What would happen if windows went open source?

[skymera]

If it went Open Source, no one would care and it would shrivel and die.

[madjr]

If it went Open Source, no one would care and it would shrivel and die.

the reactOS team would take over development, it would become 5x bigger and save ms billions...

and the multiplatform version: wine II

[scouser73]

Any Windows O/S would still be crap regardless of it being open source or not. The reason being is that Microsoft has the mind set that software that people rely on should be paid for.

Microsoft released the OOXML format in the hope of gaining some recognition within the open source community, it's only antagonised the matter further as there is already a similar open source format.

I see it this way; the open source community came into being, fed up of not getting the software they wanted, and became disillusioned with various Microsoft distributions.

Open source is just that; open and that is something Microsoft can never compete with despite gaining ISO recognition. Microsoft can never garner such support as the open source community has.

[ubuntu-freak]

I'd want it to also be modular and take security more seriously - by design.

Have a look at this Windows vs Linux security comparison article. Very interesting read.

Nathan

[unknown03]

If Microsoft went open source then the whole world would finally see that a majority of their code was from GPL software. The world would also see that Microsoft REALLY HAS BEEN spying on its customers and those wearing the tin foil hats dont look so crazy now..

But the most important thing to remember is this: if Microsoft went open source, the community would fix all of its problems (after having a good laugh) just long enough to renege on its decision and SELL a more stable, usable, operating system with perfected code to aid in the spying of its customers -- and it would have the money to buy out any judge deciding on the ocean of lawsuits

[vexorian]

Someone will make windows for human beings, finally windows will be easy to use!

[samwyse]

The few usable parts would be integrated to Linux and the rest would die.

[beefcurry]

If windows 2000 went Open Source then schools/unis/educational institutions especially in developing countries will no longer consider using Linux as an alternative . Theres just simplely alot more support avaliable to Windows users. Despite them not having an awesome community forum

[Immolatus]

I think at this point no one would use it out of spite. Not to mention how poorly it would run without any updates or tech support. but I also think it would be great because everyone would logically switch to linux, then you know the "Gov." would have to switch to ODF.

[Foster Grant]

That question was answered in Ghostbusters ...

Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!