Byte.com: OS Choices Getting Better, But Still Limited

“To be fair, things are — slowly — changing. Companies like
Dell and IBM are clearly making increasing investments in and
commitments to Linux. (A quick check of the Dell website did turn
up options such as higher-end workstations on Linux or NT. On the
other hand, a quick check of a home/home office desktop offering
showed exactly one operating system choice, whose name ended in
98.)…”

“Am I criticizing Windows? Not here. Is it harder for stores to
offer, stock, and support more OSes? No doubt. Would we be better
off if we had at least a few more choices, say, BeOS in the
consumer outlets, and some Linux, BSDs, and OS/2 (and BeOS) in the
technical/business channels? I’d like to think so.’

“Because when there’s more options besides “Use our
operating systems or go back to your typewriter and calculator,”
there’s a little more pressure on the vendors to build things that
work right and that play well with others. At least, I’d like
to think so.”

Complete
Story