I don't know how it works in your country but in Turkey you can return the Windows license and get your computer with FreeDOS so you don't have to use or pay for Windows.

That's great, I don't know we can do that, because I always use Ubuntu with my Thinkpad.

Which mainstream manufacturers (i.e. HP, Lenovo, Asus, etc) sell machines like this that aren't preloaded with windows?

And even with a machine that comes with Windows, is it really that hard to change over to linux? I don't see why this is a point of complaint.

The Dell xps line is great.

Good to know! I've been wanting to switch away from apple hardware for a while now.

Dell.

why? just replace it with (gento|arch|...)