So i am in the market for a new laptop (Specifically the Framework 16), and i have been really thinking about maybe getting framework, However This is gonna sound kinda dumb, but the price has been kinda putting me off.. so im thinking if I do not get windows, would it be at all possible to burn a windows 11 iso and still have it activated without transferring a key from another computer? (i can still totally afford it anyways, but I have been thinking of ways to try to get into framework without spending an insane amount of money)
Thanks,
Oney
P.S Although I do Like Linux, Ive been on the Windows Train pretty much my whole life. (Nothing against the idea of people telling me to install Linux though)
The thing you are buying, when you pay for Windows, is (in a way) the activation. If you do not purchase Windows, you will not have a way to activate it—regardless of where you get the installation media.
I’ve seen many say windows will work fine, all the important functions at least, without activating. I don’t know if it has changed for windows 11.
It used to be that people said it’s just that it bugs you to activate, won’t let you change the desktop wallpaper & has a message on the desktop saying it unactivated.
I stopped using Windows twenty-nine years ago and have been able to do everything I wanted to do on a computer using Linux since then. I showed my friends and relatives the advantages of Linux over Windows and with only a few exceptions, all of them are now using Linux and only Linux.
I would suggest that you buy a DIY Framework 16, buy the RAM and SSD(s) from other suppliers to save some money, and choose the “None (bring your own)” option for the operating system to save even more.
Install your RAM and SSD(s) in your Framework 16. Then install Fedora with KDE or Linux Mint (Debian Edition) or MX-Linux or Kubuntu or whatever other Linux distro you want to try for free. Install the Steam Store if you want to try some games on Linux. It’s very easy for a Windows user to make the transition to Linux using a KDE window manager because KDE is quite similar to the “classic” Windows XP or Windows 7 GUI.
Spend a month or two learning how to use Linux. You may decide that you don’t really need Windows after all.
If you do decide you need both Linux and Windows, you can download a copy of Windows from the Microsoft website and install it without buying a copy. Windows will nag you to activate it and pay for it and there will be some things you can’t do without activating Windows. If you do want to activate Windows, you can buy a full price license key from the Microsoft website or you can buy an OEM copy of Windows to install for less and save some money that way.
If you do decide you want to have both Linux and Windows, the best way to do that is to install Linux on one of the M.2 NVMe SSDs and Windows on the second M.2 NVMe SSD on the Framework models that have sockets for two M.2 NVMe SSDs, such as a Framework 16 or Framework Desktop. On the Framework 12 and Framework 13 models which only have one M.2 NVMe SSD socket, you can install Windows on the M.2 NVMe SSD and install Linux on a storage expansion card. Linux will run somewhat more slowly on a storage expansion card but it will still be quite fast. Windows has a nasty habit of screwing up the Linux boot loader on a dual-boot PC so the best way to have both Linux and Windows installed on a Framework is to install Windows first on one of the drives and then install Linux on the other one. That will make Windows much less likely to goof up Linux.
But I would give Linux a good long trial run before you install Windows. You, too, may find that you don’t need Windows at all.
You can install Windows and activate the license key later. Follow Framework operating system and driver package installation guide. Watch for Framework firmware and driver updates and try a few optional tweaks to optimize your system.
Depending on the use cases you have in mind, you might want to try out the Windows 11 Enterprise evaluation version as well…before handing over some hard-earned cash. Windows 11 Enterprise | Microsoft Evaluation Center
“We do not recommend that you install this evaluation if you are not an IT professional or are not professionally managing corporate networks or devices.”
Maybe you have a home lab, maybe you’re in IT, or not. Just saying, you have options.
hi. you’ve received some good advice already to your post. If you try linux, i recommend checking out projectbluefin.io , specifically bluefin os an immutable os distribution built off of fedora silverblue.