Yes, please continue to illustrate your powerful use of ad hominem. When you can't beat them, call them names!

Actually I have quite a bit of experience with Linux. Here's a tiny bit of proof... just search for ID 6746.

But unlike you, I seem to have experience with other operating systems as well.

You mean, like these?

How do you define "superior"? This argument is about the general masses, not just you. The question is, which system will the user would take home? I say it will be the Windows computer almost all of the time, and history completely has my side.

You do realize that OEMs have created pre-configured Linux desktop computers, right? And how well did that go?

If Apple can't dethrone Windows on the desktop, or even come close despite having an arguably better experience in every way (and much better than Linux)... you certainly are not going to do it either.

And you are an idiot if you think people will not pay for good/familiar software. They have been doing it for decades.

But please, continue to tell me about how THIS is the year of Linux on the desktop.

PEBKAC.

How do you think that's even a fair comparison? I could easily wipe the hard drive and put a Windows install that is finely tuned and put it in the box as well, and there's a good chance my install will have a better user experience than yours.

It's also about fame and power. Being noticed, having people rely on you, and being able to directly affect the lives of so many... these are like a drug.

And even if it starts out unselfishly, I've seen a few politicians get a taste of the drug and change ways. It sucks when I voted for them and feel the need to apologize for my support.

A solution to this problem is to organize decisions and action items into a centralized repository that can be viewed and tracked by everyone.

Email is best used for quick communication, not for project tracking.

Ballmer's best-before date was before he became CEO. He rode the monopoly train well past the station. The fact that he allowed the company to finally take risks with new product is pretty much the only twinkling of worthiness he had during his tenure.

And they should lie in it. Microsoft's monopoly in IE was one of the principal causes of stagnation in the industry during the mid 2000s.

Then again, that stagnation arguably led to some great innovations by others in the industry, which is why we've witnessed the mobile revolution and downfall of IE since.

Actually this brings up a side point... I would really like to have a good/standardized way to leave a voice message that works as you describe email, allowing the recipient to respond when you can get around to it. The problem with voicemail is that I have to call you to leave the message.

Calling interrupts you and you might answer, since you can't tell whether it needs immediate attention. So to leave an unimportant message, I need to type a text message or email... both of which are suboptimal in many situations (walking, driving, etc.).

Sure the web is decentralized, except for IP address assignment and DNS.

No, I'm pretty sure it is exactly unfathomable to any of us.

This is like saying Google is just a massive number of bits with a diverse range of activation functions finely tuned by evolution and experience.

While the statement is true, it bears little practical importance.

Whose reality? This is reality for many people.

Besides, if you take the "per GiB" out and just talk about a 500 GiB drive for $250, that is exactly how it works.

It's called money. Learn it.