... I hate this "Software Assurance" idea and if my choices were SA or Linux, I'd probably choose Linux. I think this is a bad idea of Microsoft's part. This is going to hurt them, especially in samaller companies who won't like the idea of being locked in.
Depends on what the enterprise version gives them. If there's a version of windows that doesn't require an EA and it's better than linux for the customer to use...then they'll use that. Now if the non-EA version of Vista is like Windows XP HOME then yes, it will hurt.
Kind of like high end system of Server. If you don't run it in a cluster or use it for other certain functions/scenarios there's no real need to have it.
However, I actually like the EA...it's a lot cheaper than being individual CALs and depending on which type of EA you sign you can actually "Own" the licenses at the end and not have to renew. So if M$ doesn't have anything new coming out in the next couple years when your EA runs up, you can not renew and keep all the licenses you currently have. Now if you go the less expensive route you can rent your software, but then you're locked in, but last time I looked you can save quite a bit by leasing vs. buying. But that's the case in most any lease/own scenario.
Let them keep on doing what they're doing.
The more and more customers they alienate the more of a threat linux becomes.
Linux has already taken Apple's spot at #2 for desktop OS, what else does MS want?