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Thread ID: 67381	2006-03-26 02:26:00	Does Linux still pose a threat to Microsoft?	mister harbies (5607)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
440850	2006-03-28 11:08:00	I agree that MS will lose its' dominance at some time - all empires come to and end eventually. But I don't think that Linux will fulfill the average users needs. That leaves Apple.... or a Google OS? With the delay (again) of Vista until after Christmas perhaps people will look at alternatives. But Apple will need to change its' marketing strategy if it wants to appeal to the mass market. MS never was the best OS, it only survived when others imploded due to poor marketing. Nor were IBM PC compatables the best systems. Perhaps Apple will be the Phoenix that rises from the ashes?	Standing_Amazed (7841)
440851	2006-03-28 12:05:00	And Graham, I am not asking for a debate. I just wanna know the 'facts' Facts... Microsoft has n% of the desktop market; Apple has so much and Linux so much. As to what happens in one month, one year who knows, not even Bill Gates. I will still use Linux. The sun will still shine (during the day that is). :waughh:	dolby digital (5073)
440852	2006-03-28 12:55:00	Can you actually put Apple & "marketing" in the same sentence nowadays? I'm old enough to remember when I knew there was such a thing as an Apple Mackintosh, although I knew nobody who owned a computer. I don't think I even knew the name Microsoft in those days. Next I heard that Apple computers were in schools. My 12 year-old cousin showed me what he could do with one he was allowed to bring home for the holdidays. Later I had friends who owned them (and loved them) and I remember seeing Apple ads in my junk mail. But that all vanished. Nowadays they have no advertising profile which reaches Mr & Mrs Average. I'm going by my own experience here. I'm constantly deluged with junk mail from Microsoft retailers. But the Apple shop here in Dunedin doesn't advertise in anything I've noticed & doesn't have a mainstreet site. If Apple coasts on its reputation with current users & doesn't feel the necessity to shout loudly for new ones, Microsoft's marketing will continue to make the running. All of this relates to Apple's PCs, of course. The iPod's massive publicity is a different matter entirely... But if they can market that, (which cynics could say will be overtaken by the "next new thing,") why not their basic desktop? ( I have no marketing qualifications and have never used an Apple. Just my thoughts...) P.S. And while I was thinking & posting, dolby digital summed it up very briefly & better)	Laura (43)
440853	2006-03-28 18:54:00	. . . . . , Linux has shot itself in the foot so often that in its current state its getting no software suport . . . . I beg to differ . Linux offers the comprehensive allthough bewildering full documentation available with most distros, and all over the net . However I found the best support is other users, in forums such as these, and that's the same for any OS or computer related issue . It's only the latest greatest version with the latest greatest issues that have poor support, however that applies to ALL software for obvious reasons . Given that Microsoft haven't put out a major OS for some time, their issues are now well known and the support for them is old hat . I suppose that does give them a support advantage, but IMHO, for all the wrong reasons .	personthingy (1670)
440854	2006-03-28 19:13:00	I think Laura has a very valid point. Apple. As far as I know they do no marketing. I can not recall ever seeing an advertisement for one. I do not even know where I could buy one. I see the occasional review for one , but to me they just seem to be "space fillers" for journalists with nothing better to do. The impression I'm left with. They are good computers. They are way over-priced,compared to a PC. They are used by graphic designers because they have better graphics. (I doubt that). There's not much software for them. They may, or may not, run some PC software.They are on the verge of bankruptcy. Or they are not.Depends on the writer's opinion. As I said, these are my impressions. If I'm wrong why doesn't Mr Mcintosh (don't even know his xtian name) do something about it? Personaly, I am quite happy with MS software and PC's. They could be improved, and probably will be. Nobody gets a perfect product first time. Think of all the lost sales if they did. As for Linux. If they ever get a version that is perfectly plug and play I will certainly give them another try. I have three versions at present. Tried them all. I want my modem, mouse, printer and scanner. I don't have them with Linux. I'm told there are linux drivers for these things. But where? I want something that works "out of the box". I can't see Wintel/AMD losing there dominance in my life time	JJJJJ (528)
440855	2006-03-28 21:06:00	As for Linux . If they ever get a version that is perfectly plug and play I will certainly give them another try . I have three versions at present . Tried them all . I want my modem, mouse, printer and scanner . I don't have them with Linux . OK . . modems are an ongoing issue, but a hardware modem such as an exteranal one running from the serial port WILL work, others may work . With modem use getting rarer, it would appear that this is an issue that if ignored long enough will go away . That's probably not what you want to hear though . As for scanners cameras etc, its getting harder and harder to find ones thats aren't supported to some extent . When i plug cameras into my Linux system, they are seen as an exteranal drive, and i shift files from them accordingly . Cameras are dealt with in much the same way as a thumb drive . Scanners just go . simple as that . I've been running Mepis 3 . 4 . 3 and am yet to find hardware issues, other than a scanner which was presented to me to try, but the owner later told me it won't work under windows, even though it used to . . . I assume the scanner has more than just driver issues . Printers? Another weakness . But there are many that work well, and many that don't . I'd take this into account if i ever bought a printer .	personthingy (1670)
440856	2006-03-29 06:24:00	I think Laura has a very valid point. Apple. As far as I know they do no marketing. I can not recall ever seeing an advertisement for one. I do not even know where I could buy one. I see the occasional review for one , but to me they just seem to be "space fillers" for journalists with nothing better to do. The impression I'm left with. They are good computers. They are way over-priced,compared to a PC. They are used by graphic designers because they have better graphics. (I doubt that). There's not much software for them. They may, or may not, run some PC software.They are on the verge of bankruptcy. Or they are not.Depends on the writer's opinion. As I said, these are my impressions. If I'm wrong why doesn't Mr Mcintosh (don't even know his xtian name) do something about it? Personaly, I am quite happy with MS software and PC's. They could be improved, and probably will be. Nobody gets a perfect product first time. Think of all the lost sales if they did. As for Linux. If they ever get a version that is perfectly plug and play I will certainly give them another try. I have three versions at present. Tried them all. I want my modem, mouse, printer and scanner. I don't have them with Linux. I'm told there are linux drivers for these things. But where? I want something that works "out of the box". I can't see Wintel/AMD losing there dominance in my life time the reason you don't see much marketing in NZ with apple is because apple don't have a branch here, there products are imported and distributed by renaisance which deal with apple australia, heaps of advertising in country's where apple have a head office. prices are still higher then a windows based system but that gap narrowing all the time. There is heaps of software for them. Apple was in dire straits in the mid 90's untill Steve Jobs was recalled to turn the company around and now is very successful(check out how much apple shares are) I was under the impression that linux was been used by more goverment departments now, although not free versions there must be support out there for them otherwise they wouldn't touch it	plod (107)
440857	2006-03-29 08:30:00	I beg to differ . Linux offers the comprehensive allthough bewildering full documentation available with most distros, and all over the net . However I found the best support is other users, in forums such as these, and that's the same for any OS or computer related issue . It's only the latest greatest version with the latest greatest issues that have poor support, however that applies to ALL software for obvious reasons . Given that Microsoft haven't put out a major OS for some time, their issues are now well known and the support for them is old hat . I suppose that does give them a support advantage, but IMHO, for all the wrong reasons . perhaps I worded that badly, I meant no or little widely used software is released for the platform, As I stated in the past I feel the OS of choice is of little relivance, it is only their as a platform for people to run their desired prgrams on, I think the idea of Linux is great , but untill there is native support for the programs I use then its useless to me . I can't see the situation changing simply because of the model used to create/support and destribute Linux, It will no doubt soldier on as a product used by those with such a strong tie to their OS but I believe its an evolutionary dead end, Its salvation will only come if a mega-corperation sinks billions into one flaver (to rule them all) , rebrands it, reskins it, and ties it to a killer rig . . . much like what Apple have done, but this this time without performance lies, inlfated prices, and wanky marketing . . . . And hopefully more then 0 . 25 of overall sales	Metla (12)
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