If you are talking pure theory, and have infinite resources, I believe it is technically possible to perfectly duplicate the windows API (not sure about legal challenges). But if you had anything less than infinite resources, there will always be at least one obscure incompatibility because of the infinite ways all the pieces can interconnect. Just my opinion, no sources.

What' the reference, couldn't find it?

I would also like to add apps: /apps /home /linux That way you can nuke /linux whenever you want and keep your apps. Also, often you have to mess around with config for apps, maybe copy in a plugin etc. No need for it to be mixed up with core linux. To take it a step further, it would be nice to completely get rid of /opt, /var, and other non-human oriented fragmentation that was only there to be able to partition them separately and enforce different computer-related rules.

This is not your grandpa's thin client. Imagine you had your desktop exactly as it was, with the slight modification that it would back itself up silently to a server of your choosing. Then if you bought a new computer, or used someone else's computer, you could login into your account, have it rebuild/resume your saved state, allowing you to continue running your apps locally. Wouldn't that just be better in every way? That's where Google's going, and why they are pursuing something as costly are gargantuan as building an OS. Otherwise, they would just continue to build for the browser.

Practically speaking, I don't think MSFT's pockets are deeper. Sure they make/have more money, but are they going to shutdown XBOX, Zune, Office, SQL Server, CRM and Exchange just to compete with Google? Mano e mano I'd say they have about the same amount of cash to burn.

Amen! Nothing makes me madder than letting markets decide the value of of someone's work!

Yeah! How dare people get paid in multiple small transactions rather than in one equivalent sum!

Uhhh... so turn off the graphics? You can make it exactly like windows 2000 with the click of a button - what kind of programmer are you :p

Finding out whether an escort service is an "escort service" or not, is a costly and time consuming business. They get busted all the time, but the cops can't do 'em all. And by the time they finish busting one, two more pop up ready to take its place. Sound familiar?

The law, like life, is very nuanced. If you have one bad phone number in a big phonebook, its ok. But if your entire phonebook is full of drug dealers and prostitutes, AND you're making money advertising, the law provides mechanisms to differentiate the two. (disclaimer: I am a drug dealer and prostitute.)

The way to think about it is to estimate the maximum amount the world is willing to pay NOT to LOSE their Linux. RedHat would pay at least half their worth (2.6B / 2 = 1.3B) to stop you from pressing the NukeAllKernels button. Cisco would pay at least a sixth of their market cap (109B / 6 = 18B). That's already almost 20B! How much would you pay to not have your Linux nuked?