On BNET: Online porn struggles for profits
BNET Business Network:
BNET
TechRepublic
ZDNet
TalkBack 8 of 136:
Next »
« Previous
Why wait 4 to 6 years?
Mac OS is here today, and Linux has really made great
progress in usability. (Still not good enough for me, but at
least as good as Windows.)

The only reason people were reluctant to abandon Windows
in the past--or DOS before it--was that they felt they had
too much invested in their software and all of their data
was tied up in proprietary file formats that could only be
opened by those programs. That really isn't a problem
anymore.

You can get Linux and a several excellent suites of office
and productivity software, programming tools,
industrial strength databases, Web servers, and even a
really great J2EE application server for the grand total of
$0.00.

Even if you choose to go with the Mac, you probably
wouldn't spend much more on new software than you're
going to spend on updates over the next 4 to 6 years, and
the productivity gains will more than offset the extra cost.

Either option is better than waiting 4 to 6 years and being
disappointed by Microsoft--again. What are the chances
that all your old software is going to work on this
wonderful new secure OS that they claim they're
developing? What are the chances it's going to run on any
of the hardware you currently own?

It looks like you're going to have to invest a considerable
amount of money in new hardware and software just to
stick with Microsoft, so those compatibility arguments just
don't wash anymore. If you're going to end up spending the
money anyway, why not get Macs and new Mac software
and have a secure operating system today?

If you really can't afford to do that, you can't afford to wait
for Microsoft's vaporware to materialize either, so your best
option would be to go the Linux route, which has the added
advantage of better performance on existing hardware.

It's a competitive world out there. A lot of businesses aren't
waiting. They've made the switch and started saving money
already. Those who wait around for Microsoft are going to
be left holding the bag. Don't bet your business on
Microsoft's ability to deliver on their promises.
Posted by: Immanuel Tranz-Mischen   Posted on: 02/04/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
Reply to Story No further replies to this post will be accepted.

Alert moderator to an offensive message

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

No, it shows Microsoft software is not working!!!  Bobby Sskcat | 02/03/04
You need a life....  DarbyOhara | 02/03/04
Flaming does not prove your point  Michael Kelly | 02/03/04
I'll give it a shot.  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 02/03/04
Excellent suggestion  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
So why hasn't MS done this?  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 02/04/04
Good question  pschroeder@... | 02/04/04
Why wait 4 to 6 years?  Immanuel Tranz-Mischen | 02/04/04
waiting  pschroeder@... | 02/05/04
partly agree  ryusen | 02/03/04
Ask And Ye Shall Receive ...  coffeenite | 02/03/04
Please do go on  Michael Kelly | 02/03/04
Points  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
More Points  coffeenite | 02/03/04
Deep browsers and ZIP programs  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
Browsers, operating systems, and untrusted techies  Anton Philidor | 02/03/04
No, it proves that there is always a bigger idiot  nucrash | 02/03/04
Users aren't always that dumb ...  coffeenite | 02/03/04
...but, quite often, they are!  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
Eh ....  coffeenite | 02/03/04
What to do?  Doug@... | 02/03/04
Do this  MarcB_z | 02/03/04
Sigh  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
Get rid of ActiveX and VBA and 97% of the problem is solved  MarcB_z | 02/04/04
Neither of which would have solved THIS problem (NT)  pschroeder@... | 02/04/04
But that other 3% thingy would have (NT)  MarcB_z | 02/05/04
maybe ... except for the dumb user issue (NT)  pschroeder@... | 02/05/04
Fine for the corporate environment  jfrankcarr | 02/03/04
question  Hanover Phist | 02/03/04
...which...  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
you are right  ryusen | 02/03/04
Save and execute no fix  wolf_z | 02/03/04
AMEN, Built-in SECURITY helps tho'  MarcB_z | 02/03/04
Ok, so then they should have rights to restrict what you can do on your pc?  TreborG2 | 02/03/04
I think they should be restricted  voska | 02/03/04
restrictions  ryusen | 02/03/04
Nobody said "restrict"  MarcB_z | 02/04/04
Restrict execs  Domb2 | 02/03/04
don't forget...  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
Harder to hurt yourself/easier to effect others  Domb2 | 02/03/04
integration  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
RE Integration  Domb2 | 02/03/04
RE RE integration  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
re re re:  ryusen | 02/03/04
Integrated NOT EQUAL TO welded  MarcB_z | 02/04/04
Exactly.  bhanes@... | 02/03/04
Maybe we could return to non-executable mail?  Atlant | 02/03/04
Easy, get rid of VB & Office Macros  MarcB_z | 02/03/04
Lot's of systems use this technology  Heatlesssun | 02/03/04
Excel and Word are good reporting tools  jfrankcarr | 02/03/04
getting rid of useful features,  ryusen | 02/03/04
Microsft "solution" negates "useful" features  MarcB_z | 02/04/04
you don't get it... JPG & GIF can have embedded URLs!  TreborG2 | 02/03/04
Stupid Human Tricks  Squawkbox | 02/03/04
Actually ... Image files don't work that way  coffeenite | 02/03/04
Email should be just plain text  voska | 02/03/04
Files  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
Even at that  bhanes@... | 02/03/04
Of all things...  rbethell | 02/03/04
spam filtering doesn't stop mail from *known* sources  TreborG2 | 02/03/04
{cough} change the OS {cough}  Xunil_Sierutuf | 02/03/04
still the wrong answer  TreborG2 | 02/03/04
good comments  Domb2 | 02/03/04
How about  bhanes@... | 02/03/04
The answer is so simple...  Heatlesssun | 02/03/04
Simpler solution  tic swayback | 02/03/04
to scan the attachment  Fred Flintsone | 02/03/04
Yes, I read it !  chawly | 02/09/04
funny thing about linux...  ryusen | 02/03/04
Suggested Solutions  Domb2 | 02/03/04
Other options  Letophoro | 02/03/04
And item 5  Domb2 | 02/03/04
Pop-up msg's worthless  Gasman_z | 02/03/04
Overrides are too common  Domb2 | 02/03/04
Let's agree and disagree  chawly | 02/09/04
The real story  usapride | 02/03/04
About enough  MkIIISupra | 02/03/04
license requirement  Domb2 | 02/03/04
Amen ... but apply that across the boards  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
Nice post.....  Jose Jimenez | 02/03/04
problem with licencing  ryusen | 02/03/04
The NSA are fools?  B.O.F.H. | 02/03/04
well  bhanes@... | 02/03/04
Yes but .....  chawly | 02/09/04
Granted I only deal with SMB's  JoeMama_z | 02/03/04
It won't work  j.m.galvin | 02/03/04
I have one big problem with your statement  JoeMama_z | 02/03/04
ZIP files  pschroeder@... | 02/04/04
in my origional post....  JoeMama_z | 02/04/04
antivirus  pschroeder@... | 02/04/04
Unless your anti virus updates every day.  JoeMama_z | 02/05/04
Daily updates  pschroeder@... | 02/05/04
P.L.B.A.C. Virus  JoeMama_z | 02/05/04
So what was that MyDoom thingy  FilledOut | 02/03/04
What it was  tic swayback | 02/03/04
Sorry  FilledOut | 02/03/04
Hey Kids  Fred Flintsone | 02/03/04
It Shows that Microsoft Has Near-Zero Security  brenthawkinsmd | 02/03/04
What mail software has built in Virus protection?  PeteS_z | 02/03/04
some do not  JWatson77 | 02/06/04
Corporate vs. Home users  jfrankcarr | 02/03/04
What a sad state of affairs.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
Actually the Internet was a DoD/DARPA project...  B.O.F.H. | 02/03/04
It started well before that.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
History lesson  B.O.F.H. | 02/03/04
Interesting turn of events  tic swayback | 02/03/04
Just hilarious  nograin | 02/03/04
SpongeWare  pj-xmesh | 02/03/04
We'll let you answer the phone  jfrankcarr | 02/03/04
Stop it! You can't use common sense here!!!  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
well...  yucantrak | 02/03/04
True  JWatson77 | 02/06/04
Short coming in MS products  grumpy_trumpy | 02/03/04
Short coming in Victoria Secrets products  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
Linux - a Burka for your computer?  jfrankcarr | 02/03/04
You still don't "get it" do you.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
Well, to use another analogy  jfrankcarr | 02/03/04
Congratulations - you get it  Harry Bardal | 02/03/04
Product Flaws  tic swayback | 02/03/04
The point is, blaming the victim.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
Should the user shoulder any responsibility?  tic swayback | 02/03/04
But...  quietLee | 02/04/04
I agree  JWatson77 | 02/06/04
How's that again?  pschroeder@... | 02/03/04
No Spam from Zombie attackers  ratatat62 | 02/03/04
Education of the END USER is the only solution  morgaine2003 | 02/04/04
Why Email Executables?  dadon | 02/04/04
Business reasons  pschroeder@... | 02/04/04
Why Email Executables?  dadon | 02/05/04
FTP  pschroeder@... | 02/05/04
Fighting Fire With Fire  LAMski | 02/08/04
Fix Email, not OS  DGSteig | 02/09/04
Wrong solution! Wrong target! Wrong thinking!  harperwill@... | 02/09/04
problem is between keyboard and chair...  absentia | 02/09/04
my Doom  a8a09923@... | 02/09/04
Oh well, sh** happens ...  Shodan_z | 02/13/04

What do you think?

SponsoredWhite Papers, Webcasts, and Downloads

advertisement
advertisement

Enterprise Applications

  • Check out some of the easiest and most powerful ways to boost productivity while saving money on your application infrastructure. See ZDNet's comprehensive Enterprise Application resource center, now!
  • New Online Dashboard
  • Read about top issues IT decision-makers face every day, plus get cost effective solutions to real life IT problems. Oracle Topline