Microsoft disregards Linux as threat. Big mistake.

IT World ^ | 12 August 2011 | Brian Proffitt

[ShadowAce]

[Keith in Iowa]

M-$oft regards Linux like Ron Paul regards Iran. Hmmmm....

[ken21]

for linux to be competitive it would need an a display as attractive and convenient as ms.

[ShadowAce]

Linux has a wider range of choices for display than Windows does. Some are more attractive, some aren't.

But the desktop pager in Linux automatically makes it head and shoulders above Windows in terms of convenience and usability.

[MulberryDraw]

I’m running Ubuntu Linux. It looks fine and works fine but what it needs is a few more apps like TurboTax (imo).

[ShadowAce]

That is the one app (I use TaxCut) that I wish would get a Linux version.

[Moonman62]

Linux livecds make great rescue disks. Other than that it is nothing but beta software that will take many hours of frustration to tweak just right. Even then there’s still going to be numerous bugs.

[ShadowAce]

I’ve found the same thing with Windows.

[Astronaut]

1999 will be the year of Linux on the desktop! No, 2000! No, I really mean 2001! No, make that 2002! I really mean it in 2003... LOL

[Lazamataz]

Linux is a hobbyist platform for script kiddies and wannabees. It is not a serious operating system.

[Moonman62]

I’d love to ditch Windows, but it’s much more stable than the recent distributions of Linux I’ve tried. I just booted up on Linux this morning and found another bug.

[Keith in Iowa]

Linux is a hobbyist platform for script kiddies and wannabees. It is not a serious operating system.

That's how Ron Paul sees Iran. :)

[ShadowAce]

LOL!

However, in case you are serious, Linux runs in more Fortune 500 companies than Windows. CERN runs it for the LHC. JPL runs it. The army runs it. Argonne runs it. Sandia runs it.

None of those even consider running Windows for their real work. It is consigned to the desktop, where its damage can be contained.

[ShadowAce]

I just logged into a Windows box this morning and couldn't get any work done.

Had to go back to a real OS to get anything accomplished.

[for-q-clinton]

It sounds like this article agrees with Microsoft. The threat to the desktop isn’t another competitor on the desktop it’s that the desktop market is going away.

With devics and cloud taking precedence...who has the desktop doesnt’ really matter any longer. For linux crowd to get all up in arms about this is silly and they too have the wrong target in their sites. For so many years they’ve been trying to take on windows they have lost their compass.

Kind of like a horseshoe company trying to take on Ford Motor.

[Hodar]

For a real eye-opener; download the FREE Knoppix boot imgae, burn it, and boot off it.

Every driver, every windows function, plus office and a host of applications - all on a single DVD.

And, did I mention it’s free?

[dfwgator]

I’m running Ubuntu Linux. It looks fine and works fine but what it needs is a few more apps like TurboTax (imo).

There is a web-based version of TurboTax that can run on any platform (if you're ok with having your personal information stored on a server)

[Lazamataz]

Windows is the best operating system in the world, bar none.

Linux starts with the letter L.

Loser starts with the letter L.

COINCIDENCE?????????????

[ShadowAce]

The threat to the desktop isn’t another competitor on the desktop it’s that the desktop market is going away.

Possibly. I don't believe that yet because too many people want a larger screen than your phone will/can provide. Not to mention the keyboard functionality. I'll keep my laptop, and relegate my phone to actually being a phone.

As far as tablets, we'll have to wait and see. They're still a niche product. I can see them replacing the laptop, if done properly.