Only thing left is the cost of conversion, but there is also a cost in moving from Windows XP to Windows Vista or 7. Or Office 2003 and Office 2007 for example and people still do it. A lot also don't.
Some of the reasons I would like to see more people who might now be running Windows to convert to Linux is because:
1. if more people use it, it's more likely more hardware will be (better) supported and it gives 'us' more leverage if politics wants to pass some stupid software patents law or something 2. I think a lot of people would actually be happier with Linux instead of something else
Actually a web-stats company recently said: 1%, so that would be 1 in a 100 web-surfing desktops is running a Linux-version. That would mean their are more then 10 million Linux desktops.
I've seen spyware/malware infected Vista machines.
You know what it is ? All this downloading software from an untrusted source (internet, possible piratet software) instead of the from a trusted source like a Debian-mirror or Ubuntu-mirror or even from p2p, but verifiable the 'right version'.
OK, let me give you an example. We got a new laptop like a year or 2 ago, it came with Vista preinstalled, it felt very underpowered, but it came with an XP-CD and I tried to install that, it didn't recognize the NIC or wireless, sound or video, as it didn't have networking has to burn a CD (didn't have a USB-stick handy). On the other hand installing Ubuntu was easy, it recognized everything, this was the last LTS-version and is still running smoothly. Doesn't need any looking after, just installing of security updates. Just works.
An OEM-license goes with the machine and you are not allowed to run it in a virtual-machine. Also an OEM-license is like a discount version and is not the same license as the 'full-version' Thus you are also not allowed to download new installation media.
OK, for those that don't want to watch the vids. Here is a summary: it's running several video's of which one was fullscreen. I don't know if the monitors were daisy-chained.
Slashdot Mirror
encryption is probably the only defense against physical access
Why would I use this as a business, if my company burns down, I don't want to wait a month before I have all my data.
That's just silly.
I'm always suprised about how people are able to come up with new car analogies each time. :-)
He probably never looked at the screen.
A blue-screen will keep your feet just as warm.
Seriously. The day Linux is just like Windows is the day I boot OpenBSD.
There is no 1 Linux, like there is "1" Windows. There is a lot of different Linux out there, so you will still have choice, even within Linux.
Like Linux XP ? It's got spot 80+ on Distrowatch
I depends on your definition of power user and geek. I see a lot of wanabe's, which are just power users.
Only thing left is the cost of conversion, but there is also a cost in moving from Windows XP to Windows Vista or 7. Or Office 2003 and Office 2007 for example and people still do it. A lot also don't.
Some of the reasons I would like to see more people who might now be running Windows to convert to Linux is because:
1. if more people use it, it's more likely more hardware will be (better) supported and it gives 'us' more leverage if politics wants to pass some stupid software patents law or something
2. I think a lot of people would actually be happier with Linux instead of something else
After that come the usual windows stuff you need to do.
Someone should make packages for installing proprietary closed-source applications with Wine.
I think that is what Wine Doors is trying to do:
http://wddb.wine-doors.org/
What about CrossOver from Code Weavers for running Office ?:
http://www.codeweavers.com/products/cxlinux/
(they help make Wine possible)
I wanted to point it out because a lot of other comments above and 'around' your post thought it was possible.
I probably shouldn't have picked yours then.
Actually a web-stats company recently said: 1%, so that would be 1 in a 100 web-surfing desktops is running a Linux-version. That would mean their are more then 10 million Linux desktops.
"I fail to understand why anyone would actually pay for an OS" atleast _that_ OS.
I would be willing to pay for a good OS and I actually do, I try to support the some Open Source projects that way.
I would like to point out that it still takes a IT person to "drive" Windows.
"MBR? Windows just blows it away"
Actually, I've seen it NOT-install a bootrecord and fail to boot as wel.
I've seen spyware/malware infected Vista machines.
You know what it is ? All this downloading software from an untrusted source (internet, possible piratet software) instead of the from a trusted source like a Debian-mirror or Ubuntu-mirror or even from p2p, but verifiable the 'right version'.
OK, let me give you an example. We got a new laptop like a year or 2 ago, it came with Vista preinstalled, it felt very underpowered, but it came with an XP-CD and I tried to install that, it didn't recognize the NIC or wireless, sound or video, as it didn't have networking has to burn a CD (didn't have a USB-stick handy). On the other hand installing Ubuntu was easy, it recognized everything, this was the last LTS-version and is still running smoothly. Doesn't need any looking after, just installing of security updates. Just works.
An OEM-license goes with the machine and you are not allowed to run it in a virtual-machine. Also an OEM-license is like a discount version and is not the same license as the 'full-version' Thus you are also not allowed to download new installation media.
OK, for those that don't want to watch the vids. Here is a summary: it's running several video's of which one was fullscreen. I don't know if the monitors were daisy-chained.
Maybe look at these video's ?:
http://www.displaylink.com/how_it_works.html
Maybe they think this could be useful for servers and embedded as wel, where there is a lot of stuff running Linux.
There are sources saying they only have 1/6 left of the money they were swimming in before.
Because many people with different brands of wireless-cards, -dongles, whatever have the same problem.
wireless channel 1 sucks with Vista, use channel 6 or 11 instead.
change your wireless-router and it might help you a bit, the DHCP is just a mess.