* Lennart Börjeson (LennartB@cinnober.com) [010601 03:22]: ->The success of Windows rests on three pillars: -> ->1) The acceptance of Windows as a game console. -> -> This is what most home PCs are used for. The typical Windows -> user wants out-of-the-box games compatibility. Just insert the CD! -> If Loki puts out more games with the ease of install that Tribes2 has..then I would say done to the above. ->2) The adoption of Word as a format for the exchange of documents. -> -> How many times have you not received a Word document in mail or via -> a web page? And with consistent regularity, it will have been made -> with a Word version later than the one you have, which forces you -> to upgrade. And the latest version of Word/Excel/etc is only available -> on the Windows platform... (This is, BTW, what killed NT on the RISC -> platforms (Mips, PowerPC, Alpha). There was ONLY Windows available, no -> office applications, which forced every user who needed the extra -> muscle offered by RISC to have two workstations at his/her desk.) Well, the Windows version of Office is slightly off when it comes to Office for Mac (I know, because my wife SCREAMS about it) and if there was a common format .. a true XML format that all WP's could exchange back and forth..this wouldn't be a problem. Most WP's have common functions these days and look a fair amount a like. This would be very easy to do. But MS embraces and extends everything so we shall see. -> ->3) The adoption of Exchange in the business community. -> -> This immediately forces all clients to use Outlook, which is only -> available on Windows. Yes, you can use POP3/IMAP/SMTP, but you'll miss -> out on all the "extra" group-ware utilities bundled with Exchange. -> -> (I've heard a rumour that the Web-interface of Exchange2000 can do -> everything Outlook can, but I'll bet that only applies to users of -> IE5+ on Windows...) -> Well, it took 3 years to get the Exchange needle into the veins of business. I know this, because I was a doing MS work in 97' and NO one was using Exchange. It was a big battle of backalley deals and stupid upper management decisions that got it where it is today. 3-3.5 years ago..everything was cc:mail and Lotus Notes. I remember working for Anheuser-Busch when they were changing over from Notes to Exchange and it was an upper management decision..that didn't even get asked to the email admin group (about 20 people at the headquarters)..they just said this is what you shall do. So if it can change that quickly to MS from Lotus...then it can change to something else. We just have to show them something better..a methedone solution to their habit. For a long time Linux developers have been concentrating on make the system rock solid and getting it usable by the masses. Linux has been around since 91' but if you think about it. It's only had massive development the last 4 years...so it's not as mature in some areas when it comes to software developed for it. It will get there..have no fear of that. ->Linux needs to counter Windows on all three fronts by offering 99.9% ->Windows compatibility + superior features, otherwise the common ->non-techie person won't stand the hassle of converting. -> It can never be 99.9% compatible, because M$ changes their file formats regularly to trip up their own customers so they must upgrade to the latest version of whatever. If their customers can't keep up...and their formats are closed which have to be reverse engineered .. we can't keep up. I have said over and over again for the last year that I *DO* not think M$ should be broken up. I think they should have to publish their file formats. If there were software out there that can import and export their formats and talk Windows like 2 brothers speaking the same language..they wouldn't stand a chance. If OpenOffice was format compatible completely with MSOffice and had the same ease of use as Office..they couldn't win. They would license and price themselves out of the markets they hold dear. I never want Linux to become like Windows. If it did. I would be going to FreeBSD or I would use Sparc Solaris full-time at home (already do at work). I just want everything to be able to talk to each other and I want to send a document to a co-worker and have them able to read it with no issue and have it formatted in an attractive manner. Just my 2.00 Regards, -- Ben Rosenberg mailto:ben@whack.org ----- If two men agree on everything, you can be sure that only one of them is doing the thinking.