Comments on: Do You Think Windows Will Last?

By: matthew gaylard

matthew gaylard — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:17:55 +0000

I miswrote myself slightly – software for most Linux distributions e.g. Ubuntu is installed from multiple repositories through a single, coherent framework and user interface that resolves library dependencies

By: matthew gaylard

matthew gaylard — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:13:01 +0000

Taking into consideration the following:
1) Linux currently has a tiny share of the desktop market
2) The financial incentives to develop end-user applications for the Linux OS are limited

And yet …
1) In terms of UI design, stability, and security, Linux is at the very least competitive with Windows and OSX – and in some respects, superior.
2) There is an extraordinary range of applications available for Linux, and they’re actually easier to obtain and install via a single repository than is the case with Windows

One has to conclude that the open source model of development has shown a level of success that is disproportionate to its market share, with the implication that the quality and range of open source software will increase exponentially as the user base expands.

At some point – and I believe that this will be sooner rather than later – OS market share will more accurately reflect the relative merits of open versus closed source development. That point will probably be brought closer by underlying shifts in technology … such as the much needed shift to OS agnostic cloud computing.

And it’s a good thing because – to take the “big picture” view for a moment – as a species we need to embrace the sort of collaborative ethos exemplified by open source development in a hurry as we hurtle towards an increasingly alarming series of challenges in terms of climate change and environmental degradation, peak oil, unsustainably inequitable wealth distributions that can only be resolved by fundamentally rearranging the economic basis for social co-operation.

By: gary bing

gary bing — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 21:14:38 +0000

When I sold computers it was mostly for home users first time computer. All the hype about windows 95 was just that. I preferred to sell the first time customers home use a Mac. Then as now my customers for a Macf had not the issues of pestering attacks. But then I started to steer my customers away from them (it hurt my pocket book) because I was very afraid of Apple’s finances back then and the Steve Jobs fiasco. I got out. Apple was saved by the Ipod and Steve Jobs has returned from his medical leave. But what will happen when Jobs job is no longer? That is a bigger factor than Bill Gates retirement. We may have only one auto company, one software source and one media conglomerate (we’re down to 3 as it is) I see the light at the end of the tunnel and it’s going dim from all the bureaucracy and planned obsolescence we get from monopolies..

By: Toastpaint

Toastpaint — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:38:11 +0000

I think Windows 7 will bring Windows back to the light. It really is a good O/S, and it has big potential. Macintosh and Linux have their markets, but they will never majorly enter the markets of Windows.

By: Francis

Francis — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 06:07:18 +0000

I believe it depends on the attitude of the user. If you want flexible customization and programing over a clumsy interface then go with windows. However Mac OS X users have a very simple interface that works perfectly. This is sacrificed for little consumer customization however many people fail to realize that Mac OS X is very customizible only if you know how to. Windows appears more flexible as many users have hot use to it and learnt dos. Also how about iPhone 2.0. This is becoming a very popular platform and will one day take over windows mobile. People will get bored with windows and want a switch. That is whyevery couple of years a different party gets into power as people become more desperate for change. That’s why I swaped!

By: Kenny Page

Kenny Page — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:41:40 +0000

An interesting question, and not one that I think anybody can truly answer at this stage.

What I would like to see, however, is the following situation:

The immediate cessation of development on IE8. The development of performance and security improvements in IE7, along with the dropping of toolbar/BHO support, to be called IE7.1. This would then be pitched as the web browser for the business user, whether in a large corporation or microbusiness.

A business version of Windows would then ship with IE7.1, integrated Anti Virus,integrated Office, but no aero glass or oher crapware aimed at the spotty teen market. Let go back to the flat, chiselled steel look – why do business PC’s need 256Mb/512Mb graphics cards cum fan heaters?! get real!

A home version of Windows would then ship with a webkit based browser, full media centre functionality, integrated AV plus an Xbox360 VM.

The Xbox would also be upgraded, with the same webkit based browser, an email client and full media centre functionality.

The Zune? Bin it…..you’re wasting your time there chaps – Apple has won that market and moved on!

Hows about an XBox portable, however? In addition to playing games, this should also be an idea “portal” for the full media centre functionality in the Xbox or home version of windows

Shall I carry on?

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:27:49 +0000

Depends on how much heat and cold they keep in or out.

By: Amir H.

Amir H. — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:49:53 +0000

Looks like people have many mixed opinions on Windows’ future :) Thanks for keeping me up-to-date Chris :-)

By: mike moran

mike moran — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:29:37 +0000

I think Windows is on the way out and it’s long over due. For those of you who haven’t seen the today’s linuxes, please do so. Simply type Linux or Ubuntu into google.

By: Ivan

Ivan — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:01:44 +0000

Will Windows last? No.

As Bob Blunk pointed out, everything dies. It’s the one real constant, taxes aside :-/

Eventually, everyone will give in and create a Google account. Google will create / market their web-based operating system that allows everyone (even MAC users) the flexibility of using Microsoft-type applications through their Google account.

Because people will not NEED Microsoft to run their computers, manufacturers will jump at the opportunity to lower overhead / production costs and provide [a new] open-source OS and Firefox for web browsing.

The death of Windows will boost MAC sales. Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) shareholders [today] will enjoy attractive returns over the long haul because both are in the information business and we are in the Information Age.

…that’s my 2 cents.

By: o0Splitpaw0o

o0Splitpaw0o — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 11:31:17 +0000

“as with everything, widows will eventually cease to exist. But, for the foreseeable future, windows will be the preferred OS for business. Mac OS just doesn’t provide the flexibility and security that corporations seek. – Bob Blunk”

I work at a corporation, We use all 4 platforms, depending of the department or job function. That was F.U.D.

By: djbrigidope

djbrigidope — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:35:19 +0000

i think windows has it’s place in the computing world. the way i see it, you have windows and osx as the main two OSes out there (home and business use). there isn’t enough support from software developers for a non windows/non osx operating system to gain much of a foothold in the os market share.
and i really dont see apple replacing windows as the leading OS because
a) apple products are pricey
b) OSX is only available on apple machines (psystar excluded)
so while apple may be cutting into some of the profits for 1 piece companies like dell and hp, there are computer users out there that want the flexibility and diversity of a windows machine that allows for more user customizable component selection.

By: Emmanuel Huna

Emmanuel Huna — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:55:16 +0000

Here are the numbers from Q1 2008 to back my comments up:

http://community.winsupersite.com/blogs/paul/archive/2008/04/24/mac-q1-2008-market-share-3-26-percent-worldwide-6-26-percent-in-the-us.aspx

It’s funny that Windows is probably running on over 90% of all computers worldwie and in the U.S. yet the discussion is whether Windows will disappear. Stop believing the false Mac ads.

By: Emmanuel Huna

Emmanuel Huna — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:49:25 +0000

Mac OS marketshare is 3.26% percent worldwide, 6.26% percent in the US. Not many folks run Linux/Solaris, so this leaves Windows with over 93% to 97% percent in the U.S and worldwide.

It’s not only the corporate security – I think it comes down to basic pricing. Many tech journalists can allows themselves to spend 3 to 10 times more for a Mac than a Dell laptop (e.g. $500 for a Dell vs $1,200 to $3,000 for a Mac).

But it doesn’t make any sense and most people won’t.

I’m a PC.

By: Tony C. Hall

Tony C. Hall — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 06:33:17 +0000

First, nothing lasts forever. But going back to the early days when every computer had a different OS and nothing talked to each other, it’s going to take something truly amazing to make the corporations switch. I believe if something is going to take over in the near future, it is going to have to be (at least initially) compatible with Windows. I don’t see any company just making a huge switch to a brand new operating system if it wont easily talk to other systems. Quite honestly, the only reason Apple has gotten as far in the door as they have in corporate America is because you can run Windows and Office on them. This is not a fanboy perspective because I don’t love either platform. It is just cold hard facts. Too many companies have invested too much money in Windows/Microsoft solutions to just switch. I remember before the iPhone 3G came out, people were talking about what Apple was going to do to make the iPhone more marketable to corporate America. Many said that they would never put Microsoft inferior software in them but thats exactly what they did when they licensed Activsync. So, as I said before, whoever replaces windows is going to have to be compatible to Windows in the onset. Just my 2-cents.