Just ran across this interesting article concerning Windows 7 http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/817/1050817/microsoft-plans-multiple-windows-versions
Although I can agree with all the rest of the Linux addicts out there, we have to be aware of the majority of computer users out there that are not Linux savvy, the huddled masses that will blindly snag up anything with Windows 7 because Windows is what they know. I believe everyone is aware of the fact that Microsoft is going to be offering Windows 7 for free on Netbooks but here is why this particular starter version is being offered for free: http://www.workswithu.com/2009/02/06/fatal-windows-7-flaw-will-bolster-linux-netbooks/ Microsoft's thought process on this is that when users get upset because of the application limit on the the free starter version they will give up and pay the licensing fee to upgrade to an unrestricted version. Quite honestly, I believe the majority of people are going to do this, mostly to avoid the inconvenience of having to return the Netbook while deliberating on what to purchase instead. I am trying to play devils advocate here and if I put myself into the shoes of an average computer user that has only used Windows their entire life, it almost seems inconceivable that this user would return the Netbook and say to themselves "Hey, why don't I try out the Linux version Netbook". It would be far easier to just pay the fee and get Windows 7 unlocked on the Netbook they already own. What could help to build the Linux case at this critical moment is to edumacate them on what Linux looks like on a Netbook, what it can do, how easy it is to use, the cost (or lack of) of the OS, and all the other good stuff that will curtail the fear factor of the unknowing customer. In the past it is possible that Linux has been targeted toward home users based on its generic properties such as no cost, easy to use, flexibility, and security and this is all good but now, with Netbooks out there and a lot of people considering purchasing them, this gives the Linux community something very tangible as they can now promote Linux with something specific that consumers are interested in buying. donkyhotay wrote: > They'll get me away from linux when they pry it from my cold dead > fingers... Seriously though, from what I've seen and heard windows 7 is > essentially windows vista with a coat of paint slapped on it. With the > marketing fiasco vista turned out to be (I've heard if you call MS tech > support they don't even refer to vista by name anymore) they're mostly > making certain people have positive prejudices rather then any real > changes. All the changes I have seen so far are things that could be put > in a service pack for vista rather then in a new OS. Will it 'kill' > desktop linux? Never, due to it's open source nature linux can't die > unless *everyone* in the world stops using it. Although many people > don't care about DRM, giving up civil liberties, and being spied upon > (they see the computer as just an appliance like the microwave) there > are many people in the world who *do* care about such things. It's > possible that people will get smart and realize windows 7 isn't worth > the money but more people will buy it because (just like vista) thats > what was on the computer when they took it out of the box. > > > > Michael Robinson wrote: > >> Googling around to try and educate myself about this Windows 7 >> thing, I'm running into a lot of claims that Windows 7 will kill >> Linux on the Desktop. Based on what exactly? >> >> I'll admit that Linux has difficulty supporting certain software. >> Maybe GCC isn't the most optimal compiler in the world. Perhaps >> package dependencies have gotten out of control in some Linux >> distributions. And yes, certain distros like CentOS are especially >> limited because they don't support the latest OpenGL release nor is >> there an obvious way to upgrade OpenGL because of dependency hell. >> >> Still, I have Rick Rocket and Dirk Dashing and there is a lot that >> even CentOS can support if you add Vmware workstation and Crossover >> Linux to it. >> >> I'd love to get Secret Maryo Chronicles working on CentOS 5.2, >> but that requires updating OpenGL which I can't figure out how >> to do. >> >> It's not just CentOS that is limited these days. There are hundreds >> of Linux distros in existence and the Eee PC by Asus uses Xandros >> which is out of the box using an old version of firefox. >> >> I am glad that companies like http://mygamecompany.com are challenging >> the notion that noone produces commercial software for Linux. Still, >> there is a great deal of room for improvement. >> >> I'm not sure I buy the notion that we are all going to give up our Linux >> systems for Windows 7. First off, I doubt that Microsoft will abandon >> the annoying and abusive habit of requiring it's customers to activate >> their Microsoft software. A product key isn't enough anymore. I doubt >> that Windows 7 will be free of digital rights management. I seriously >> doubt that it will run on a 32 bit single core computer. I'll be >> surprised if it is significantly faster than Vista. If ReactOS ever >> becomes stable, and it seems to be moving in that direction, I'll be >> surprised if people even feel a need anymore to buy Microsoft's latest >> version of Windows. >> >> I'm sure Windows 7 won't cost $400 for a single user license. Oh I'm >> sorry, that was sarcastic. >> >> I wonder what other people's thoughts are. >> >> _______________________________________________ >> PLUG mailing list >> PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org >> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug >> >> > > _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list PLUG@lists.pdxlinux.org http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
