Bargaining to eliminate software/OS and lower costs

I'm considering buying a Dell notebook, but I am not interested in any of the software or OS they would want to give me as I already own everything I need and often prefer to use open source software that I can choose and install myself.

I wonder if anyone has used this different need to bargain for a lower price? I have no idea how flexible Dell is with their prices and if they refuse to ship a notebook without Windows. I particularly don't want Windows Vista.

 

I asked if they were able to ship mine without Works or the antivirus, but the sales rep said no.

I've read of people contacting Dell after receiving their laptop and telling them that they don't want Vista (Because of an entry in the Eula that is presented the first time you boot), and receiving a refund that way.

 

Which Dell is no longer doing.

 

There is no way they will leave it out of the sysytem for you. Software companies pay dell so they can ship with the system. If a company found out that they were making deals to keep bloatware out dell would get sued

 

My roommate called up dell and asked about this; the service rep said(not necessarily this exactly): "Duuuuuuuuuu(d)e to some kind of gigantic corporate deal they always include a version of windows. With the millions of licenses that they purchase the actual cost added on for the OS is rather low, dude"

Personally I'd reccomend making up a slipreamed install cd with all your specific drivers and install that

*edit* gridtalker hit the nail on the head