I've been nonplussed the last few weeks as ordinarily sane compu-journalists opine that Windows 7 will somehow kill Linux on netbooks. This weekend, I had a chance to actually see XP running on an EEE 900, and I can tell you, Linux has nothing to fear from Redmond.
During my 13-year career as a compu-journalist, I have seen the pattern over and over. Microsoft pre-announces a product years before it will ship. Then, people who have built careers supporting Microsoft's products -- whether IT staff or journalists -- slavishly salivate, as if on cue. Purchase decisions are deferred, per recommendations of the trade press.
Next, the product is delayed. Purchase decisions are further deferred. Nothing can sway the devotion of the true Microsoft believers. And they think Linux "fanboys" are partisan!
Then, finally delivered, the Microsoft OS utterly fails to live up to its hype. And, the Microsoft ecosystem rejoices, secure in the knowledge that their help will still be needed to make Microsoft products usable.
Today, it turns out, XP is hardly usable on netbooks. What makes people think the next version of Windows will actually get better? Microsoft has never in its history delivered an OS upgrade that did not require SUBSTANTIALLY more resources than its predecessor. Is that really going to change? Really?
Full article here: Windows 7 no threat to netbook Linux
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