Microsoft launches new preWindows7 anti-Linux offensive

Night Hawk said:

One thing you missed there was the fact that Windows comes out when on schedule every 2-3yrs. with the next version except for the Vista delay which the 7 onto 8 should bring back the MS time table no less. Various and even some possible new distros on the other hand see this or that one have a new release in six months or less at times?

"Hey i just bought this ubuntu system last month and it's already outdated!" would be how that would end up if Linux was preinstalled on 30% or more new systems without buyer's request there! That's where Dell got smart while lacking in other areas!

This would be a problem EXCEPT for the fact that Ubuntu offers the "LTS desktop" (currently 8.04) that is supported for 3 years at a time which for this version is from April 2008 and maintained until April 2011 at which time it will be replaced with the highest stable version available for the next three year LTS desktop.

As for upgrading its not that hard. When an upgrade is available Ubuntu update manager (which runs automatically) also presents you with the next version and all you have to do is click "Upgrade". Your current installed OS gets upgraded like a patch using the installed OS to configure the system, software and security or you ignore the offer and just apply the patches to the current level of the OS. Simple and strait forward...anyone can do it.

The interesting part about the 3yr. support is that I've already gone through the 6.04, 6.10, 7.04, 7.10, 8.04, 8.10, and now have the 9.04 presently on in less time then that!

With MS on the other hand once they get back to their 2-3yr. schedule for each new version about the time it takes to plan out the next build. XP is still seeing some degree of support after a full 8yr. stretch while SP3 will be the last service pack however.

One of the things that will tend to keep people running Windows is the latest MS move into portable devices like the new Windows mobile phone! MS is working along with the manufacturers keeping the foot in the door so to speak with each new innovation making them the enticement to stay MS.

Linux on the other hand for the longest time held the "Geek's OS" title since it took a bit work to management until the more recent releases came along again seemingly leaning more towards a more Windows familiar type of user experience.

Night Hawk said:

The interesting part about the 3yr. support is that I've already gone through the 6.04, 6.10, 7.04, 7.10, 8.04, 8.10, and now have the 9.04 presently on in less time then that!

With MS on the other hand once they get back to their 2-3yr. schedule for each new version about the time it takes to plan out the next build. XP is still seeing some degree of support after a full 8yr. stretch while SP3 will be the last service pack however.

One of the things that will tend to keep people running Windows is the latest MS move into portable devices like the new Windows mobile phone! MS is working along with the manufacturers keeping the foot in the door so to speak with each new innovation making them the enticement to stay MS.

Linux on the other hand for the longest time held the "Geek's OS" title since it took a bit work to management until the more recent releases came along again seemingly leaning more towards a more Windows familiar type of user experience.

I tend to agree about upgrading Linux more often and I am also running 9.04 on my Linux box. However....an earlier post I quoted was talking about the average user who does not upgrade their OS regularly and this is the person/business that would want the LTS version of Ubuntu 8.04.

I'm not so convinced about Windows mobile...I will be taking a wait and see attitude about it. Microsoft has been raving about their mobile OS and it never seems to live up to the hipe so far.

Windows on a cell phone? I tend to be a skeptic as well about twitter and texting on phones while not surprized to see MS in competition with the IPhone no doubt. You couldn't imagine someone else having a monopoly there could you?

The one thing and probably why it continues to live on about Linux is simply that it remains an open source OS to start with. Once something new is submitted you see a new release available. Plus you have to consider the larger variety of flavors seen with that OS for different applications.

Vista introduced the Starter and Basic editions there to expand their selection of editions until that sort of fell out. To reach into developing markets Linux already has more of a foothold being a free open source OS. Those were the MS avenues seen there. MS has the "edition best for you" while Linux offers the "flavor of month" as many refer to it as.

Presently I have to back up the virtual HDs for the portable VBox since Knoppix fails to start plus the newer version of that has been put onhold for a bit. The Konqueror browser is preferred there over Ice or FF but only seen with that distro.

The 9.04 and Puppy 4.2 still serve well for usb flash drive application since as long as a system supports booting from usb you can save files from a system that needs a drive wipe or runs into a large headache like a board or cpu giving out where you may not have a second machine around to save files from the main drive.

The Virtual Box also allows you to expore other OSs without even seeing any lasting effect on your main OS which for most here is 7! You won't have to worry about reformatting your hard drive since a vhd or other form of virtual HD is simply an expandable if not fixed file sitting on the drive instead.