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Most of the world does know
That's the heart of the DOJ case against Microsoft, i.e. that the popularity of Windows at the consumer level is so great that an OEM cannot realistically sell anything else and hope to keep a sizable business. They don't have a monopoly because they own all the developers or all the means to write code or all the means to deliver it. They simply own the mindshare of the consumers.

That's why linux is doomed on the desktop. Where it is marketed, it is marketed as some cheapo substitute for the "real thing", see for example the WalMart stuff. You want dirt cheap? You'll have to take linux. The problem is that computers are still in the "shopping good" class of merchandise, just like television sets. People don't want to be associated with "cheap", but the gear heads are too dumb to realize that. They would be better off doing something with linux that is hard for Windows to do and sell linux as a luxury OS that is better in some demonstratable way, but they harp on cheap and that is how linux is viewed.

Microsoft is one of the most trusted companies in the business simply because they are so in control of what they do and can accurately advise a customer as to where Microsoft is going. Many businesses hate to spend money on anything and new software is no exception. They hate the idea of a price increase and may look for alternatives, but when they get done looking, they come back to Microsoft.
Posted by: StorageGuru   Posted on: 02/03/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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Too bad they can't balance their greed with their software quality!!  Bobby Sskcat | 02/03/04
Not the Whole World!  ShadeTree | 02/03/04
No, 95% of users laugh at him.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
Ummm Bit..we ALL know that you are both No_Ax and Shadetree...so..  Bobby Sskcat | 02/03/04
How can one so small be so wrong?  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
Most of us don't really care that you are so small and so wrong!  B.O.F.H. | 02/03/04
Thanks for caring and responding.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
Typical Bit == Typical Axe...  John Le'Brecage | 02/03/04
Sorry, didn't mean to submit that yet...  John Le'Brecage | 02/03/04
Typical Bit == Typical Axe...  John Le'Brecage | 02/03/04
Where???  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
Time to leave, grasshopper.  zd-spam | 02/03/04
Ah, another that can't face the facts.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
Since Zdnet loimits thread length. Here are your answers Axe.  John Le'Brecage | 02/03/04
Not Bit again!  ShadeTree | 02/04/04
Now you know...  BitTwiddler | 02/03/04
Uncaring  Bill4 | 02/03/04
Now don't go trampling egos, ShadeTree  IT_User | 02/03/04
So very true.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
could care less?  dlevesqu | 02/04/04
The whole world? You're living in fantasy land.  marksashton | 02/03/04
The plane boss, the plaaane!  Spoon Jabber | 02/03/04
Well, at least betwen the two of you...  IT_User | 02/03/04
Most of the world does know  StorageGuru | 02/03/04
No, Linux is not "doomed" on the desktop  IT_User | 02/03/04
But that's exactly how Microsoft marketed it's software  voska | 02/04/04
It's always a balance...  John L. Ries | 02/03/04
Or maybe..  vdraken | 02/03/04
Not at all.  Fred Fredrickson | 02/03/04
Quibble  IT_User | 02/03/04
Fair Quibble, but...  Fred Fredrickson | 02/03/04
One more adjustment  IT_User | 02/03/04
Well Fred, I stand corrected  IT_User | 02/04/04
Possibly  John L. Ries | 02/04/04
Huh?  rapson | 02/03/04
Don't jump too fast now..  Bobby Sskcat | 02/03/04
These are my own posts  rapson | 02/03/04
What's a business to some...  IT_User | 02/03/04
Re: Huh  John L. Ries | 02/04/04
MS learned a lesson.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
You can patent to your heart's content but...  Bobby Sskcat | 02/03/04
95% of the world agrees.  No_Ax_to_Grind | 02/03/04
But how many of those 95%...  Michael Kelly | 02/03/04
Yeah, it is a new ballgame  IT_User | 02/03/04
I didn't think longhorn was out yet?  voska | 02/04/04
They still have much to learn then  Fred Fredrickson | 02/03/04
They really only need one...  BitTwiddler | 02/03/04
Electronic Solitare..  vdraken | 02/03/04
Electronic Solitare..  vdraken | 02/03/04
Chemical Patents  Bill4 | 02/03/04
The 05 budget as submitted  IT_User | 02/03/04
MS SQL works for me  Christian_<>< | 02/03/04
good job  JWatson77 | 02/03/04
Wake me up when Microsoft invents something.  Xunil_Sierutuf | 02/03/04
saving in xml a invention - come on (NT)  JWatson77 | 02/03/04
I'll admit that has me a bit worried  IT_User | 02/03/04
Follow IBM's example  FilledOut | 02/03/04

What do you think?

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