Posted on 10/05/2020 3:32:40 AM PDT by ShadowAce
A few days ago, Eric S. Raymond (ESR), developer and writer, suggested that we're nearing the last phase of the desktop wars. The winner? Windows… running on Linux.
He's on to something. I've long thought that Microsoft was considering migrating the Windows interface to running on the Linux kernel. Why?
Raymond argues that "WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) allows unmodified Linux binaries to run under Windows 10. No emulation, no shim layer, they just load and go." Indeed, you can run standard Linux programs now on WSL2 without any trouble.
That's because Linux is well on its way to becoming a first-class citizen on the Windows desktop. Multiple Linux distros, starting with Ubuntu, Red Hat Fedora, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED), now run smoothly on WSL2. That's because Microsoft has replaced its WSL1 translation layer, which converted Linux kernel calls into Windows calls, with WSL2. With WSL2 Microsoft's own Linux kernel is running on a thin version of the Hyper-V hypervisor.
That's not all. With the recent Windows 10 Insider Preview build 20211, you can now access Linux file systems, such as ext4, from Windows File Manager and PowerShell. On top of that, Microsoft developers are making it easy to run Linux graphical applications on Windows.
Besides Microsoft working its hardest to marry the Windows desktop with Linux, Raymond pointed out others are working to make it easier to run Windows applications on Linux. In particular, he points to Valve's Proton, a Wine-based compatibility layer developed for running Windows Steam games on Linux. "The thing about games is that they are the most demanding possible stress test for a Windows emulation layer, much more so than business software." If you can run Windows games on Linux, why not Windows business applications?
He also observed, correctly, that Microsoft no longer depends on Windows for its cash flow but on its Azure cloud offering. Which, by the way, is running more Linux instances than it is Windows Server instances.
So, that being the case, why should Microsoft keep pouring money into the notoriously trouble-prone Windows kernel -- over 50 serious bugs fixed in the last Patch Tuesday roundup -- when it can use the free-as-in-beer Linux kernel? Good question. He thinks Microsoft can do the math and switch to Linux.
I think he's right. Besides his points, there are others. Microsoft already wants you to replace your existing PC-based software, like Office 2019, with software-as-a-service (SaaS) programs like Office 365. Microsoft also encourages you to move your voice, video, chat, and texting to Microsoft's Azure Communication Services (ACS) even if you don't use Teams.
With SaaS programs, Microsoft doesn't care what operating system you're running. They're still going to get paid whether you run Office 365 on Windows, a Chromebook, or, yes, Linux.
I see two possible paths ahead for Windows. First, there's Linux-based Windows. It simply makes financial sense. Or, the existing Windows desktop being replaced by the Windows Virtual Desktop or other Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) offerings.
Of course, even if Microsoft goes all in with a DaaS approach -- and I think it will -- it'll still need a common base operating system. This, like Chrome OS, will provide just enough of an operating system to run a browser with a minimum of other local resources.
Google chose to save money and increase security by using Linux as the basis for Chrome OS. This worked out really well for Google. It can for Microsoft with -- let's take a blast from the past -- and call it Lindows as well.
So, basically we are going back to the single (all functions) mainframe with offsite (dumb) terminals. Like the obsolete systems we just rid ourselves of. Yay, no more personal storage, trust big brother.
Lol
how about Windux?
Although they won't be "dumb" terminals, they'll simply boot to whatever Service Provider we choose to subscribe to and run our OS of choice remotely, presenting us with the UI (User Interface) that we choose. There will still be a form of boot level kernel in the endpoint that you use to connect to a service and that kernel will be configurable by the end user to point to whatever service they choose.
I can do that today with a beta device I have @ home that points to a service, boots up a virtual instance of Ubuntu 20.10 or Windows 10 (which ever I prefer) and gives me the UI for the OS I've chosen.
My home connection is WiFi6 to my home router, which is plugged into a Motorola Cable Modem that's capable of up to 1GB up/down speed to Comcast.
I pay for a 300mb/down, 30mb/up connection to Comcast. Using my beta device, I can boot to either Ubuntu or Windows 10 today from home in about 30 seconds. Want it to go faster? Get a bigger/faster pipe or simply skinny down the requirements of the OS. For giggles I run a pretty loaded up Ubuntu 20.10 instance so it takes a bit to fully boot up and connect to my beta device. Simply disabling services on Ubuntu speeds that up pretty dramatically.
Windows 10 boots up in about 22-23 seconds and it's pretty loaded up also.
Microsoft is already saying they'll have Cloud PC's in 2021. It'll be interesting to see what their definition of "Cloud PC" really is.
With Microsoft Windows 10 and office 365 you are being spied on 24/7. Everyday on my work pc I get ‘Not responding’ message using Outlook or Word or Excel. It always phones home delaying you from getting what you want done. Teams is another one. The company also can track you. Too much micro management.
Oracle software is always spying as well. If your company switches to these two software companies your IT dept and billing and payroll etc will mostly vanish and going to India.
Happening to the company I work at.
#7 I work from home for work during the plandemic. I was getting disconnected last week off and on for a few days while on a call. The phone software uses the internet. I would do a ping and saw the internet drop several times.
Microsoft will soon have a monthly charge for Windows 10 just like they do Office 365.
I hear that Microsoft Office will have a 1 time charge in future editions for home users but I bet they will still track everything.
Exactly. What I want is the Windows 7 UI, capable of running native Windows applications, on a Linux kernel, not the other way around (for both security and lack of spyware). Not from Redmond because I don’t want to be a spyware product for their actual customers, I’d rather the Linux geeks implement the Windows UI and API (closer than Mint’s UI, and capable of natively running windows apps)
It might be a bit harder to obtain a new license for Windows 7, now.
Don’t forget: if Microsoft owns the software service, they can FORCE you to upgrade - ready or not.
Theoretically, they could fail to renew your subscription if they don’t like you or feel threatened in any way.
:-D
But on the other hand, think of the known vulnerabilities if you ever connect that O/S to the Internet. :’(
(Unless you meant virtualized where it’s read-only and resets every time?)
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