Smart Partner: Is Microsoft Going Down The Tubes?

"Today, Microsoft presents users with a bewildering array of end-user operating system options: Windows 95, Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000 Professional and Windows CE. With so much potential confusion, is it any wonder that people are beginning to look at other end-user operating systems' Corel Linux, a consumer's Linux, while far from a hit, has garnered a small following. As the Unix desktop interface programs KDE and Gnome mature, we can look forward to seeing even more user-friendly interfaces appearing on top of Linux, the BSD OSes and Solaris."

"Think that none of those are really suitable for a desktop' Think again. Many hardware OEMs--like market leaders, Compaq, Dell, Gateway and IBM--are now placing Linux desktops on PCs due to customer demand. Even Sun, with its new Sun Ray line, is giving the desktop market another try. Give users a familiar, Windows-like interface--which you can do with both KDE and they can use with both KDE and Gnome--and a low price tag, and you've got the making of a Windows' killer."

"The usual response to that by Microsoft fans is, "But there aren't any applications!" Give me a break. You've got Sun's Star Office and VistaSource's Applixware for office work, Netscape Navigator for a browser and mail readers that aren't susceptible to Outlook Transmitted Diseases (OTD) like Melissa. That argument hasn't held water for years."

Complete Story

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• PC World: Suite Freedom With StarOffice(Aug 17, 2000)
• The Register: StarOffice creator on the GNOME pact(Aug 15, 2000)
• About.com: Applix Office 5.0 [Review](Aug 12, 2000)
• LinuxPlanet: Editor's Note: Brilliant Disguise: Sun to Release StarOffice under GPL(Aug 07, 2000)
• Canada Computes: Applixware Office For Linux: hot Words(Aug 07, 2000)
• LinuxToday.com.au: Cut StarOffice in half(Jul 23, 2000)
• Sun.com: Sun Microsystems Open Sources StarOffice Technology(Jul 19, 2000)
• LinuxPlanet: Word to the Wise... StarOffice 5.2: The Next Generation from Sun(Apr 25, 2000)
• LinuxPR: VistaSource Unveils Linux Office Solutions - Applixware Version 5.0(Apr 24, 2000)
• Sun.com: StarOffice 5.2 Software Preview(Apr 06, 2000)