The Washington Post reports on the testimony (in the ongoing Microsoft anti-trust case) of Michael Tiemann, Chief Technical Office for Linux provider Red Hat, to the effect that Microsoft has been intimidating computer manufacturers not to provide computers pre-installed with Linux (Makers of PCs Fear Wrath Of Microsoft). C|Net News carries a Reuters wirestory about Tiemann's testimony as well as testimony from former Gateway executive Peter Ashkin (who now works for AOL/Time-Warner) to the same effect (Testimony: Microsoft still intimidating). Judge Kollar-Kotelly seemed reluctant to accept some of the testimony due to hearsay rules, especially as there are few documents to back up the charges - although an eWeek article cites some Microsoft memos concerning computer manufacturers who support Linux, and the memos aren't positive (Microsoft, States Debate Remedies). Favorite quote from Microsoft's former OEM chieftain Joachim Kempin to Bill Gates: "I'm thinking of hitting the OEMs harder than in the past with anti-Linux. ... They should do a delicate dance." Slashdot readers weigh in (More on Dell Dropping Linux Support). You can also read a commentary piece by Tiemann published last Halloween in WIRED (Windows XP: EXtra Proprietary).
LawMeme had a variation on this story back in September (Why You Can't Buy A Windows/Linux Combo Computer).
This is something that I have always thought should be a priority for the DOJ, and something that should have been solved long before the remedy phase of the trial. Linux is free. If major computer manufacturers decided to provide Linux pre-installed on every computer sold (in addition to, or separately from Windows) the cost would be minimal. There would be some initial costs, but soon enough equipment manufacturers would be providing Linux drivers and Linux distributions would be modified to meet the needs of a Dell or HP. A dual-boot loader would make switching between Windows and Linux easy for even the most novice of users. Moreover, in an extremely competitive market, why wouldn't computer manufacturers want to provide additional functionality to their consumers at minimum cost? Heck, the computer manufacturers could even bundle in such popular programs as Open Office and provide their customers with a full office suite for free. The benefits of this for the market would be tremendous.