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The thing about Microsoft, speaking as a fan of Linux and Mac, is that it doesn't really matter if they get their shit together. Mac and Linux already exist, an

The thing about Microsoft, speaking as a fan of Linux and Mac, is that it doesn't really matter if they get their shit together. Mac and Linux already exist, and they can beat Windows in the premium/shiny and cheap/utility departments, respectively. Those two right there are going to satisfy a lot of people's needs. About the two biggest factors in Microsoft's favor remaining are (1) selling home consumer PC's to folks who want/need something cheaper than a Mac, and (2) legacy application inertia. iPad and Linux desktops can somewhat attack (1), and the advantage of (2) will slowly wear away over time I think as more and more ppl/bizs find acceptable replacements on Mac, iPad or Linux.

talonx 16y ago
>>Mac and Linux already exist, and they can beat Windows in the premium/shiny and cheap/utility departments, respectively. Those two right there are going to satisfy a lot of people's needs. Mac, yes. Linux? No. The key word that Linux distros (including Ubuntu) still miss is usability. Btw, Windows _and_ Linux user here.
- cookiecaper 16y ago
  That's a popular point to harp on but I think that Linux desktop environments are just fine for usability. There are a few quirks (like "Unmount, Eject, Safely Remove" in GNOME), and frankly it's surprising that they haven't been ironed out, but for the most part I think that Linux is just as friendly as anything else. The real problems with Linux are much lower-level -- its vital desktop infrastructure has been ignored for too long. Look at X; there is a concerted effort to change it now, but rather late to the game if you ask me, and it still is very neglected for how important it is and all the work that's left to be done on it. Sound is the same way, and other vital components for desktop.
smikhanov 16y ago
The biggest factor in favor of Microsoft is (and will be for some years at least) the bulk of orders from BigCos that are placed for hundreds of HP or Dell machines with Windows preinstalled. Apple's (or Linux's) share in the corporate segment is still tiny.
- mkramlich 16y ago
  you're right. i forgot about that when i was writing. thanks!
- fierarul 16y ago
  > Apple's (or Linux's) share in the corporate segment is still tiny. Yes, but ever since the iPhone it's growing. My old Java/.NET corporation now has teams doing iPhone/iPad applications. This is huge! Long ago it was all Windows with Linux/Solaris on the server. Now they are actually buying macs for developers.
bad_user 16y ago
> selling home consumer PC's to folks who want/need something cheaper than a Mac That's more than 95% of them :)
- mkramlich 16y ago
  doh! good point.

talonx 16y ago

>>Mac and Linux already exist, and they can beat Windows in the premium/shiny and cheap/utility departments, respectively. Those two right there are going to satisfy a lot of people's needs. Mac, yes. Linux? No. The key word that Linux distros (including Ubuntu) still miss is usability. Btw, Windows _and_ Linux user here.

cookiecaper 16y ago
That's a popular point to harp on but I think that Linux desktop environments are just fine for usability. There are a few quirks (like "Unmount, Eject, Safely Remove" in GNOME), and frankly it's surprising that they haven't been ironed out, but for the most part I think that Linux is just as friendly as anything else. The real problems with Linux are much lower-level -- its vital desktop infrastructure has been ignored for too long. Look at X; there is a concerted effort to change it now, but rather late to the game if you ask me, and it still is very neglected for how important it is and all the work that's left to be done on it. Sound is the same way, and other vital components for desktop.

smikhanov 16y ago

The biggest factor in favor of Microsoft is (and will be for some years at least) the bulk of orders from BigCos that are placed for hundreds of HP or Dell machines with Windows preinstalled. Apple's (or Linux's) share in the corporate segment is still tiny.

mkramlich 16y ago
you're right. i forgot about that when i was writing. thanks!
fierarul 16y ago
> Apple's (or Linux's) share in the corporate segment is still tiny. Yes, but ever since the iPhone it's growing. My old Java/.NET corporation now has teams doing iPhone/iPad applications. This is huge! Long ago it was all Windows with Linux/Solaris on the server. Now they are actually buying macs for developers.

bad_user 16y ago

> selling home consumer PC's to folks who want/need something cheaper than a Mac That's more than 95% of them :)

mkramlich 16y ago
doh! good point.