[LinuxUsers] Microsoft-buntu

[John R. Hogerhuis]

On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 1:30 PM, Chris Louden <chris at chrislouden.com> wrote:

>>> Does the average user understand "NT kernel" on the desktop?
>>
>> Never mind the NT kernel, the average user doesnt understand much of
>> MS-Windows overall.
>
> The average user doesn't, but do they need too? How many of us
> understand car engines, refrigerators, etc. In some aspect of our
> lives there are things we use and the only requirement for us is that
> they work. Business is the same way... It just needs to work. Granted
> I believe it would work better without MS business does work with it.
> Until the companies that make apps for Windows move away from it or at
> least to a web/cloud based were stuck with MS.
>

Yes, by definition, in a MS/Linux world, we are still stuck with MS.

Come to think of it, MS would lose the comparative advantage that
Windows is always a bit ahead of us on drivers. GNU/Linux folks would
end up with parity. Not sure what that is worth to them. I would think
all the free kernel dev labor (including all that which has already
been sunk into it) would be worth that, but who knows.

My guess is MS will never do MS/Linux because their knee-jerk
reaction, as with all corporations, is to retain control over anything
and everything they possibly can. Not because it is rational, but
because they can and "you never know" when you might need it,
opportunity cost be-damned.

-- John.