silence said:
yawn.... people will see fancy GUI and go "w0000t!!!111111111....."
whole story around Longhorn/Vista is less then promising, as i said they scrapped most of new features and left only those you can see on fancy slides and go ^
i dont mind if they break backward compatibility, that would prolly only help more people move to Linux...
So wait here. Wouldnt going to Linux technically break backwards compatiblity? Oh yes, it indeed would. Lets not forget that moving to Linux people would need to possibly switch IM programs, switch their internet browser etc. The simple fact that you're idea that because of a possible breck in backwards compatiblity would make people give Linux a try is really unfounded. In fact, it makes next to zero sense.
I'll be honest, Linux really would have to pull out so much from its ass to take over a large market share from MS. The average person using a computer doesnt have even a clue what Linux is. In fact, the only possible big move would be to a Mac, even then that's a rather pointless though in my view.
People like things easy for them. Windows does this. Its a nice all in one bundle for the most part. They get their media player, their IM, their internet explorer, their email, and all those little things in the Windows OS. Its just easy. Linux does not offer that yet. It does not come pre installed on any major desktop OEM that I know of either, and that is where the real money is.
Also, I think that joke that "all MS products are beta" is stupid. I mean really, do you honestly think that if Linux was a truely major player in the OS market that they would not get just as many updates to the products for potential secruity risks? Some of you build Linux up to be some holy grail of safety, the honest fact is that it is NOT. Its just more safe right now because a virus author has little reason to go after a Linux box.
Say what you may think about MS. The honest fact is that Vista will sell, it will sell good, and it will make MS a shitload of money as always. Why? Because they have the OEM's in their little back pocket, they have the general public in their back pocket, and no matter how many strides the open source and Linux movements have made, they are still very far behind in the game.