OS wars heats up

[Berticus]

So Microsoft is coming out with Longhorn soon. Which everybody knows. According to some technology researchers, Microsoft is pretty much doomed. A lot are thinking that Microsoft will end in a similar way that IBM did. And it seems Longhorn won't do much for Microsoft. However, Microsoft is going to make a big gamble. This is their make-or-break thing. If it succeeds, they will be bigger than ever. If not, they will slow things down, kinda like what IBM did in the 1900s. The project is called M.home. Basically your whole house is your computer. Not new in technology, but mainstream-wise, it is HUGE.

Microsoft's long rival, Macintosh, is changing their GUI. They will no longer have folders. Instead they plan to utilize google's search engine idea. Which is to keep everything together and improve the search function. This will make the OS run faster since it will take up less resources. I think Microsoft is moving towards this with Longhorn, and might will eventually do this with blackcomb. To help Macintosh's computer go faster, they will utilize intel's processor.

How much do you think these changes will affect Linux's competition? Does it seem like any distributors or application handlers (like GNOME, KDE, MOTIF, Xpde, etc.) have any plans of combatting these changes?

[rayyes]

According to some technology researchers, Microsoft is pretty much doomed.

haha yeah...that's cute. can you provide more proof as to which "technology researchers"? a link maybe? People have been predicting Microsoft's downfall for some time now, more than i could care to remember, and they've been proven wrong time and time again.
Think for a minute about how much money they have in their pocket...
MS is not immediately threatened by anything and if there are minor threats, they have the resources to wait it out and the time and expertise to adjust. If they face a huge problem they can just throw money at it and make it go away...

If anything, they will be eventually (financially) reduced to not being able to react in time. And this is not for quite a few years.

If you think Microsoft is worried about Linux as competition in the desktop market, think again. Linux is but a speck in their eyes (although it has a good hold on the server side). Linux in the desktop is still an infant, and rather than "combatting the changes" as you put it, Linux still has time to learn from the mistakes of the Big Boy(s) and adapt to the changing market.
If the journey of 1000 miles starts with one step, then linux has just broken a sweat... it will get there everntually but it needs time.

[jombeewoof]

I agree with rayyes
no way is Microsoft threatened in any way by linux or even mac for desktops,
Windows is just too easy, all the security threats, virii, exploits in the world isn't going to change the fact that 99% of what the average person want's to do is point, click
macs are just laughable, c'mon who uses a mac for every person I've known that used a mac I can point out 15 who use Windows and 2 or 3 that use linux
linux is just too damn hard for the normal person, just like dos was 15 years ago. everyone I know looks at me differently when I'm running linux, and are terrified to even touch my computer when I'm booted into it.

and with Windows now integrating to the consumer electronics space we'll start to see competition between Microsoft and whoever the hell makes your VCR, which I think is good. who want's to push 3 buttons to make that 12:00 stop flashing.

[Angelus23]

Is it true that someone from Gentoo linux, went to the darkside..

[imdeemvp]

I dont hate M$. I did not like how poorly they proctected the users until SP2 was released and it has helped a lot. M$ will always be a giant.
They now have "competition" and just like linux and Mac have improved they will have to keep up the pace too. For new user M$ will be the way to go because linux can be complicated sometimes for new users. Linux has to come up with major distro that can be utilize by begginers and experienced users. People's ego is stopping such inovation.

[jombeewoof]

Originally Posted by imdeemvp

People's ego is stopping such inovation.

indeed
I've also seen a few people completely leave linux due to overinflated pinheads
like the first question they ask gets them a RTFM, they go right back to M$

[bytesniper]

Originally Posted by Angelus23

Is it true that someone from Gentoo linux, went to the darkside..

Yep. the founder of Gentoo Linux transferred all of Gentoo's intellectual property to the Gentoo Foundation and went to work for Microsoft. i saw that on slashdot the other day but don't have a link.. sorry.

And i don't agree at all that Microsoft is doomed. their cash reserves alone would keep them in the black until their next OS after Longhorn is released, and that's if Longhorn is a complete flop.. which it won't be. Ive used a couple of Longhorn betas and form my point of view, i hate it. but luckily for Microsoft 90% of the worlds computers users don't look for the same things in an OS as i do. for the average user its going to be a huge leap in functionality. if they can get their still-really-badly-preforming-WinFS filesystem to work they might have something even though i personally believe its a pretty close ripoff of Ext3 (whoa.. Microsoft steal an idea?? NO WAY??! *ahem*). no.. the average user will love Longhorn to the point that Longhorn will be to WinXP what WinXP was to WinME...

Originally Posted by jombeewoof

I've also seen a few people completely leave linux due to overinflated pinheads like the first question they ask gets them a RTFM, they go right back to M$

my opinion is that this is the exception, not the rule. you have a certain amount of people who come and ask questions becuase they heard about this Linux thing and want to check it out. I agree if/when they get discouraged they will return to MS, but i believe that eventually this is what they would have done anyway and they had no intention on leaving MS to begin with. The people who leave MS becuase they are either tired of paying a fortune for an OS that's not worth half of what they are charged for it, or because they are just fed up with windows are the ones who will stick around. And to be honest, if someone asks a question that is easily answered with a simple google search then they need to be told to RTFM. It builds character and if they plan on effectively using any open source OS they will need to learn the ability to research on their own. just as an example: at the time of this posting i have 528 posts. of those, only 2 were created to ask for assistance/advice. Of those 2 threads i have receive zero replies. zilch. thems the breaks. im certainly not going to pack up my toys and move back over into windows-land over it and i seriously doubt most other people would either.

just my 2 cents

[ilja]

gentoo : http://www.gentoo.org/

Daniel Robbins accepts new position with Microsoft, finalizes transfer of Gentoo Technologies IP to the Gentoo Foundation
Posted on June 13, 2005 by g2boojum
gentoo

Gentoo founder and former Gentoo Chief Architect Daniel Robbins began a new position at Microsoft on 23 May 2005. According to drobbins: "I'm helping Microsoft to understand Open Source and community-based projects." While in the midst of hastily packing to move to Redmond, drobbins nonetheless managed to find the time to finalize the transfer of Gentoo's intellectual property (essentially copyrights on ebuilds and other software as well as soon-to-be trademarked Gentoo logos) to the not-for-profit Gentoo Foundation, Inc.

[92b16vx]

Originally Posted by bytesniper

my opinion is that this is the exception, not the rule. you have a certain amount of people who come and ask questions becuase they heard about this Linux thing and want to check it out. I agree if/when they get discouraged they will return to MS, but i believe that eventually this is what they would have done anyway and they had no intention on leaving MS to begin with. The people who leave MS becuase they are either tired of paying a fortune for an OS that's not worth half of what they are charged for it, or because they are just fed up with windows are the ones who will stick around.

I came to Linux to try out something new, I like experimenting with things, and Linux can take up a good amount of time when I am bored. Plus part of me really does hate the cost of Windows, and software in general, though I can understand that programmers have to eat too, but come one. For that I applaud the open source community. I am sticking with it, but I am not completely leaving Windows, it just suits a few things I want without the fuss, maybe as I grow more comfortable with Linux I will switch completely, or if it becomes more user friendly for things gaming, but as of right now, it's just too easy to use both.

Originally Posted by rayyes

If you think Microsoft is worried about Linux as competition in the desktop market, think again. Linux is but a speck in their eyes (although it has a good hold on the server side). Linux in the desktop is still an infant, and rather than "combatting the changes" as you put it, Linux still has time to learn from the mistakes of the Big Boy(s) and adapt to the changing market.

Very true, Linux has a long way to go before it can be competitive with MS, but t really isn't trying, and since it is open source, and there are thousands on programmer independently working on it, it will evolve as nescessary, not as needed to keep up with market demand, something that is free can hardly "flop" in a financial sense.

Originally Posted by Berticus

Microsoft's long rival, Macintosh, is changing their GUI. They will no longer have folders. Instead they plan to utilize google's search engine idea. Which is to keep everything together and improve the search function. This will make the OS run faster since it will take up less resources. I think Microsoft is moving towards this with Longhorn,

Yes, they are, too bad for Mac, well, not really, it doesn't really matter. Of all the Windows and Mac people I know, neither will be switching, they are pretty dedicated (if not biased) lots, but that's because both have their specific qualities that users either need, or like, kinda apples and oranges.

[tejas]

Originally Posted by bytesniper

Of those 2 threads i have receive zero replies. zilch. thems the breaks. im certainly not going to pack up my toys and move back over into windows-land over it and i seriously doubt most other people would either.

I came to this forum as a complete newbie. I remember I had once tried working to fix yum for hours together. I finally posted up here. And what did I get? Did you run the program as root? I had forgotten, and felt like shooting myself for such a stupid mistake. The thread is actually here: http://forums.fedoraforum.org/forum/...ad.php?t=51018

But I wasn't too discouraged. I started scouring the net for tutorials, helps, and what not. Now, I now longer consider myslf as much of a newbie as I was, and I've even helped out a few people around this forum

That's life. Everyone starts out a learner.

People just have to be willing to take the leap into Linux. Perhaps they will not have a working comp for a month or two, but after the initial awkwardness, they will be in pure bliss with the versitility of Linux

[Linux The Great]

Microsoft has made disasterous mistakes in the past and each time they bounce back up like one of those damn clowns. Who's to say they won't do it again?

My guess with longhorn (terrible name, Gig 'em Aggies!) is that anything new will be hated by everyone and the OS will get terrible press. Then service pack 1 will be released and even though it won't do anything every sheep in the world will suddenly proclaim, "Windows Longhorn is perfect!"

[Berticus]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4508897.stm

That's what they're trying to do with M.home. According to BBC, Microsoft is actually feeling threatened more than ever before.

[Dr. Ephemeron]

"I'm helping Microsoft to understand Open Source and community-based projects."

Yeah it takes a dedicated expert to figure out that when people have a choice, they like "free" better than $ and a Licence Agreement that you need to hire a lawyer to read for you.

[iamroot]

I have evangelised bout GNU/Linux and Free Software to many ppl already and I've realised that it's much easier for non-computer users to grasp GNU/Linux as compared to "experienced" Windows users. As an "experienced" Windows user myself in the past, I can safely say that it's not easy at all for Windows users to understand and use GNU/Linux.