Re: Linux has a long way to go before it becomes the major OS

From: Guy Macon (http://www.guymacon.com)
Date: 02/08/04 

Date: Sun, 08 Feb 2004 11:18:20 -0800

Ben Measures <saint_abroadremove@removehotmail.com> says...

>1. Windows is "taught" at schools. The most common OS, Windows, is
>familiar when you get to the workplace.

Eventually the corporations will look at the cost of a Windows
license and a MS Office license and go to the alternative with
lower licensing costs - and "zero" is a nice number!

>2. Drivers are made for Windows. Your new hardware will only work in the
>most common OS, Windows.

As a hardware designer, I am well aware of this issue. We hardware
designers have our own solution; hardware standards. You don't
need a custom driver for a new model of IDE hard disk or CD-ROM any
more; The EIDE and ATAPI standards took care of that. Eventually
we will standardize all hardware interfaces. It makes economic sense
for us.

>3. Applications are made for Windows. If you want to run much commercial
>software eg. banking software, you have no choice but to run the most
>common OS, Windows.

Every time WINE gets better, this problem is reduced. We have a long
way to go, but the end is in sight.

>As soon as Windows isn't the most common anymore, those three crutches
>will vanish.

I agree 100%. I just wanted to list some additional factors. 

-- 
Guy Macon, Electronics Engineer & Project Manager for hire. 
Remember Doc Brown from the _Back to the Future_ movies? Do you 
have an "impossible" engineering project that only someone like 
Doc Brown can solve?  My resume is at http://www.guymacon.com/

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