http://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/03/22/vista-microsoft-ballmer_cz_dl_0322microsoft.html
>From the article: Microsoft can't afford to screw up like this. There are free alternatives to everything Microsoft sells, like the Linux operating system and the Open Office application suite. Rivals like *Novell* (nasdaq: NOVL<http://www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/compinfo/CompanyTearsheet.jhtml?tkr=NOVL>- news <http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=NOVL> - people <http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=NOVL>), *Red Hat* (nasdaq: RHAT<http://www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/compinfo/CompanyTearsheet.jhtml?tkr=RHAT>- news <http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=RHAT> - people <http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=RHAT>), *Sun Microsystems* (nasdaq: SUNW<http://www.forbes.com/finance/mktguideapps/compinfo/CompanyTearsheet.jhtml?tkr=SUNW>- news <http://www.forbes.com/markets/company_news.jhtml?ticker=SUNW> - people <http://www.forbes.com/peopletracker/results.jhtml?startRow=0&name=&ticker=SUNW>) and, yes, IBM are pushing those programs big time. Given Microsoft's delays I can't believe open-source stuff still hasn't caught on for desktop computers. It's amazing, but people will wait months and months for products that are so complicated that no ordinary person can figure out how to use them. ---- What do you think? Is the Windows Vista delay (and, presumbly the delay of MSO 2007 with it) a good thing for OOo? Will we be able to take this opportunity and actually makes some ground against MSO? Or is the author right saying that people will still wait - pay huge amounts of money for an office suite that they don't need and can't understand? -- - Chad Smith http://www.gimpshop.net/ http://www.whatisopenoffice.org/ Because everyone loves free software! http://www.chadwsmith.com/ Because, admit it, you've got nothing better to do right now...
