OEMs: Sorry, best I can do is tripling the amount of pre-installed bloatware that I get kickbacks on, to not only offset the cost but raise profits more

Here in Brazil, a lot of vendors are offering laptops with linux, but they do this just to offer a lower price, and put the most weird distro possible, that no one knew existed, so everyone who buys have to install their own os. The bad thing about it is that it creates a really bad first impression about linux on common users, who mostly end up asking the tech person from the family to install windows for them

Edit: another random fun fact: in order to offer a lower price, some brands around here also ship laptops with freedos, don't ask me why.

The problem there is Windows still has negative cost for OEMs due to all the bloatware they bundle.

They get paid for that McAfee and Epic Games icon.

They used to have agreements to make it difficult to do so. I don’t know if that’s still the case but it’s pretty awful. I think OEMs had to pay licenses for every machine shipped regardless if it had a windows license.

The other issue is that oems have a large amount of compatibility and support built up over the years for windows. They also know their customers can deal with Microsoft for “support” and ignore driver and support costs for whatever distro of Linux they were to choose.

Sure an OEM could lead the way and show everyone else the path to freedom but think of the shareholders

they actually make money on many of those windows preinstalls due to all the bullshit they get paid to put on.