Future of Microsoft?

[gwoodard]

Microsoft's monopoly will last because free software developers don't have money! Everything in this world needs money. You can't make software without having money.

Uh dude the "Free-Software" companies are usually non-profit (they make money then give to charities...which usually is not taxed, but they do make money)

[pelicanghost]

Linux will not win the desktop market because there will be NO desktop market. I see a user in front of input and output devices connected to a giant server, which will likely run *nix.

[gwoodard]

If you are right then the way you described it; In order for that to happen, it will take years of research and volunteers (hopefully they aren't unlucky) and it will cost ALOT of money:(

[kulturloseramerikaner]

If you are right then the way you described it; In order for that to happen, it will take years of research and volunteers (hopefully they aren't unlucky) and it will cost ALOT of money:(
He's basically describing server environments, and access using terminals. They're pretty commonplace already; they've been around for 50 years. And they by and large run UNIX.

[gwoodard]

Oops misunderstood thanks

[dca]

If you are right then the way you described it; In order for that to happen, it will take years of research and volunteers (hopefully they aren't unlucky) and it will cost ALOT of money:(

Not necessarily, ask Google...https://www.google.com/a/

It's already under way. That's one of their quests. Instead of buying a full PC from Dell for $349USD and up, you can go to the BestBuy, purchase a mini-client or mini-term kind of appliance (like MS tried to do) for $100, plug it in and your done. There's tons of companies trying to monetize on the concept. Check 'linuxdevices.com' and you'll see...

example: http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5563564014.html

[molom]

I don't think that Linux will ever take over windows unless Canonical, Mandriva, Red Hat, Linux Mint and PCLOS unite. There are too many distros, which confuses the hell out of Windows/Mac users. I can see Mac OS X beating Windows because it has all the Adobe apps and it has Microsoft Office, and only one OS, which makes it simpler for PC users to choose. I can ask someone 'What's Linux' and they'll be like 'what's wrong with you' and if I ask them 'What's a mac', they'll be like 'ohh that's that thing like Windows. No recognition, no proper commercial apps and no proper one OS.

I love Linux and I try to stick to it the most I can. But certain apps I need make me partially use Windows like games and other apps for video editing.

[Midwest-Linux]

Future of Microsoft? I for one would not be surprised if they actually come out with a Linux Distro with Proprietary software and programs much like Linspire and Xandros has. MS is not stupid, they see opportunities to make money from someplace...they will.

MS sees Linux as a threat simply for the simple fact that Linux is free and is starting to take away from sales of Windows products. Their best bet is to offer a Linux distro with the ability to run some Windows programs. Hopefully the damned thing won't have DRM and need 2 GB Ram to run on...but I digress.

Vista...well thats another thing....If Vista was a huge success like some have claimed to be, why are people still demanding XP machines? Why are people installing XP over their new Vista computers? Why has there been a huge increase and awareness in Linux (namely Ubuntu) in this past year (since Vista was "released")? Never mind that respected magazine PC World has listed Vista as 2007's Most disappointing product. Oops......

From here ....it goes downhill for Microsoft and others.
New Zealand wants open source.
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/NZ-Ministry-of-Justice-We-want-open-source/0,130061733,339284547,00.htm

The Dutch adapts to Open Source
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071213/ap_on_hi_te/netherlands_open_source

Times...they are a changing....MS glory days of the 90's are just about over. There is a new kid on the block...more like the MOB. Its Linux, Apple and of course Vista's # 1 competition....Windows XP :-) Now we have Firefox and Opera for browsers, We have Winamp, we have Open Office, Picasa...and yes the landscape has sure changed in just a few years. There is no need for Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and other Windows programs. Ooops.... Heck we even have Open Source Linux versions for Open Source Windows based products....lol

This is 2007. This is not 1997 anymore, and Windows no longer has a "monopoly" on the computers anymore. No one is going to just instantly upgrade anymore just because Microsoft releases it. No one is just stuck with MS or Apple, there are over 100 Linux variants just for the asking..for free...no activation,no WGA, no DRM, no serial numbers, no client access licenses,no bloatware...
Ahhhh Freedom!

[molom]

@ Midwest-Linux
Linux Mint Daryna is out now. Cassandra is a bit outdated ;)

[Ioky]

haha I am more interesting on people who use windows, they seem like they will use XP for 12 years. But seriously I think they will die out in 5 years.

[tnl2k7]

I doubt we'll see Microsoft do the world a favour and disappear from the earth to give other operating systems a chance to flourish, but here's my rough opinion on Microsoft's progress since I used my first Windows PC (I was 7 then, 14 now):

* Windows 95 - Ugly interface, lack of applications. Internet support was reasonable, but not outstanding.

* Windows 98 - Ugly interface, pretty stable, nicer applications available.

* Windows ME - Don't even go there. Blue screens at least 3 per week!

* Windows XP - Nice interface, reliable, never had issues EVER.

* Windows Vista - Nice interface, too slow, no RAM to run my programs, CPU at 20% constantly. 2GB RAM, AMD Dual Core 2.6GHz 5000+, before someone tells me my PC is crap!

Now, for Ubuntu (only used it since Dapper, sorry):

* 6.06 - Interface is basic, takes some getting used to. Fast bootups (30 seconds, including BIOS!), reliable. Not many games, bu the ones that I found in Synaptic and some that I compiled myself were high quality.

* 6.10 - Same as above.

* 7.04 - Sorry, but I didn't like this version, unreliable, so I went back to 6.10. Bootups took AGES (6 mins).

* 7.10 - WOW! BLOOMIN' 'ECK! Wireless worked out the box....no fiddling! Multimedia support is much better, like the easy DVD support, the automatic compiler script. And it's fast and pretty with Compiz Fusion and Emerald (especially with the CCSM installed). Firefox plugin support is way better. A massive stride forward in 6 months.

So, I honestly think that Ubuntu has come further forward in 2 years than Windows has in 7. What do you think?

Thanks Canonical!

[cmay]

i think there is no future in windows none whatso ever.
there is just some peopel that are very frustrated over the money they spend on office and windows only games. when they let go of that there will be no one using windows xp no more. if linux will take over the common computer desktop marked or whatever its games that is the solution. if linux wants to take over anything.
i dont see linux fight to be nr one. microsoft does . its clear that open source will both for end user and companies will be feeling more secure.
what i do see is for that very reason that peopel seem to not like microsoft or windows. they like the good free programs they get thanks to gpl and they like the great programs they can buy. it has nerver been windows they liked.

i have for those reasons completly moved on to linux. thats where it will all end.
i want a mac but i dont have mac money but thats the only problem apple wil have.
there is always customers for a great free product like ubuntu as an example.

in the end i think some day we are going to have to accept also that whit the pollution and massive abuse of the planet it may be using linux is not just a great idea but also a thing we are forced to do . quit windows quit produce so much pc hardware that might as well go to the recyckle center the next year after becouse mr bill gates want to sell something new and fancy.
after all windows only work whit the driver cd shipped whit it. and once thats gone and microsoft is gone nothing fancy about windows no more at all .
the time limit for microsoft now ?
five six years or sooner. they are only still left alive becouse they got money and lawyers. when they spend that last dollar we will nerver hear from them again.
maybe from their lawyer. a patent license case may be his best shot at getting some out of the time he lost on microsoft. i really hope that the developers of linux are aware of that risc.

[karellen]

i think there is no future in windows none whatso ever.
there is just some peopel that are very frustrated over the money they spend on office and windows only games. when they let go of that there will be no one using windows xp no more. if linux will take over the common computer desktop marked or whatever its games that is the solution. if linux wants to take over anything.
i dont see linux fight to be nr one. microsoft does . its clear that open source will both for end user and companies will be feeling more secure.
what i do see is for that very reason that peopel seem to not like microsoft or windows. they like the good free programs they get thanks to gpl and they like the great programs they can buy. it has nerver been windows they liked.

i have for those reasons completly moved on to linux. thats where it will all end.
i want a mac but i dont have mac money but thats the only problem apple wil have.
there is always customers for a great free product like ubuntu as an example.

in the end i think some day we are going to have to accept also that whit the pollution and massive abuse of the planet it may be using linux is not just a great idea but also a thing we are forced to do . quit windows quit produce so much pc hardware that might as well go to the recyckle center the next year after becouse mr bill gates want to sell something new and fancy.
after all windows only work whit the driver cd shipped whit it. and once thats gone and microsoft is gone nothing fancy about windows no more at all .
the time limit for microsoft now ?
five six years or sooner. they are only still left alive becouse they got money and lawyers. when they spend that last dollar we will nerver hear from them again.
maybe from their lawyer. a patent license case may be his best shot at getting some out of the time he lost on microsoft. i really hope that the developers of linux are aware of that risc.

1. if MS falls- and Windows witi it - and Linux takes its place, and all the software suites now available only for Windows will be available for Linux (plus games, of course) then the hardware will still become more and more powerful. games wil ldemand more and more resources. and people will demand games. not matter they run on Windows ore Linux. it's inevitable. and the whole argument with Windows PCs poluting it's very very far-fetched ;). I understand you don't like MS (I'm not a huge fan either), but there's long way from there to your statements

[cmay]

the point of wiew i have its coming from having worked in a recycle center.
its not microsoft i hate but its the fact there is machines not older than 1gb hhz proccesors and 1540 of ram in the trash both winme and some oem xp machines. . simply becouse peopel want the new stuff all the time. if you want a machine like that that still works come to denmark last time i checked there was more than a hundred in a container just waiting to get destroyed.if you think about it you cant even see or try all the webpages and the programs that are already here now even if you had two lifetimes
so why the rush for something new all the time.
my next tvset that i soon get for free as a gift is worht 26.000 kr.
but its not hd tv. so someone i know figure that why dont they just give some poor guy like me that and go shopping its a 2 years old anyway
its still nice but not the new hdtv stuff.
it takes 7danish kr to get a dollar by the way.

about the future of microsoft its not something i think there is a future in simply becouse that what the announcement of the new operative system windows seven says and i had already sort of guessed. its not backward compatible .its modular and whit the core and grafichs seperated. and what peopel have of games and program that kept them whit windows wont work no more.
there is other things microsoft has done that is not helping them. vista is one of them. the whole idea of windows and internet applications is in denmark where i come from a joke around peopel.but still they have all those great opensource programs and a few commercial programs and some company by the name of microsoft they can complaint about. thats how danish peopel is the most.

i dont work that way however. i liked windows me alot but now its dead and i had xp for six month .
then i knew i had to think about the next upgrade pretty soon and went for linux instead .
i dont have mac money. linux runs on most of the very nice computers that peopel trow in the trash for having less than 2 gb memory.

so i dont hate microsoft. i hate the endless wate of perfectly good computers
i dont even have that much money i can go buy a new one so actually what peopel does and microsoft as well is only for my benefit.

sorry for having to write such long story on this but i did not mean to step on any toes. i was just speaking from my hart and also very tired sleepy head a bit.
anyway i dont care that much about that happens to any commercial software company.
i just want clean water and clean air and clean food. and i dont want to see my kids grow up in a '' i cant wait to trow the old computer i bourght yesterday away cultur.''

and i fear your right about the hardware getting more and more advanced on som level no matter if its linux or windows or even free dos thats the new general os. simply becouse where they can make money on having us trow away everything we hold in our hands right now to buy the next thing they will make those mony. thats the thing i was in the above trying to say i dont like..

however i still feel that the general feeling around peopel here in denmark is that they want xp they dont want vista or the new thing and when their xp is getting too old or just breaks for some reason then they just dont want microsoftsofts products any more. i think they will all have mac or linux and some of them will have a pirated xp simply becouse they can not learn to deal whit anything else.
and some will refuse to let go of their genuine xp for as long as i did whit my windows me. i was using that until the year of 2006. then i had to give it up.

[Mr_J_]

I honestly think that if the market ever wants to get the strangle hold away from a desperate monopoly there are investments to be made...
- Simple ones
We need to have shops to have people that know how to handle linux distros as well as you'd expect a Windows tech person to. Fixing not only the hardware, but software.

As transitions are never easy, and since MSFT knows that this is exactly the strength they have had for decades; they are doing teir best to maintain this.

Creating a great bunch of graduates that are helped by their programs...

On the linux side of this, we keep afecting more and more of these new graduates by the simplest way possible. Need!...

There are just so many systems that most people are hearing about these "other" systems that can be used by mouth-to-mouth propaganda.

The "demise" of MSFT will be greatly dependent on their ability to do what most already know they eventually have to...

They have to give up their legacy support and create a windows fresh from the ground up. They cannot keep supporting all the little things we like, just because we like them.
They need to do what Apple did, and cut loose. Otherwise they will end up sluggish near the cliff that crumbles beneath their feet.

Linux has a foothold in the tech arena for a much older time that windows, but it was that brand that was made public and pushed unto the consumers in a nice package. They got support with the "windows supported" tags so that anyone knew what to purchase that safelly works with windows.

I guess that MSFT will likelly try to jump ahead of its competion with a LIVE desktop, one based on services they launch the basis now only having to apply their prototypes later.

An interactive messenger, that probably many of you have seen, connects to mobile and from mobile networks... skype and the like get problems here; while MSFT gets a foot in to develop some nice alliances with some mobile media and networks that are used from some other "friend".

Extended services such as wireless columns are spotted today, but you phone starting your computer; dinner; allowing you entry to your house; etc... are not that distant.

As smartphones become more and more common we'll see that same messenger appear in those free after the market speaks.

We'll likelly see the computer switching to media center coupled with the possible rise of the MSFT console and the "fusion" of the dependent technologies of the two.

The computer games that have made the windows platform such a headache can be its greatest glory after all. Just make them work better in a console than on the computer while still supplying the games services that are used by the console on your computer.

If they see the plan fail, simply make a few changes with game windows and business windows appear as totally separate versions.
Game supports legacy, while business doesn't.


Kinda the same old, same old...

[kamaboko]

the bigger MS becomes, the less quickly it can adapt to what is, essentially, a fast moving market. with vista, we will see MS start to go downhill. how much so is a moot point. it depends upon how quickly it can adapt and how many dirty tricks it can pull out of its inexhaustable bag of dirty tricks.

Let's see, I've heard that same story since Windows 98...then it was 98SE...then it was Windows ME...then it moved to 2000 professional...but it was certainly the end with XP Professional...and now it's most certainly the end with Vista. I'm expecting to hear the same with Windows 7 (or whatever MS ends up calling it).