One theory about why Microsoft lent $2 billion as part of a deal to take Dell private is that Microsoft plans to use its newfound influence with the company to stop Dell from further building Linux hardware. Is that really the case, or just a conspiracy theory?

Computerworld reports that according to analysts, Microsoft lent the $2 billion in order to:

"...influence hardware designs in a post-PC world while protecting itself from the growing influence of Linux-based operating systems in mobile devices and servers...It may also be an attempt to secure the partnership and to stop the PC maker from looking toward alternative operating systems like Linux."

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