That's twice as much as I was paying, I'm going to write a strongly worded email to that penguin guy

Flatpak and Snap be like: Yes, we'll double the RAM...

Linus better be watching it, or I'm switching to TempleOS

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.

Bingo!

It was always believed that Windows OS was a "loss leader" for Microsoft.

Windows OS will never show a profit, when you take into account the development and testing time and effort. I mean, a one time purchase that's expected to be supported for years!?!

Side note: This also explains why Windows 11 is de-evolving into an AI generated, ad ridden, telemetry gathering, cesspool of an OS ("we gotta make money somehow - think of the share holders")

But, what Windows had done is create a platform for Microsoft to upsell (and vendor lock-in) profitable applications like Office, Outlook, Teams, etc.

However, that business model doesn't work anymore. As, all of Microsoft's products are now in the cloud. They're all subscription bases, which means predictable and indefinite revenue. User's don't need to be running on Windows - they just need a web-browser or thin-client. Microsoft already has people (brainwashed into) wanting Office - they don't need to _force _ people into trying Office.

tl;dr: Developing and supporting Windows OS is a financial drain for Microsoft, and they're doing everything they can to scuttle it.

I don't know if that's the entire thing, but it is definitely part of it

been saying that was the goal for over a decade.

The Tux trumpets are getting louder…

Blastbeat of millions of penguins stomping.

Ah, the famous SuSE songs, instant classics.

I've been hearing Linux music for the past 9 years lol it's incredible how much it's improved as a desktop OS over that time.

Somebody needs to finally compose a Linux install music that's even more memorable and awesome than the Windows XP install music

This. Linux use on the USA is now over 10% in computers. And growing. I hope Europe follows the same path, but it is slow. Growing also. At home we all have ditched Windows years ago.

Bah gawd, that's Stone Cold's music!

Let's be honest... people who can't figure out how to deal with Windows licenses wouldn't be able to deal with a switch to Linux either.

Insert the Padme Anakin meme here.

Yes. Plenty of manufacturers do sell computers without windows.

If a company is doing it it's already is. But most are selling you windows compulsively.

Yes, that exact thing was the crux of a major lawsuit at one point.

Always was.... just had to find the seller who sells you the laptop without a prepurchased license/preinstalled windows. Sadly was always higher tier stuff that had a choice.

Every RAM stick I bought in the past 15 years is worth more per GB now than when I bought it... If you bought RAM in 2008 the same is true, I just didn't buy RAM at that point.

Yepppp.

Played around with all of them for a bit. Settled on Bazzite. Dead simple to install and use and it has t given me any issue at all.

Pop OS was kind of nice too, but it needs another year in the oven.

It's possible to get refunds for unused OEM Windows licenses in the EU.

https://en.refund4freedom.org/

I would love a tick box setup. Maybe 2 Linux distro options and a windows option for +$X or whatever so ur laptop can arrive ready to set up with the OS desired on it. Should lower cost for customers who don't need windows, and maybe people on the fence will decide window isn't worth however much more it cost to get and order the Linux version. The more units are sold with Linux the more incentive there will be to sort drivers for more hardware etc.

That LLM response from the search bar when you were just searching for a file? That's not free, we have to pay for that! If you didn't want it you shouldn't have accidentally triggered it by needing to search for a file. That's on you.