Is Windows Vista really driving people to Linux?

What evidence exists to show that Vista is driving people to GNU/Linux? Let's take the individual who wants to buy a new computer. He or she buys a machine with Windows - that is the norm. And these days, you can ask for XP instead of Vista if you wish - as many businesses do. Even if you did not want Windows on that PC, there is no way that the average retailer would have the skill or the patience to install GNU/Linux on it - and continue to support it for the normal one-year period. You would have to do the installation yourself - and how many brave souls are willing to undertake that?

Let's get this straight - if we are saying that GNU/Linux is being picked in preference to Vista, then we need some statistics showing that a sizeable number of people are asking their retailers to install the free operating systems on their new PCs in preference to Vista. In the absence of any numbers - and I doubt whether you'll ever get them - such claims remain just anecdotal claims.