Comment Re:A compelling Linux on ARM netbook will worry MS (Score 1) 521
Linux predictions always depend on Microsoft bungling the response to a new threat. If MS had stuck with its plans to mothball XP Linux would be considerably more common on Netbooks and there would be more active interest from manufactures in support a Linux version for their machines the way the currently do for Windows. As it was MS did what they had to do to give customers a familiar Microsoft product to choose over Linux.
People will most often choose familiar products if they can, switching to something that is different but "just as good"
The key is that Linux keeps creating more challenges for MS, forcing them to lower prices, increase performance and think of what the customers really want. Without the competitive threats Linux poses, Microsoft would normally charge more for bloated products that are upgraded when Microsoft WANTS you to upgrade. It's not their fault, that is what a complacent monopoly does. They should thank Linux, it has saved them from 2 or 3 really stupid moves.