Whose Platform is it, Anyway?

“Remember how you’re not supposed to ask for something
unless you really want it? I predicted, a few short years ago, that
we would cease to bind ourselves to a particular platform or
operating system. Now that the future is here, I’m looking to
it with a tinge of trepidation. I’m not sure that I’m
ready for what’s to come: a world without local operating
systems. And one where everything is virtual. Windows, Linux, Mac
OS, Solaris, HP-UX, AIX and will cease to have any significance to
the end user. The end user will only see services or applications
but not operating systems. For the end user, the operating system
will not exist.

“Operating systems will still exist, of course, on server
hardware clouds and they’ll provide everything we need from a
service standpoint. Localized operating systems (Desktops) will
obsolete themselves from existence. Electronic devices will have
enough storage for files and a minimal “boot to
service” operating systemlet. The days of fat, local
operating systems are numbered.”

Complete
Story