Linux distribution: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:04, 28 June 2025

Revision as of 15:55, 15 July 2025

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==OEM contracts==

{{update section|reason=Sources are outdated and don't support assertions about the present (2025) situation|date=July 2025}}

ComputerPre-built hardwarecomputers isare usually sold with an operating system other than Linux already installed by the [[original equipment manufacturer]] (OEM). In the case of [[IBM PC compatible]]s, the OS is usually [[Microsoft Windows]]; in the case of [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[Mac (computer)|Mac]] computers, it has always been [[macOS]]; [[Sun Microsystems]] sold [[SPARC]] hardware with the [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]] installed; [[video game console]]s such as the [[Xbox]], [[PlayStation]], [[Wii]], and the [[Nintendo Switch]] each have their own proprietary OS. This limits Linux's market share: consumers are unaware that an alternative exists, they must make a conscious effort to use a different operating system, and they must either perform the actual installation themselves, or depend on support from a friend, relative, or computer professional.

However, it is possible to buy hardware with Linux already installed. [[Lenovo]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], [[Dell]], Affordy,<ref name="k0WSz">{{cite web |url=http://shop.affordy.com/?lang=en |title=Affordy - TITAN Computers |publisher=Shop.affordy.com |access-date=July 29, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529014808/http://shop.affordy.com/?lang=en |archive-date=May 29, 2009 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Purism (company)|Purism]], [[Pine64]] and [[System76]] all sell general-purpose Linux laptops.<ref name="VECM6">{{cite web |url=http://mcelrath.org/laptops.html |title=Laptops/Notebooks with Linux Preinstalled |publisher=Mcelrath.org |date=June 10, 2010 |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-date=August 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820205011/http://mcelrath.org/laptops.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Custom-order PC manufacturers will also build Linux systems, but possibly with the [[Windows key]] on the keyboard. [[Fixstars Solutions]] (formerly Terra Soft) sellssold Macintosh computers and [[PlayStation 3]] consoles with [[Yellow Dog Linux]] installed.

It is more common to find embedded devices sold with Linux as the default manufacturer-supported OS, including the Linksys [[NSLU2]] NAS device, [[TiVo]]'s line of personal video recorders, and Linux-based cellphones (including Android smartphones), PDAs, and portable music players.<!-- please add wikilinks to examples in the last sentence-->

The current Microsoft Windows license lets the manufacturer determine the refund policy.<ref name="Ax80H">{{Cite web|url=http://download.microsoft.com/Documents/UseTerms/Windows%207_Professional_English_b7a7153f-1a6c-498c-9350-c86926bb1aa9.pdf|title=Microsoft Software License Terms: Windows 7 Professional|access-date=January 23, 2012|archive-date=March 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311072450/http://download.microsoft.com/Documents/UseTerms/Windows%207_Professional_English_b7a7153f-1a6c-498c-9350-c86926bb1aa9.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> With previous versions of Windows, it was possible to obtain a refund if the manufacturer failed to provide the refund by litigation in the small claims courts.<ref name="SDpza">{{cite web |url=http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7040 |title=Getting a Windows Refund in California Small Claims Court |publisher=Linuxjournal.com |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721010215/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/7040 |url-status=live}}</ref> On February 15, 1999, a group of Linux users in [[Orange County, California]] held a "Windows Refund Day" protest in an attempt to pressure Microsoft into issuing them refunds.<ref name="TXPbv">{{cite web |url=http://marc.merlins.org/linux/refundday/ |title=Windows Refund Day |publisher=Marc.merlins.org |date=February 15, 1999 |access-date=July 29, 2011 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727081633/http://marc.merlins.org/linux/refundday/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In France, the Linuxfrench and [[AFUL]] (French speaking Libre Software Users' Association) organizations along with free software activist [[Roberto Di Cosmo]] started a "Windows Detax" movement,<ref name="bSaXD">[http://www.detaxe.org/ Detaxe.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070324214215/http://www.detaxe.org/ |date=March 24, 2007}} {{in lang|fr}} Say no to bundled software - Say yes to informed consumers</ref> which led to a 2006 petition against "racketiciels" (translation: [[Racket (crime)|Racket]]ware) with 39,415 signatories and the [[DGCCRF]] branch of the French government filing several complaints against bundled software. On March 24, 2014, a new international petition was launched by AFUL on the Avaaz platform,<ref name="wcetv">{{Cite web|url=https://no.more.racketware.info/petition/index|title=International petition &#124; AFUL|first=Last modified: 04/29/2014 01:10|last=AM|website=no.more.racketware.info|access-date=November 26, 2020|archive-date=January 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126194622/https://no.more.racketware.info/petition/index|url-status=live}}</ref> translated into several languages and supported by many organizations around the world.

==Statistics==