Comment ...not as long as you think. (Score 1) 50
I agree that "margins are really tight" in the PC hardware market. But I doubt whether IBM nor any of the clone makers will preload Linux any time soon. Linux will have to grow market share to more than 20% in order for clone vendors to even consider it.
Windows still reigns supreme chiefly because of the so-called "network effect": it has more users, which has caused the establishment of a whole infrastructure around it, which has caused more users. It will take a while for that infrastructure (PC vendor support, software app vendor support, peripheral support, etc) to break down. Or it may never break down. Users benefit a lot from that infrastructure, so even if Linux is (almost) free, it is not easy for it to beat Windows.
"The only big problem with drivers is the Win devices." This is the peripheral infrastructure for Windows at work. Peripheral vendors are unwilling to disclose their specs for fear of being copied by competitors. They would rather build their own drivers; but they still can't justify spending development dollars for Linux drivers, not until Linux has at least 20% of the market. So, for a while at least, there will be no driver support in Linux-world for new peripherals.
C. Tapang
www.genericwindows.com
Windows still reigns supreme chiefly because of the so-called "network effect": it has more users, which has caused the establishment of a whole infrastructure around it, which has caused more users. It will take a while for that infrastructure (PC vendor support, software app vendor support, peripheral support, etc) to break down. Or it may never break down. Users benefit a lot from that infrastructure, so even if Linux is (almost) free, it is not easy for it to beat Windows.
"The only big problem with drivers is the Win devices." This is the peripheral infrastructure for Windows at work. Peripheral vendors are unwilling to disclose their specs for fear of being copied by competitors. They would rather build their own drivers; but they still can't justify spending development dollars for Linux drivers, not until Linux has at least 20% of the market. So, for a while at least, there will be no driver support in Linux-world for new peripherals.
C. Tapang
www.genericwindows.com
