Do you think Windows Vista will hurt Microsoft in the end?

I think the release of Vista may hurt Microsoft's monopoly in the end, because I think, a lot of people will use Linux instead of Vista. Vista is such a monster. It eats up a lot of resources, and users are required to buy lots of expensive hardware for it. I think there's a growing number of people who just don't want to spend any more money on their computers. People can get security and all the power with an older PC using Linux.

I think Microsoft would have been better off working on Windows XP, making it more efficient, adding features, and making improvements to it, instead of creating an entirely new system.

The number of dissatisfied Microsoft customers keeps growing. At what point do you expect a major migration to linux?

Do you think Windows Vista will hurt Microsoft in the end?anti virus

There is less software for linux

There are very few games for linux.

Especially no MMO games b/c open-source client means you can hack into it.

It is hard to install new software since you have to compile it on your machine.

There is no official support, so corporate customers would be tied to specific staff member or company who can maintain a specific version of linux.

Do you think Windows Vista will hurt Microsoft in the end?auto protect

Unfortunately, I think that you're wrong about any major migration to Linux. Microsoft has has become a defacto standard not only in terms of its operating system but also in terms of its Office suite of software. As such, it has inertia on its side. Never understimate the power of inertia: it's why we're still using QWERTY keyboard, which were designed to *slow down* typing to prevent jamming of keys on mechanical typewriters.

Linux is still too difficult to install and make work for the average user, and there are so many different distros and graphical user interfaces that the average consumer will stick with what everyone else is using (MS) rather than switch.