Vista: The Last Microsoft Operating System that will Matter
Consumers will be getting their hands on Vista shortly so I thought it's only appropriate to start imagining what the next Microsoft OS will be like. Then I came to the conclusion it doesn't matter (in the sense that it doesn't matter if my computer uses an Intel or AMD processor). By the time the next MS operating system is rolled out, we'll be spending most of our time in a browser using tools like Google/Yahoo/MSN mail, ThinkFree Web Office Suite, and some kind of WebOS.
Sound like the hype of an anti-Microsoft type? Not at all. I've been using Windows since version 3.1 but I also have Mac OS, and Linux desktops/laptops. OSes just aren't that big a deal. I need the applications that run on them, and I think most user have similar feelings.
Consider the advantages of a WebOS: access to files from anywhere (like I get now from ThinkFree), runs on just about any platform, requires less storage and processing power, its easier to manage, and I'm going to argue, eventually more secure. Economies of scale work in favor of security. Just think, how many people does your organization have dedicated to security? Now how many does Google have? One of the biggest problems we have now is a large number of poorly protected, high-powered PCs with broadband connections generating spam as fast as we can filter it. Lets dumb down the machines.
We are starting to see the beginning of the "Small-but-Web-Connected is Beautiful" with smartphones that can store small databases and Ipods which can be used for giving PowerPoint presentations. Then there is the $100 Laptop project led by Nciholas Negroponte at MIT and the LiteComputer by Lite Appliances. Lite, network centric computing platforms don't need oversized operating systems.
Will your organization adopt a Web-centric computing platform?
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Comments
Sun has been saying it for years - "The network IS the computer" and its coming to pass. It truly matters little what operating system I use anymore - I have XP on one box and Ubuntu on another (thank Goodness that Linux has finally gotten to the point where a non-sys-admin can install and use it!), with most of my data on the network and a growing number of my applications running in browsers or remotely. (And my job has wholly become writing software that others will use over the network.) I know Vista is out there, but frankly, it doesn't concern or interest me...
Posted by: Jim | February 8, 2007 12:13 AM
Even for people who do care about Vista, it can be a slog. Bob Kelly from the Realtime Vista Community posted a podcast that include his bad upgrade experience.
http://www.realtime-vista.com/podcast/2007/02/vista_hits_the_streets.htm
Posted by: Dan | February 8, 2007 12:46 PM