That's absolutely right.
It's almost impossible to have a windows-free notebook.
I'm from Italy.
The only effective ways in Italy are:
- rely on a custom-assembled notebook (I know only two vendors in Italy) and not include windwos (about 120 euro)
- rely on international dell website, choosing an ubuntu notebook (not available in italy at the moment i write): but there two problems:
...much higher shipping cost and difficulties: dell always reply to choose the italian site, not others dell sites;
...a lot of hidden costs to have a decent machine (even if we assume that dell is decent): a professional configuration starts with a 400-500 euros basic config, and while you customize on the italian website to obtain the minimum hardware to run modern systems and apps (including ubuntu or pclinuxos and their apps), you reach 1500-1800 euros in a snap...

i prefer a rock solid toshiba with windows @ 1100 euros, with 200% more calculation power (same config, I mean), and maintain a windows rescue recovery disk, because in certain work environment you are obliged to use it by your boss (that's true)

anyway, i'm game over with ms office from the 2000 version... openoffice have enormous problems, but i learned to force it to my needs... and vice versa...