I absolutely despise Microsoft, and will not adopt their new OS. After XP, I'm making the switch to Linux.
Some "interesting" food for thought..
http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit029.html#longhorn
Quotes:
"The most important feature of Longhorn is replacement of the familiar DOS/Windows filesystem with an object database (W0). You will no longer copy files to a floppy or CD-ROM or attach them to an email, because there will be no files. Database records will be copied from one database to another, probably through a .NET server. Large organizations will have their own .NET servers, but everyone else will use one of Microsoft's, a service for which you will pay a fee."
"Current Windows based software will not be compatible with the Longhorn filesystem (W26. Microsoft has already stated that all their own software has to be rewritten for it - so will everyone else's. This will eliminate a huge number of software titles which are useful, but not sufficiently profitable to justify rewriting them. Others will fail because their conversion won't be done in time to compete with Microsoft products."
"Given Microsoft's enthusiasm for "rich data formats", I expect Longhorn is going to eat disk space at an alarming rate. Perhaps this is why Microsoft has suddenly taken a strong interest in storage technology and services (W9). It's also going to be a major backup problem, so watch for Microsoft to start offering .NET backup services (for which you will pay a fee)."
+++ More interesting stuff on Microsoft's plans to kill all competing Operating Systems including Linux +++
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Microsoft's current push is to have complete control over hardware design and availability. The practice of issuing joint Intel / Microsoft PC design specifications came to an end with the PC 2001 issue (J2). Microsoft alone now specifies PC design, leaving Intel as only a manufacturer (J3). This control is now made final and all encompasing by the Athens PC design.
Microsoft has three pressing reasons for seizing control of hardware design:
* DRM (Digital Rights Management): Microsoft is assuring the motion picture and recording industries it will be the "safe" channel for distributing digital content that cannot be pirated. Credibility of this claim requires complete control of the hardware Windows will run on (see also Palladium and Home and Entertainment below).
* Home Electronics: With XBox, Microsoft has started a move to control household electronics and entertainment. This goes hand in hand with their DRM efforts - Microsoft hardware will be the only means by which much entertainment content will be available, and competing DRM schemes can be blocked. The "Athens" PC extends this control to the telphone system.
* Open Source: Competition from Open Source products like Linux is being taken very seriously by Microsoft. It is already hindering their expansion in the business market, and they certainly don't want that to happen in the home market.
By controlling the hardware platform they can assure that open source products do not have access to important hardware features. They have already stated that Palladium will not be ported to non-Windows platforms."