I wouldn't use the preinstalled OS anyway, no matter if it's Linux or not. The good thing about them offering Linux is that they must ensure hardware compatibil

I wouldn't use the preinstalled OS anyway, no matter if it's Linux or not. The good thing about them offering Linux is that they must ensure hardware compatibility (though I don't recall it having been a problem with Thinkpads) and be ready to give some support, and I also would expect the machine to cost a bit less for using a free OS.