Microsoft - can it be beaten

[Lee]

I read just about everything that is posted on the three different forums here, but do not always post a comment. I find it interesting to see what people think, and how they feel about the way things are going in the computing world. It appears that must of the posters are only looking at just the average to above average individual using computers. They don't seem to be looking at the world wide use of computers as a whole.

When talking about who is going to gain or hold onto the number one position in the OS wars then we really need to focus on more then the causal users. There are corporations out there that are not going to spend millions or even billions of dollars to change over to a new system that is yet to prove itself. World wide companies like FedEx, UPS, Walmart militaries (world wide), governments, this list could go on and on. Now do you really think that Google has a chance against Microsoft at this point. Apple, Red Hat, Fedora, Suse, BSD, etc. have yet to even dent Microsoft's hold on the world. And, when you think about the world don't just think of one country, but all countries on planet Earth.

Microsoft has a hold, and to break that hold the next great OS had better be able to prove without any doubt it is the best thing since the wheel.

 

[Bituser]

I don't think anything will beat Microsoft. The one and only company that would get close is apple. But I think they are pretty much the only competitors anyway. Oh and linux

 

[aem]

I want to see past their cloud computing technology to give my appinion. Currently either others are catching up, on par or slightly ahead of them.

 

[Tews]

Its just a pipe dream.... MS has an almost 40 year lead on any competition... While some may be able to compete on a technological footing, Microsoft has a strangle hold on the mindset of the global consumer. If anyone wants to topple MS from the top of the hill, they will have to change that first...

 

[TheSchaft]

I saw an interesting statistic a while ago, don't recall where, that said that the majority of connectivity to the Internet is now through PDAs and phones, not desktops and laptops. (I believe it was in an article on the difference between Apple's and Microsoft's market share when you look just at the US and when you look at the world.)

In any event, if it is true that connectivity is moving, or has moved, to phones and PDAs, then Microsoft has some real competition - on a number of installs basis.

 

[Antman]

The next MS will likely develop from a gaming platform.

 

[Joan Archer]

It's an interesting point you bring up Lee but I think that the reason you don't see it on here is because the forum is really for the small operator, like home users or small business's not the large corporations that you were talking about.
I could be wrong thinking that way but those are my thoughts on your query Lee

 

[swarfega]

In my view the linux/open source model is its own worst enemy because of the drip drip updates they tend to release. Like 1.0.0 to 1.0.0-1 etc. VLC is a case in point. It took them 10 years to reach version 1.0.

The majority of Microsoft products are useful, useable and good to look at. Plus they just work. None of this compiling nonsense.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

In my view the linux/open source model is its own worst enemy because of the drip drip updates they tend to release. Like 1.0.0 to 1.0.0-1 etc. VLC is a case in point. It took them 10 years to reach version 1.0.

The majority of Microsoft products are useful, useable and good to look at. Plus they just work. None of this compiling nonsense.

+1, Thank you!

 

[Antman]

I saw an interesting statistic a while ago, don't recall where, that said that the majority of connectivity to the Internet is now through PDAs and phones, not desktops and laptops. (I believe it was in an article on the difference between Apple's and Microsoft's market share when you look just at the US and when you look at the world.)

In any event, if it is true that connectivity is moving, or has moved, to phones and PDAs, then Microsoft has some real competition - on a number of installs basis.

The network is the computer. Houses are online. Cars are online.

Whatever happened to PARC's ubiquitous computing?

 

[oneextraid]

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.

 

[FZ21Z]

The majority of Microsoft products are useful, useable and good to look at. Plus they just work. None of this compiling nonsense.

lol, yeah, too much typing involved just to get stuff working, I've tried a few times and got so far, then just given it up. How could you not want an OS that can do this...

​

 

[chuckr]

Whatever happened to PARC's ubiquitous computing?

Still there, issuing white paper...

https://extweb-staging.parc.com/pub...portunities-through-ubiquitous-computing.html

 

[pparks1]

None of this compiling nonsense.

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.

 

[swarfega]

Not everyone is a programmer though.

 

[pparks1]

Not everyone is a programmer though.

I'm not a programmer either. And you don't need to be to compile software as long as you can read the directions either included with or on the website where you get the downloaded source code.

 

[Antman]

Not all programmers can read.

 

[chuckr]

Not all programmers can read.

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 ?

 

[Zidane24]

Not everyone is a programmer though.

I'm not a programmer either. And you don't need to be to compile software as long as you can read the directions either included with or on the website where you get the downloaded source code.

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

 

[Antman]

Not all readers can code.