I think that MS will continue to dominate the OS world. I have reservations that cloud computing will ever become a mainstream reality. ISPs have issues with P2P networks and don't have bandwidth necessary to support cloud. They are more focused on providing TV and ON Demand movies to compete with satellite and cable TV not for WEB/OS. Not to mention remote areas ever having high speed access.
It's pretty rare these days for Linux users to have to compile their own software. Almost all of the major repositories have huge collections of software ready to go. You simply open a package manage, search for what you want click it and it installs..as well as it's dependencies.
And compiling isn't exactly nonsense....makes it really nice for making the software that you want/need to work on whatever platform it might be that you are using. Windows software is compiled too...it's just that you don't have the ability to compile it yourself if you ever had a desire to.
Not all non-programmers can read.
I would assume that the reason 'source code' is available,
is for when difficulties arise with the package-installation.
You can then fix the problem (in the source code), and recompile.
Or,
if there is no package-installation,
it is intended for you to modify the source and compile.
Isn't that what 'open-source' is all about ?
What we are not realizing is that people want to press the big button on the fron of this big square block...wait a min or two (not to long though...)...click their familiar name...type a short and easily recognizable password...wait a few more minutes...then double click that icon that looks like a big "e" to go to the internet or one of the Microsoft Office applications
I could go on but I think you are starting to get what I mean. People do not want to:
1. Read instructions just to run their favorite software
2. Search and install their favorite software
3. *The Golden One* Do any effort past doubling clicking to run their favorite software.
The vast majority of folks fall in the steps above and this is where Microsoft stands the most powerful in: Usability. Most people buy some shiny new PC they seen on a commercial and 9/10 it just works due to it running Microsoft software. I personally would love to use linux full-time but that will not happen until their usability greatly increases. I know Ubuntu is getting there but it just isn't there yet and going against the Microsoft mindset may turn out to be a suicide run
Quote