calling a judge a fool, maybe you should read the law. Then you should carry on and read Plato's The Republic, Machiavelli's The Prince and Rosseau's The Social Contract. By then, you'll have some rough idea of what is going on here.

Thank you, sir, for your helpful and timely response. You have made the entire matter much clearer. I only wish that other commenters on slashdot were as helpful as you are. I shall aspire to follow your example, and one day become an edumacated intermelectual such as yourself.