Comment 327 for bug 1

mommedia.com: The problem with your 'proof' is the "build" and "ship" part. Its easy enough for us, who are deeply aware of the problem, to go to an online retailer and order a custom Ubuntu computer. It is not easy however for the 'average computer user' to walk into a store and be offered a choice of operating systems. At best they might see a Mac with OS X next to a PC with Windows Vista, but neither of those are software libre. Usually however they will just see Windows computers and buy something 'off the shelf'. Even the major online retailers (e.g. Dell) which offer customizable computers online, don't make it easy at all to get anything except Windows preinstalled (hopefully this will change soon).

As per the 'its not a bug' assertion, I will only agree with you to the extent that bugs are accidental things; the Windows stranglehold on preinstalled desktop operating systems is much more like malware.

The lack of preinstalled Linux is only one symptom of the larger bug description: "Non-free software is holding back innovation in the IT industry, restricting access to IT to a small part of the world's population and limiting the ability of software developers to reach their full potential, globally." as I illustrated by mentioning the lack of preinstalled Firefox, OpenOffice.org, etc. earlier.

Any complaints you have about hardware not functioning well in Linux are also a symptom of this greater bug, e.g. non-redistributable firmware supplied with Windows drivers.