4 ms·

Most relevant software today runs in web browsers or are cross-platform applications, so even when you have a Windows laptop, you probably spend most time in a

Most relevant software today runs in web browsers or are cross-platform applications, so even when you have a Windows laptop, you probably spend most time in a web browser or a webview wrapped in an app and not in a native and exclusive Windows application. That's a very different situation from 20 years ago, where a lot of important software only existed for Windows. E.g. today you can just ditch Windows and install Linux on that same old laptop and wouldn't lose anything important.

cpach 2y ago
Also, for most people these days, Android and iOS are the primary operating systems in use. And you can’t easily run Windows applications there.
- 9dev 2y ago
  You’re thinking of end users. The masses of office workers in the world are, and will continue to be, using Microsoft Office as their most important tool of trade, and thus will continue to run Windows.
9dev 2y ago
As long as the browser variants of Microsoft Office aren’t as capable as their desktop variants, that isn’t relevant. CAD software is another contender that mostly requires a Windows environment; as is lots of financial software and industrial control tools. I agree with you that many people probably could use a Linux computer if there was any incentive to go that direction. That isn’t reality though, and likely won’t be any time soon.
close04 2y ago
Perhaps more importantly, given enough years and as the technology commoditizes, the "need" to take sides about whatever tech lessens. "Sides" are usually for the hot big thing in tech. But OSes are long past that phase and far too unexciting for most people to have the critical mass needed to create this kind of polarization.
dTal 2y ago
Found the programmer... You have an extremely skewed view of what "relevant software" is, if you believe this. The second you try and use a computer for anything professional, besides nerd stuff and a few key "creative" areas that Apple has cultural cachet in like music production and graphic design, you are absolutely going to find yourself reliant on some completely entrenched "industry standard" piece of software that's been around for many decades and only runs on Microsoft Windows. Autodesk still sells 3ds Max for a couple grand, and it's Windows-only. Hell, even TurboTax only runs on Windows. And if you manage to dodge that, there's bound to be some critical piece of hardware that can only be controlled from a Windows computer. The biggest propaganda win that Microsoft pulled was getting nerds - the biggest loudmouths about software freedom - off their case. 90s style free software fanaticism is basically dead. Meanwhile the rest of the world is absolutely still locked in to Windows. Know how you can tell? Because Windows is now widely regarded as a pile of shit, riddled with adware even out of the box ("Candy Crush in the Start menu") and yet people still use it, because they have to. >E.g. today you can just ditch Windows and install Linux on that same old laptop and wouldn't lose anything important. I challenge you to try this with a nontechnical friend who uses a computer for work. They will be screaming at you to put it back like it was within the week. I say this as a die-hard Linux user.
- chasd00 2y ago
  > The biggest propaganda win that Microsoft pulled was getting nerds - the biggest loudmouths about software freedom - off their case it still amazes me how the newer generation of technical people see Microsoft as non-evil or, in some cases, even the good guy. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was re-convincing the world he doesn't exist. edit: wasn't the google motto "don't be evil" basically meant to mean don't be Microsoft?
  - deleted 2y ago
    [deleted]
  - bongodongobob 2y ago
    Try easily finding admins and heldesk staff to manage your 1000+ org using something other than Active Directory and M365. MS absolutely owns this space.

cpach 2y ago

Also, for most people these days, Android and iOS are the primary operating systems in use. And you can’t easily run Windows applications there.

9dev 2y ago
You’re thinking of end users. The masses of office workers in the world are, and will continue to be, using Microsoft Office as their most important tool of trade, and thus will continue to run Windows.

9dev 2y ago

As long as the browser variants of Microsoft Office aren’t as capable as their desktop variants, that isn’t relevant. CAD software is another contender that mostly requires a Windows environment; as is lots of financial software and industrial control tools. I agree with you that many people probably could use a Linux computer if there was any incentive to go that direction. That isn’t reality though, and likely won’t be any time soon.

close04 2y ago

Perhaps more importantly, given enough years and as the technology commoditizes, the "need" to take sides about whatever tech lessens. "Sides" are usually for the hot big thing in tech. But OSes are long past that phase and far too unexciting for most people to have the critical mass needed to create this kind of polarization.

dTal 2y ago

Found the programmer... You have an extremely skewed view of what "relevant software" is, if you believe this. The second you try and use a computer for anything professional, besides nerd stuff and a few key "creative" areas that Apple has cultural cachet in like music production and graphic design, you are absolutely going to find yourself reliant on some completely entrenched "industry standard" piece of software that's been around for many decades and only runs on Microsoft Windows. Autodesk still sells 3ds Max for a couple grand, and it's Windows-only. Hell, even TurboTax only runs on Windows. And if you manage to dodge that, there's bound to be some critical piece of hardware that can only be controlled from a Windows computer. The biggest propaganda win that Microsoft pulled was getting nerds - the biggest loudmouths about software freedom - off their case. 90s style free software fanaticism is basically dead. Meanwhile the rest of the world is absolutely still locked in to Windows. Know how you can tell? Because Windows is now widely regarded as a pile of shit, riddled with adware even out of the box ("Candy Crush in the Start menu") and yet people still use it, because they have to. >E.g. today you can just ditch Windows and install Linux on that same old laptop and wouldn't lose anything important. I challenge you to try this with a nontechnical friend who uses a computer for work. They will be screaming at you to put it back like it was within the week. I say this as a die-hard Linux user.

chasd00 2y ago
> The biggest propaganda win that Microsoft pulled was getting nerds - the biggest loudmouths about software freedom - off their case it still amazes me how the newer generation of technical people see Microsoft as non-evil or, in some cases, even the good guy. The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was re-convincing the world he doesn't exist. edit: wasn't the google motto "don't be evil" basically meant to mean don't be Microsoft?
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
- bongodongobob 2y ago
  Try easily finding admins and heldesk staff to manage your 1000+ org using something other than Active Directory and M365. MS absolutely owns this space.