What if Linux was a Windows Clone?

[tejas]

Ok, terribly baffling hypothetical situation:

As all of you know, the GNU/Linux OS all started with this one message:
From:torvalds@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Linus Benedict Torvalds)
Newsgroup: comp.os.minix
Subject: What would you like to see most in minix?
Summary: small poll for my new operating system
Message-ID: 1991Aug25, 20578.9541@klaava.Helsinki.FI
Date: 25 Aug 91 20:57:08 GMT
Organization: University of Helsinki.

Hello everybody out there using minix-

I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big
and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has
been brewing since april, and is starting to get ready. I'd like
any feedback on things people like/dislike in minix; as my OS
resembles it somewhat (same physical layout of the file-sytem
due to practical reasons)among other things.

I've currently ported bash (1.08) an gcc (1.40), and things seem to work.
This implies that i'll get something practical within a few months, and I'd
like to know what features most people want. Any suggestions are welcome,
but I won't promise I'll implement them :-)

Linus Torvalds torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi Now I have a Question for you Guys.

What if Linus Torvalds never had any interest in UNIX or it's Look Alikes.

What if Linus Torvalds Was A Windows User at the time?

And assume he somehow made Linux into a Clone of Windows!!!!

How would the world of operating systems be different?

PS: Asssume all licenses to be the same.

PS: Here is another TidBit for you guys:
By the way, the name "Linux" didn't come from Linus. That name was given by Ari Lemke, who chose it over Linus' preferred name for the OS when he created the subdirectory for the source code on nic.funet.fi.

So what was Linus' preferred name for his baby?

"Freax"

One can see that while Linus may be a great programmer and leader of (wo)men, he really should leave the process of naming projects to other people ;-)

[Twey]

It would be dead. :p Nobody would use it - it would have all the problems of Linux as we know it with none of the benefits.

[bitrain]

It would be dead. :p Nobody would use it - it would have all the problems of Linux as we know it with none of the benefits.
+ extra disadvantrages of windows, like virusses, spyware, ...

But maybe it would be a great os, take out windows weaknessess (like the kernel, ugly gui, no shell, security issuess not in the kernel) it could be big. (o wait, that would be rebuild from scratch) :cool:

Just speculation ;)

What if Linus Torvalds Was A Windows User at the time?windwos users? do they exist? Next question, can you really 'use' windows, or are people just trying too. :eek:

Ps. no flame intended to those who are trying to 'use' it and holy believe they are actually 'using' it...

Pps. don't ever scare me so much, just the thought of linus being a windows user is terrifying...

[sej7278]

Yeah, basically everyone who uses Linux would be using *BSD I expect, nobody wants another OS/2 (Windows clone).

[tejas]

hmmm... well here are my own thoughts

I talked about the licenses, because I am assuming that Linux is still 100% FOSS.

As it is FOSS, I feel that the kernel would have been upgraded.

Perhaps Drivers would still be a problem, but most of the apps could be EASILY ported.

Of course, we may have the virus problems.

Also, I was wondering if MS would have gone bankrupt from the competition of people who make Free Software that is nearly 100% compatible with everything they can vomit.

OR:
Would MS secretly use the Code from the Kernel, and use it to actually improve their own kernel.