ZDNet UK: Windows 98 Lifeline ‘Prompted by Linux Threat’

[ Thanks to Jason
Greenwood for this link. ]

“The growing threat from Linux is responsible for Microsoft’s
last-minute decision to extend the life of Windows 98. Analysts say
there has never been a better time to try and negotiate a deal on
the company’s software.

“Various research indicates that Windows 98 is still installed
on about a quarter of all PCs, meaning that if Microsoft had
stopped supporting the operating system as planned, the next time
that a security bug was discovered, millions of PCs would be left
vulnerable and users would be left with the option of either
upgrading to a newer version of Windows, or looking for an
alternative. Although many companies would upgrade because their
applications or hardware require Windows, a significant chunk would
be free to consider alternatives, such as Linux…”

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