I need to at least comment on the Windows 7 vs. Linux item right now as there are so many people saying that Windows 7 will crush Linux.
People that are saying this are in a Windows fuzzy wuzzy dreamland of some sorts and are not in touch with reality. There is no way that Windows 7 will “crush” Linux in any way. Will they reduce some of the Linux market share in the Netbook market? Yes but a market share shift does not even remotely resemble crushing of another product.
Linux currently has a 30% market share with Netbooks. That is much less than Windows XP (the major market share holder) but is the most that Linux has ever had in the personal computing market. Linux will be around for a long time and will continue to morph into what users need. My personal belief is that we will see Linux still on a good portion of Netbooks and that it will show up even bigger in other areas.
Recent visitors to OS Attack might not have seen my HyperSpace review and if your not familiar with HyperSpace you need to check it out quick. Since my writing of that review I have found many sources that claim that Phoenix (BIOS manufacture and creator of HyperSpace) is working on deals with OEM’s to get HyperSpace installed on your next Windows 7 computer.
Now think about that. HyperSpace (Linux) being installed on a vast majority of Windows 7 machines is going to be exposing non-Linux users to it. This will make people more comfortable with Linux and increase their market share overall even if it means sharing the market on the same computers.
As the exposure continues to grow for Linux so will it’s user base. Windows 7 has it’s little things that drive me crazy and I am sure those things for other users will drive them to at least try out a distribution like Ubuntu.
Microsoft might think they are going to “crush” Linux in the Netbook market, meanwhile they are going to be side-swiped by Linux with products like HyperSpace.
Links to what others are saying about 7 vs Linux:: MaximumPC, Nick Farrell, ComputerWorld
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