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Is Windows Losing Ground?
Rimbo asks: "I work for a small company developing wireless mesh networks to (among other things) give broadband access to large areas where a single access point can't cover the whole place. Since we're small, we made the mesh networking application for Windows, intending to support other platforms later. To our surprise, our first beta site complained: 'Most of our residents use Apples.' Has anyone else experienced anything similar? Is Windows losing its dominance to the point where small shops must consider multiple OS support to get business, either through Java, 'web services,' or cross-platform toolkits like Qt?" With the number of IE vulnerabilities, macro viruses, exploits and other such annoyances over the years, is this really that surprising?
Why would anyone go for an alternative?, Windows total cost of ownership is far lower then free software alternatives, independent studies have proven it, Microsoft is your friend, freedom is slavery.
Seriously though since what you're creating needs to be run on every machine in the place (If I understand right) even if they are only running a couple of Linux/Mac machines it could easily be a deal killer if those few machines can't be connected up so it's probably a good idea to go for cross platform support.
In Soviet Russia Slashdot cliches use you
I recently evaluated hardware from one of your competitors. The only reason I chose not to purchase their mesh networking product was the lack of a Linux driver. They actually have one, but consider it proprietary and will only give customers the Windows driver.
Well, there was this hot little number last night, and lemme tell ya, I left her wanting!... wait a minute, that's not right.