Are questions like *Are there alternatives to some product?*, considered a shopping question?  If so, would it be strictly enforced?  People give *alternative products* recomendations all the time in answers, but are you not **explicity** allowed to ask *are there alternatives to x product* if a that product isn't working for that user and doesn't know of similar but different products?  In my opinion, there's a difference betweeen *can you recommend a product* vs the question the title addresses.  I would imagine that the person with a question like

> Example:  "Are there any alternatives to Windows?"
> 
> Possible Answer:  Mac, Linux, Unix, Chromium, and etc.

would be ok. It merely lists the *existence* of like products, not promoting one product over the other.

I think I already have an idea where this question is heading, but at least I'll know for sure...