> at least as long as hardware manufacturers let it run on their computers.
Linux is thankfully totally emancipated from this now. There is no longer an exclusive x86 hegemony of desktop computing - its fringe for now, but ARM, Power, and RISC-V exist as alternative options with currently purchasable hardware that can run several Linux distros today.
If Intel / AMD did anything to try to lock platform exclusivity on their consumer offerings to Windows there is an escape hatch. And it also doesn't really align with their business interests to help Microsoft on that - they just want to sell hardware and both employ substantial development teams to support their hardware under Linux already. AMD just got a bunch of money from me this year upgrading to their latest platforms all for their ongoing commitment to Linux support.
Linux is thankfully totally emancipated from this now. There is no longer an exclusive x86 hegemony of desktop computing - its fringe for now, but ARM, Power, and RISC-V exist as alternative options with currently purchasable hardware that can run several Linux distros today.
If Intel / AMD did anything to try to lock platform exclusivity on their consumer offerings to Windows there is an escape hatch. And it also doesn't really align with their business interests to help Microsoft on that - they just want to sell hardware and both employ substantial development teams to support their hardware under Linux already. AMD just got a bunch of money from me this year upgrading to their latest platforms all for their ongoing commitment to Linux support.