Re:Just like Windows (Score 1)

I found it kind of ironic that the phrase 'just like Windows' used by Linux users a lot while at the same time disgusted with Windows' downfalls. Let assume that Linux won the desktop war and no more Windows, no more Microsoft. What do we have left? An open-source and free OS (and free software) that ANYBODY could customize to their heart content. Software companies would pretty much out of business since they wouldn't survive making money on distribution cost alone. Supporting cost would be the only piece of pie left beside hardware. Who would be in control of Linux's future development? Who would dictate what ever new features would be included in the next release and what not? Big boys like IBM, Sun, HP would not likely to let that remains in the hands of current group of developers (Like Sun's current iron grip on Java). Who would be willing to spend billions dollar in research for the next generation of user interface or what not and have it available for free to all? If you think all those different Unix OSes were bad enough, Linux's variations would exploded. Everybody would think their own modifications is better and think others should use theirs. Support cost would be sky-rocketted. As I see it, both Linux and Windows have their ups & downs. Microsoft may be the big bad boy that everybody loves to hate. But Microsoft also contributed a lot to the computing world while also making tons of money doing it. That is what Microsoft good at: making money. It reaches it hands into everything and leave nothing unturned. It is greedy and doesn't think highly of itself (which is the key difference between Apple and Windows). If there is something out there that it doesn't have, it is willing to buy, copy, or steal it. Because Windows is used almost everywhere, it is slower to adapt to changes in the computing environment. But it does change and improves everyday. What would happen to Linux if Microsoft manages to lock down Windows and makes it as secure as Linux while maintains its user-friendliness features? Sure it won't happen for a while but eventually, Microsoft will finish the job. Don't discount Microsoft. They will go down fighting. Just take a look at their previous battles: Apple/OS2 vs Windows, IE vs Netscape, Lotus123 vs Excel, Office war; and their current battles: Java vs .Net, Linux vs Windows. I wouldn't be surprise if Micrsoft do a Linux distro and making tons of money of it!