The article claims: "One reason all PC's that come preinstalled with a Microsoft operating system is cheaper than regular laptop is that Microsoft subsidizes the cost of the hardware."
I had always thought that PC makers paid Microsoft for Windows. The article claims that, instead, Microsoft pays the PC makers to install Windows. I don't see how this could possibly be true if most copies of Windows are sold pre-installed on PCs.
I've never heard that Microsoft pays OEMs but they certainly do give them a discounted price. Also it is my understanding that they do have some contract terms that either forbid sale of the same hardware with other OSes preinstalled or forbid sale at a lower price with other OS or no OS.
This is all from years ago, I don't know what terms are these days. Obviously Dell, HP, etc. do have a few preinstalled Linux systems in their catalogs now.
I too don't think this is accurate. What Intel and Microsoft have done is contributed marketing support dollars which, from a pure business analysis point, might be considered part of the cost of the system but it isn't what you or I would consider subsidizing the hardware. In marketing support programs Microsoft pays for a television advertisement for your product (very expensive) which points out how great it is because uses Microsoft Windows. Similarly with the Intel inside advertisements.
Microsoft charges for OEM licenses. PC manufacturers, however, will include other software with Windows for a fee (e.g. Imagine Adobe pays Dell for Adobe Reader to be included on Dell consumer systems).
It is also plausible that Microsoft has a patent agreement with PC manufacturers so that they have to pay Microsoft a fee to ship systems with Linux installed. I know we've seen similar situations with companies that run Linux servers or sell Android devices.
What they probably meant is that Windows is a profit center for HP because of the 3rd party crapware/bloatware loaded with Windows. They don't have similar deals for Linux, and that would probably chase off their Linux customers.
I had always thought that PC makers paid Microsoft for Windows. The article claims that, instead, Microsoft pays the PC makers to install Windows. I don't see how this could possibly be true if most copies of Windows are sold pre-installed on PCs.