Cheap Solid State Computers Could Kill Microsoft 427
Eh-Wire writes "This is an interesting point made by a Clayton Hallmark on IndyMedia out of Argentina. He predicts that cheap Asian computing appliances with an Open Source Operating System on a chip will be the ultimate MS killer. References to the US$220 Mobilis out of India suggest the begining of newer, more powerful, and cheaper things to come. Mr. Hallmark also points to the success of the Wal-Mart cheap PC as proof the end is near for proprietory software. Overall an in interesting and thought provoking read."
Re:Not that likely... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Ahem... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Not that likely... (Score:2, Interesting)
Knocking out that sort of company can't be done with a single thrust (like a cheap computer).
For example, with that sort of money on hand, I recommend they buy Intel (or AMD) and Seagate, then almost give the CPUs/disks away - make the whole box a commodity. TCO drops and everyone can afford MS software. The software becomes the key factor again. MS continue to extend their protocols to ensure non-interaction (as they constantly do now).
Solid State PC + google (Score:3, Interesting)
Why "MS Killer" ? (Score:2, Interesting)
Does it really matter anyway? Do we want microsoft gone? Let's say there is no microsoft anymore from this very day on. Does the industry improve? Try not to respond emotionally, but think about it.
pricing ms out of the market (Score:3, Interesting)
It's in the nature of things that electronics approaches zero cost over time (I've got a $5 calculator that has more features than the $100 one I bought five years ago.) MS can't follow hardware down in price without affecting profits.
Re:Daily dose of slashdot lame stories (Score:2, Interesting)
It's the nature of things that the status quo always changes, given long enough. But I do agree that the modern so-called MS-Killers aren't anything of the kind.
(I'm a long-term Linux user thinking of switching to a mac soon - and my non-technical friends have mostly been converted oover to Linux or MacOS at this point - but I don't think it's likely to happen to everyone anytime soon)
Instant On ala 1985 (Score:1, Interesting)
My old Toshiba MSX (1.0) booted within seconds. Loading 64Kb of word processing software from tape took a little longer; but you could stick in ROM cartridges and be playing instantly at a blazing 3.5Mhz.
So a PC look a like that gets me working after just pressing the "ON" button and doesn't have a dumb "SHUT DOWN" sequence (power off should be good enough) gets my money.
At the moment I just never turn a PC off anymore so that I have the ability to do things when I want them without having enough waiting time to boil a kettle of water.
[/Rant]
Re:Not that likely... (Score:1, Interesting)
I love to break this to you Mr Ballmer: It sure isn't your money, and you're fired.
If you've already gone through with the acquisition of Intel then I'm putting the Intel guys in charge of the whole operation. Like you they have a history of making money and unlike you they 1) arestill making money right now 2) don't appear to have gone completely insane.
It happens more often than not (Score:1, Interesting)
See: The Innovator's Dilemma, Cristensen, Clayton.
Finally a home computer after 20 years! (Score:4, Interesting)
So why should the mass market, the home users, use systems designed solely for accountants and managers that were retrofitted for home use? What we need is a computer that have been desiged from ground up for home use with hardware closely designed with software. In short a mass market Apple. Linux could be and has been shown to be the operating system for this dream as it is inexpensive, well supported and customzable as it has been shown in cunsumer products as some DVD players and TiVO style boxes.
Hope we have real home computers comming back soon, has been a while.
Re:Hmmm. kill microsoft? or help them? (Score:4, Interesting)
In the UK it is already legislated that you can't mess with your hardware, and trying to mod a PS2 can land you in jail. You make a good point about the xbox, even though they failed [xbox-linux.org], but if a 3rd party is making the machine then they don't have much incentive to lock it to Windows unless bribed by M$.
Phillip.
Re:Which cheap PC? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Not that likely... (Score:1, Interesting)
Re:Ahem... (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm pretty sure that both the Apple Macintosh and the Commodore 64 qualify as a personal computer. They're computers and they're personal. Bang.
I have started using "IBM compatible" to describe IA32 compatible computers again. Maybe it will show some people that a personal computer is not universally defined as an IA32 box running a 32 bit Windows.
Nah. Microsoft is losing the embedded market. (Score:3, Interesting)
Don't be; MS is losing the embedded market. Check out this picture of the current market:p g [linuxdevices.com]
http://linuxdevices.com/files/article056/vdc_28.j
Linux is at 25% and growing. All of the Windows versions together give 24%, and not one of them on their own tops 10%. This is down from a total of a 33% marketshare from 5 years ago.
So Linux already is the Market Leader in the embedded space. And if it keeps growing like it has, MS will just have a fraction of the sales. Sort of like how VxWorks has gone from a 35% to a 12% marketshare over the past 5 years.
Re:Not that likely... (Score:2, Interesting)
1. Should cheaper hardware become available, MS will make it legal. Er, MS will make their OS run on it, this insta-slaughtering the other OS.
2. You still have to get applications running on it to interest anyone but a handful of techies. Again, in addition to porting Windows, MS has the backup option of porting their apps to the new OS, thus turning it into a cash cow for them. IIRC, MS earns more per Apple sold than per PC.
So this is slaying Microsoft just how again? (Note that refusing to port their apps to Linux is slowing adoption among hoi polloi.)
Re:Not that likely... (Score:3, Interesting)
Although Queen of England and the Queen of Canada is the same person, the role of monach for both realms are independent and however unlikely, can be filled by different people.
For example, if Charles decides he wants to be a Roman Catholic, he would lose his ability to be King (Since the Monarch is the head of the Church of England [Anglican/Episcopalian])*, he/she cannot be of a different religion. Since Canada does not have a state religion, and a Charter of Rights that bars discrimination based on religion, it is possible. Canada could, if it wanted to, follow a different path than that of the UK.
Is it worth the government's time, effort and headache to do something as silly as this? No.
---
* The Act of Settlement, 1701 (UK) bars a Roman Catholic from being King or Queen.
PS. I am not a lawyer, I don't want to be one. I won't recommend one either,