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End of Win 98 Support May Boost Desktop Linux

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the not-sure-about-the-demographic-overlap dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Microsoft kills off support for Windows 98 and Windows ME today, and ZDNet is reporting that the move will boost demand for Linux on the desktop. Unlike two years ago — when support for Win98 was extended because Linux was seen as a serious competitor — this time it seems there is no turning back."

2 of 581 comments (clear)

  1. Yeah right by Alioth · · Score: 1, Troll

    I tagged the article "wishfulthinking" - because that's what it is. The thing is those still running Windows 98 didn't really have any support to begin with, and are likely home users who haven't moved off Win98 because they don't know how to install Windows XP. Even though things like Fedora Core are really easier to install than Windows these days, most people running Win98 probably have absolutely no interest in learning how to use even an easy-to-use desktop Linux distro.

    It will likely be a decade before Linux on the desktop gets even the marketshare that Apple has now - there are just too many impediments (like proprietary codecs) to keep even the clueful from switching, let alone the typical person who still uses Win98 on a daily basis.

    --
    Oolite: Elite-like game. For Mac, Linux and Windows
  2. Linux fanatics are so desperate. by Jackie_Chan_Fan · · Score: 1, Troll

    These people will finally upgrade to a new computer with xp installed.

    They're not going to install linux. The kind of people who are still running 98 are the kind of people that would be completely lost in linux.

    Besides why would anyone switch to linux? The are few to no applications.

    Get to app writing and stop hoping to pick up a few windows 98 users who cant afford new pcs