If there was a viable market of people willing to pay an economic price for a Linux laptop then there would be companies to provide them. Several have tried. Some are still trying (eg Dell) though it's hard to make money selling to cheapskates.
As it is, whatever Linux market there is depends on the economies of scale created by the Windows market. You're saving far more money thanks to Windows than you would ever pay for Windows licences.
Why on earth would I buy a Mac if I am looking for a Linux machine trying to avoid paying for something I don't use.
Does it make me a cheapskate if I don't want to pay the Windows/Apple tax?
I would have no problem spending let's say $1500 for a decent Linux latop: one with certified hardware, a penguin key (instead of a Windows key), a pre-installed Linux distro and no secure boot nonsense.
Often times, due to Microsoft co-marketing funds, "desktop real-estate" (trial-ware installs), and some other things - that end up offsetting the OEM's costs - you're actually paying less for a system with Windows installed then you are for a system without an OS installed. So the cost issue is mostly a non-issue, as to maintain the same profit margins the OEM will sell the non-OS system at a higher price.
This is especially true for "basic" systems, were they sell them at almost cost price... As OEMs make all their profits on upgrades and higher spec systems that they can sell at a markup.
In theory, you're right. However, in reality, the sort of people who whine about paying $20 or less for a bundled copy of Windows are generally not in the market for PCs that have a viable profit margin. This is one of the things that kills would-be Linux companies (though here are others).
You're welcome to point me to the evidence for a large group of open source enthusiasts shopping for high-margin laptops.
I don't think that's the case. The argument, as I see it is:
In order to buy a product from company X, which I like and want to use, I'm also required to give money to company Y for a product I do not like and am not going to use. I don't want to reward company Y for making a product I do not like, and I am angry company X has made a business/marketing deal that means I can't get its product without rewarding company Y.
As others have pointed out already, PC makers get most of their profits at the low-end from bundling. I'd rather pay the same price with no bundled crapware and no bundled OS because dislike crapware and I dislike Microsoft's current operating systems and I do not want the companies that made them to get my money.
In any case, you're not buying two separate products, you are buying one, integrated product. The thing you think you want does not exist. No OEM says "Hey, I'll make a laptop and then decide which OS to load." Their business is making Windows laptops. If they were designing, qualifying and building Linux laptops, they'd have to charge you a lot more, and you wouldn't pay it. That's why no one does it.
The problem is not about high-margin / low-margin laptops at all ... it is simply linked to the terrible Linux popularity :
I am at my third Sony Z laptop (~2k to ~3k laptops). Every time, the first thing I did with them was to dump the original windows partition and install linux . The "windows tax" on them were negligible and did not impact my choice at all, so would Sony do anything for people like me ? Of course not except if a competitor would produce a successful similar hardware with Linux on it, and that doesn't happen because people don't show interest for linux.
Yes, fair point. However, some widely known attempts to sell Linux hardware have been based on low price points. Early netbooks (which still seem to be popular with Linux users) and the Wal-Mart machines are examples. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't seen anyone having a go at the Sony Z level...
Outside of the US Dell won't sell you a laptop with linux or no OS. I tried enquiring in th UK about the ultrabook that's on sale with Ubuntu in the USA and was told no, no chance. This was a business enquiry too, not just consumer.
It was a few months back so I guess it could have changed.
I purchased the Dell XPS developer edition here in DK 2 months ago. While it's under "small business", you can buy it as a private person (the only downside is a stream of annoying small business email ads until they acknowledge your unsubscription). Here it is on the UK site: http://www.dell.com/uk/business/p/xps-13-linux/pd
That's changed recently then. I'd still like it if they would sell you any of their stuff without windows. I don't even need a discount, I just don't want to pay MS for a machine that won't be running their OS.
If there was a viable market of people willing to pay an economic price for a Linux laptop then there would be companies to provide them. Several have tried. Some are still trying (eg Dell) though it's hard to make money selling to cheapskates.
As it is, whatever Linux market there is depends on the economies of scale created by the Windows market. You're saving far more money thanks to Windows than you would ever pay for Windows licences.