How Linux Users Are Helping Microsoft Silently?

For majority of the Linux users, buying a Windows based PC and then formatting it to run Linux or dual boot with Linux is a popular trend, which re-enforces the belief of OEMs like ASUS, Dell, and others to think that 'Windows always sells more.'  

Wednesday, December 05, 2012:  Everytime you buy a PC with Windows pre-installed on it, you end up paying the Microsoft tax despite formatting the machine to run Linux. So, a Linux user unknowingly ends up being a Windows supporter just because he or she did not buy a Linux based machine and opted to go for a Windows alternative to save few bucks. There are very few machines that come with Linux pre-installed on it. Among popular OEMs, Dell is the only company to make Linux based system, that too a handful of Linux based options are available which are costlier than the Windows the counterpart.  

So, for majority of the Linux users, buying a Windows based PC and then formatting it to run Linux or dual boot with Linux is a popular trend. For example, recently, Dell launched its XPS 13 ultrabook with Ubuntu pre-installed on it. Now, the Windows 8 version of the XPS 13 ultrabook starts at $999 with an Intel i5 processor and 4 GB of RAM.

On the other hand, the Ubuntu version of the XPS 13 was priced at $1549 initially, later reduced to $1449, with an Intel i7 processor and 8 GB RAM. So, it is very practical for the customers to think that buying a Windows 8 version at $999 and then shifting to Ubuntu as Ubuntu linux can work fine on i5 processor with 4 GB RAM too.

But here comes secure boot in the picture. Till now, The Linux Foundation has not come up with anything concrete to by-pass UEFI secure boot in Windows 8 PCs and help users to install Linux on it. So, in this case secure boot is a boon in disguise as the option of buying the Windows 8 version to use Linux won't work out but what about the previous Windows machines where Linux customers usually buy a Windows system to install Linux? Doing this simply counts as a Windows sale, which re-enforces the belief of OEMs like ASUS, Dell, and others to think that 'Windows always sells more.' But if you buy a Linux PC then these OEMs would actually recognise that Linux is growing in popularity and they might start taking more interest in Linux.  

Source: news.efytimes.com