While I love Linux and use it for both work and home. I'm for Newegg. A policy is a policy and not all customers are skillful enough to reload a different OS. I don't think any Linux vendors(Dell, System76,etc) will happily accept returns after you installed Windows on it.
The best could be that we can buy machines with Linux pre-loaded, or certain distro certified. For instance, we choose a PC/laptop, and it's certified with Windows7 and Ubuntu 12.04 both, then you're safe to choose either, otherwise you're on your own.
Not to mention Newegg is just a market place instead of the vendor.
That would be reasonable if newegg listed an OS change as a reason for invalidating a warranty. The problem is their policy and public statements say it is completely ok, but privately they say it is not.
Newegg has stated that:
1. only modifications to the hardware invalidate the warranty
2: and newegg has specifically gone on the record to state that installing linux does not invalidate the warranty.
That's nonsense. First of all, there's basically no way that botching an OS install should be able to damage hardware, and for anything other than a hard drive problem the vast majority of retailers will accept returns with the drive removed (for privacy purposes). Even more importantly, though, the written Newegg policy allows customers to install a different OS without voiding the warranty; the problem is that Newegg is apparently doing a very bad job at educating their CSR's of what their policies actually are.
If this were in their policy, I would sort of agree. A return policy is not a warranty, and therefore a policy that disallowed returns after a major OS modification could potentially be reasonable.
The problem here is that Newegg is not stating this up front.
I've never had an issue with a mfg warranty in a case like this (most recommend not including the HD with returns anyway). I'm still a little confused as to why the customer didn't approach the mfg first.
> I don't think any Linux vendors(Dell, System76,etc) will happily accept returns after you installed Windows on it.
Citation, please? I am not aware of any other vendor with this limitation.
I see what you're saying, but how far do we take this? If I upgrade to Mountain Lion in July, am I no longer covered? Dual-boot to Windows? Seems ripe for abusing.
I agree, but Newegg didn't stand strong when the first case got some attention. They should have remained strong and just enforced the policy knowing that in 3-4 weeks most people would have forgot about the instance any ways.
It now becomes one of those cases where if you are trying to return the laptop you are just pissed off because you feel like they aren't doing everything that they can. It's a catch-22 in a way. You just got to be consistent.
If hardware fails and it is nothing to do with software (99.999999% of the time), it should be replaced under warranty. Full stop.
Perhaps they should give an option for your warranty to either include both hardware and software, or JUST include hardware, and so they will ignore any software changes (but also not, for instance, fix your Windows partition)
