Microsoft Acknowledges Linux Threat To Windows

angry tapir sends along coverage from Good Gear Guide of a recent Microsoft !0-K SEC filing: "Microsoft for the first time has named Linux distributors Red Hat and Canonical as competitors to its Windows client business in its annual filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The move is an acknowledgment of the first viable competition from Linux to Microsoft's Windows client business, due mainly to the use of Linux on netbooks, which are rising in prominence as alternatives to full-sized notebooks. ... 'Client faces strong competition from well-established companies with differing approaches to the PC market,' Microsoft said in the filing. 'Competing commercial software products, including variants of Unix, are supplied by competitors such as Apple, Canonical, and Red Hat.'"

Comments

Re:Re-confirmed

[hairyfeet]

Dude, can I have some of what you are smoking? Seriously dude, the OS ain't got shit to do with anything. Hell I work with Windows users all day and frankly they can't tell you which Windows they are using (Unless it is Vista, which is usually followed by a stream of curses) but they CAN tell you what they like to run. They may not know the names, but they can point out the pretty little box in the Wally World.

And THAT is why Linux is boned. Do you HONESTLY think when Joe can't pop in his CD and get Quicken to work he is gonna think "Oh, I need to find a FLOSS alternative" nope, that box is gonna go back because it is "broke". And NO major software companies are gonna support Linux because of the "No DRM" rule, even though we all know the crap is cracked usually before it even hits the shelves. But with no DRM at all, even Joe can copy a Linux software CD.

So sorry pal, but no Adobe or EA or Quicken or Quickbooks? No Dice. And please don't say Wine, because that CLI crap is less likely to happen than Joe solving cold fusion in his basement. If Wine "just works" then great, but most of the time it is CLI land, and that won't fly with Joe. Better luck next time.