As this does not affect me directly because I build my own PCs any pre-installation is good.
If Linux pre-installs on HP or Dell PCs they are going to have to do it right. What I mean by that is they had better not have a machine with "x" specs running Windows being cheaper or even close in price to a machine with the same specs running Linux. If they charged more for Linux I would be incredibly angry.
Also, as GNU/Linux is not Windows.. people are used to Windows.. so the distro that is pre-installed must be already set-up for the user with everything they will ever need software, etc.-wise or it will have to be easy for a user to do things. Thus although I have not tried any other distro other than Ubuntu with the exception of Puppy Linux and Knoppix I do not know about RPM or slackware based distros.. but I hear they are much harder than Debian-based distros.
The distro that is installed does not matter as of right now. Granted the distro needs to be user-friendly it generally does not matter. If pre-installed Linux desktops and/or laptops sell well.. which will only happen if they are cheaper than PCs running Windows and the fact is pushed that all the software for it is legally free. Also, since it is free the point needs to be driven that money does not always = quality. GNU/Linux is very good quality but does not cost anything. The point that it being free will also make some people think that there is a catch and this needs to be clearly stated.
If Linux desktops/laptops sell well then Linux will most likely begin to see commercial software be made for it. While FOSS software is in very many cases capable of doing what you need to do there are some apps that are irreplaceable and they are only on Windows. Apps that do your taxes and other critical things are hard to trust if you do not pay for them (if you pay for a product you can blame someone if something goes wrong)
So any pre-install of Linux is good. I have heard that if Linux gets 10% of the desktop market then commercial programs WILL be made for Linux. PC games coming soon...? (those are the only apps that are irreplaceable for me)
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