So if you are Microsoft

[rockface]

Why does Linux issue such a threat?

[inxygnuu]

What do you mean? It is only certain people. I am fine with most pf the things Microsoft does. just dont be this guy: (dont talk to him, I am Gshinato, bottom of first stanza of his "*** list")
microsoft creep (http://www.youtube.com/user/Micsega)

best regards,
3v4n

[Aearenda]

Linux isn't such a threat to them, yet, and may never be, however hard we try - they will make sure that Windows 7 fixes the anti-Vista mindset. In fact, it's probably useful to them to be able to say, "Look, there IS competition to Windows". I think they will be more worried about Apple and about OpenOffice at the moment, though OpenOffice seems to have lost its way a bit.

[Paul86fxr]

After the Vista fiasco, I think any operating system will be a threat, I have Vista and anyone who reads this can have it for free, its really that bad! I have tried to give it away but no one wants it!):P

[Giant Speck]

Well, with any business, even the smallest form of competition can be considered a threat.

[jrusso2]

Why does Linux issue such a threat?

It doesn't but the concept of Open Source sure does.

[Shwefty]

Free as in freedom and free as in price...

[Frak]

competition = threat

You could consider BSD to be a threat to Linux. Oh, you say? BSD numbers don't rank up next to Linux's? True, if you talk in terms of desktop users. I can probably bet safely that desktop Linux users out-gross BSD Desktop users. Though, if we talk about Server numbers, we enter a very tricky area. BSD is then reclassified as UNIX so as it can join the other UNIX's (such as Solaris, for which we could consider BSD a UNIX as much as we classify RedHat or SUSE a Linux). Then, BSD/UNIX poses a threat to the Linux marketshare.

Now, go in that and change all references of Linux to Windows and all references of BSD/UNIX to Linux.

It's a business. Their only responsibility is to increase profits, not give everybody cake.

[jcwmoore]

ok, i'm Microsoft... the threat is not linux, it is shrinking IT budgets. if companies do not spend on IT in the next 2 years they will not move to windows 7 and stick with their current hardware running XP. Using windows XP is bad because i no longer make money on it...

MS core business is the corporate world and though I hate it, most corporations run on windows. the problem is that people will throw a fit if you take away windows and office from their work computers. MS is there and people hate change

[steveneddy]

Basically if you aren't using Windows, you aren't sending money with them and they can't control you.

Linux has become something that Windows should have been, but the money got in the way of the free thinking.

And I believe that Microsoft is the type of company that believes if they can't buy something, you have to destroy it.

Many great ideas and companies were bought by MS only to be either integrated or swept aside to keep the market share of Windows alive.

Linux, not being owned by anyone, is impossible to buy. It's like saying that since you own one green lizard, that all other lizards (or penguins, or blowfish, or hats, or dragons) belong to them, too.

Linux is finally taking some market share away from Microsoft, although a small market share, it is something at least.

If you only made one billion dollars a year in revenue and you lost 5% in one year, that is an amount equal to $50 million American Dollars!

$50 million is someone's bonus check.

It's all about the Benjamins. Nothing but money. Greed.

This is my .02

[I-75]

If a company decides to just dump their Windows Server for a Linux server, now there is no need to pay for "Client Access Licenses" for each computer. Based on the following for Server 2008.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/pricing.aspx

The cost for for a 20 client access licenses ...the cost is $795.

While I'm sure a company with 1,000 desktops has some price breaks for "volume" type pricing ... regardless, that cost adds up. Linux has a high concentration in the server sector and since the Corporate World is Microsoft's cash cow....Linux is indeed a threat...to their bottom line.

[upapilot]

It's idiotic to ask such a question! Linux is free! Plus it's just as good as Windows infact better. Several people have now begun to use netbooks which are mainly cheaper and good for those who just browse the net and read mail. And when people want it cheap they'll never buy it with Windows:lolflag:

[andrewjoy]

competition = threat

You could consider BSD to be a threat to Linux. Oh, you say? BSD numbers don't rank up next to Linux's? True, if you talk in terms of desktop users. I can probably bet safely that desktop Linux users out-gross BSD Desktop users. Though, if we talk about Server numbers, we enter a very tricky area. BSD is then reclassified as UNIX so as it can join the other UNIX's (such as Solaris, for which we could consider BSD a UNIX as much as we classify RedHat or SUSE a Linux). Then, BSD/UNIX poses a threat to the Linux marketshare.

Now, go in that and change all references of Linux to Windows and all references of BSD/UNIX to Linux.

It's a business. Their only responsibility is to increase profits, not give everybody cake.

Did sumone say cake ?

I dont see why MS are so worried linux and windows ( and to some extent OSX) are not aimed at the same people, sure you have "geeks" (replace geek with computer scinace student for me ) who use all of them ( the fact that i am forced to use windows form time to time (direct x work (yuck), and to play CoH :))is a shame as i dont see a need for me to use it to do any day to day taks other than games.

But for jo from accounts who only checks emails and looks on ebay after he gets home form work why use linux or osx when windows xxx has worked for him for years and he knows how to use it ?

As long as windows is set up correctly it is passable as an os i just dont like its way of doing things.

[Izek]

Why does Linux issue such a threat?

I wouldn't say "Linux" issues a threat, but "ReactOS" does, sort of.

[cmat]

I wouldn't say ReactOS because it's pretty up to par with running WINE or Crossover in my trial runs. I think it's the security model which will win over people. In all honesty I don't really care what Microsoft thinks of GNU and Linux. It's what the hardware makers think that's more important. Unfortunately, Microsoft seems to have them on a leash.

Or a choke chain....

[jrusso2]

I wouldn't say ReactOS because it's pretty up to par with running WINE or Crossover in my trial runs. I think it's the security model which will win over people. In all honesty I don't really care what Microsoft thinks of GNU and Linux. It's what the hardware makers think that's more important. Unfortunately, Microsoft seems to have them on a leash.

Or a choke chain....

I can't get react OS to do much of anything, it kind of runs in a virtual machine, but try installing it on a clean hard drive.

[Izek]

I can't get react OS to do much of anything, it kind of runs in a virtual machine, but try installing it on a clean hard drive.

Remember: alpha; USB Support is on its way.

[jrusso2]

Remember: alpha; USB Support is on its way.

Remember its been alpha for ten years.

[smoker]

Why does Linux issue such a threat?

the bottom line in the accounts sheet is what counts, so anything that ekes away at that is a threat, whether it is another operating system, or a credit crunch, or whatever. ms dominance isn't going anywhere soon, but a big corporation won't stay that way for long if it ignores any threat, no matter how small it seems. i'm sure ms was regarded as a small threat by other big players in the past.