Well, not exactly. Some of you “older” folks might remember back in the ’80s, when every manufacturer was making their own versions of PCs? And some like Kaypro even had their own OS’s? I can remember quite a few alternate OS’s that were in existence competing with DOS. After Microsoft got Windows 3.11 launched, a lot of the PC alternate industry simply died. The end. Or… was it?
Recently, Asus came out with a small PC, the “Eee”, which was… cute. It has a 7 inch screen, runs Linux, and has NO MOVING PARTS. Oh, you say, like a PDA, or a smartphone… well yes, and no. While the Eee does have Linux, it bypasses the user installation, and simply turns on, ready to run. This is a big draw to internet surfers. And, while it isn’t a game machine, it seems to have gone over pretty well for a gadget. Did I say “gadget”? Go look at the reviews of the Eee on any of the distributor web sites, such as Amazon, Tigerdirect, or Newegg, to name a few. Other than a very, very small amount of “cons” and low ratings, this PC concept is getting rave reviews for what it is doing. Ah well, it will pass, you say…
Not so! Just a quick browse shows that the Eee line is expanding, and has already introduced a 10″ screen model. Still, not exactly on a par with notebooks, though. Also, several other manufacturers are taking note of this, and are also producing, or about to produce, their own compact PCs. (Can you say “Dell E”? Dell!) I won’t say this is the end of Microsoft, but sure, this is a viable alternative to people who want to surf the net and use their PCs for communication. Within the next year, I think we will see some type of this product available in a more “user friendly” size for regular computing.
Let’s take a look - Microsoft has pretty much failed with Vista. By “failed” I mean, it isn’t taking off like XP did. A lot of people who buy computers buy them “just because”, and have no experience with alternate OS’s. This is what is fueling Vista right now. Corporations are hesitant to use it. My own software refuses to run on it, even though some have managed to “work around” Vista’s limits, and make some of the automation software work. So what then? Wait for the new version of Windows, in what, 3 years or so? How many Windows users will be left? Haw many will have jumped on the Linux bandwagon, or simply gone to a small PC?
I foresee a real dip in Windows sales, and eventually, within 10 years or so, see them going to supplying businesses and users with top-end servers, and workstations. The usual run-of-the mill PC will be gone, replaced by Linux, or its successor. The free software has taken root. Open source efforts are producing the best software. I’m expecting some of the automation guys to start an open source effort, even though it will take much time and effort - Linux is no longer a playtoy.
The alternate PCs are back with a competing OS, and low price. This time, they’re not going away.
Microsoft may have missed it this time.
