What are the implications of Dell Computer Corp selling business PC's to some of its clients without Windows installed?

In 1998, Ralph Nader asked Dell (and 5 other major OEMs) to offer alternate operating systems to Microsoft Windows, specifically including Linux, for which "there is clearly a growing interest" Dell started offering Linux notebook systems which "cost no more than their Windows 98 counterparts" in 2000, and soon expanded, with Dell becoming "the first major manufacturer to offer Linux across its full product line" But by early 2001 Dell had "disbanded its Linux business unit".

On February 26 Dell announced that it had commenced a program to sell and distribute a range of computers with pre-installed Linux distributions instead of Microsoft Windows. Dell indicated that Novell's SUSE Linux would appear first. However, Dell on February 27, 2007 announced that its previous announcement related to certifying the hardware as ready to work with Novell SUSE Linux and that it (Dell) had no plans to sell systems pre-installed with Linux in the near future. On March 28, 2007, Dell announced that it would begin shipping some desktops and laptops with Linux pre-installed, although it did not specify which distribution of Linux or which hardware would lead. On April 18, 2007 a report appeared suggesting that Michael Dell used Ubuntu Linux on one of his home-systems. On May 1, 2007, Dell announced it will ship the Ubuntu Linux distribution. On May 24, 2007, Dell started selling models with Ubuntu Linux 7.04 pre-installed: a laptop, a budget computer, and a high-end PC.

This may mean that Dell no longer has a deal with Microsoft to use their software or it may also be that Dell is looking for new, cheaper software. Some people prefer to avoid Microsoft because they need to be in control of the format of their own data. Others find the substantial cost of the software to be prohibitive. Some disapprove of Microsoft’s business practices, or feel that it’s unhealthy for any industry to be in the grip of such a monopoly. Governments often feel a duty to their citizens not to be under the control of a single corporation to the extent that use of Microsoft software often implies. And many, many people are simply frustrated with the constant battle against bugs, worms and viruses.