*NIXEDBLOG 3.0

Thomas Holbrook II | *NIXEDBLOG 3.0

Related: So what? Windows 7: 7 Reasons Not to Get too Excited – Linux Magazine Online.

Let’s face it.  Vista sucked big time.  It continues to suck today, even with the first service pack installed.  It is that disappointment that’s fueld interest in Windows 7.  Some have argued that it was what Vista should have been, and it hasn’t even been released for sale yet.  Others are taking a wait and see approach.  Marcel Hilzinger of LinuxPro Magazine has more of a ho hum attitude.  He sees no point in getting excited about the next release from Microsoft.

Hilzinger argues that 7 will not save Microsoft from their great fall in the operating system market.  Unfortunately, as one of the people commenting said in that article, he is being too optimistic.  It is for this reason that I’m writing this rebuttal.

Point-by-Point

Before beginning, I would like to note that the author is arguing that it’s the same old Windows.  I hate to break his heart, but no it’s not.  I am currently testing the release candidate on one of my systems (more details in a future post), and I’ve got to say this: there are subtle changes that need to be noted.  More on that later.

1. Windows is destined to lose more market share:
Windows is not going to gain any ground over Linux. The OS from Redmond simply has too high of a market share for the quality of what they are putting on the market. In addition, the new Windows fails to offer any incentive for the Linux user to make the switch to Microsoft. Even if Windows 7 were to be the absolute best Windows the world had ever seen, in the end it would still be Closed Source.

With this edition, Windows will not change the fact that users are changing to Linux and free software in higher numbers. To the contrary, the process will simply be sped up. With Windows 7, the biggest impact will occur among the various Windows versions, while the overall Windows market share is expected to sink further.

First of all, way too many erroneous assumptions are being made here.  He states that Windows is destined to lose more market share yet fails to explain to why.  Sure, there’s other alternatives out there that are gaining ground, but he could have at least cited recent migrations taking place.  Also, it’s dangerous to assume that Microsoft developers aren’t capable of making quality products.  Not only that, but why does Hilzinger believe that Microsoft is targeting those who are using Linux-based systems?  A great deal of those disappointed with Vista either stuck with XP or moved to Apple (and there were of course those who moved to a *nixed environment).  Finally, open source products do not automatically make them high quality.  It depends on the developers.

2. Hardly a new feature:
Linux hackers were once said to be notorious for stealing a variety of ideas from Microsoft. In contrast to this day and age, a peek at the Microsoft’s description of Windows 7 reveals that there is little material to interest anyone hungry for innovation. Most of the new desktop features are hardly impressive: for example, larger desktop icons grace this new Windows product. Also, the Explorer integrated disc burning program now works with ISO copy data, but this is more of a clear indication that Windows 7 users could have an easier time of it with an Ubuntu CD. Another point is that the new version sacrifices a whole slew of accessories that were standard fare in Vista.

Sometimes innovation can be more harmful than helpful.  Remember KDE4?  Microsoft Office 2007?  The latest KDE confused quite a few people of course.  So did the ribbon interface of Office 2007.  Sometimes fixing things that aren’t broken isn’t a good idea.  Larger icons are a good idea, especially for larger displays.  More than *nix distros are in the form of ISO files.  Data backups and application distribution are other uses for ISO images.  As for accessories not being included, Brad Linder of Download Squad has an interesting explaination: anti-trust issues.  Also, keep in mind that there are plenty of users out there who still run Windows, but may run alternative software on top of it, such as Pidgin for instant messaging, Firefox for web browsing, Picasa for photos, and more.

3. The world doesn’t need Tablet PCs:
Among the most celebrated features of the new Windows version are the touchscreen and the touch support in the vein of iPhone. Ten years ago, Microsoft attempted to introduce Tablet PCs (earlier under the name of Windows for Pen Computers) and had yet to differentiate between a computer with which the user worked, wrote emails, and chatted, and a Smart Phone. The Netbooks with touchscreen and touchscreen desktops are destined to disappear just as quickly from the market as the Tablet PCs because the pen and finger are two tools that work quite well for some uses, but considerably less for others.

That’s Hilzinger’s opinion, not documented fact.  There are plenty of uses for computers with a pen-based touch screen.  As for disappearing from the market, explain this Google search result.  Touch screen computing does have its potential.  Ask Apple.

4. Hardware requirements – still too high:
Although the new Windows is officially compatible with Netbooks, the hardware requirements are still considerably too high. Even when the standard new computer has 1 GB available, many notebooks function with 512 MB over 786. Windows 7 needs at least 1 GB to run, and the 64 bit version requires at least 2 GB RAM. Also, in matters of disk space, a partition for the installation of Windows 7 takes at least 16 GB. In this case, Linux installation clearly takes less pork to get going.

This can be a good marketing point for alternative operating systems.  There is one problem: hard drives keep getting bigger, and other hardware keeps getting faster.  While people who are satisfied with their Athlon XP or Pentium IV systems may not be too terribly interested in Windows 7, this does not take into account new computer users.  He does admit that most new systems will come with at least 1 GB of RAM.  Ubuntu vendors ZaReason and System76 sell portables with over 1 GB of RAM by default.  A great deal of their desktop systems also come with 1 GB or more of RAM by default.  Only if a person got tired of Windows would they be interested in the fact that Linux-based operating systems tend to take up less hard drive space, less RAM, etc.

5. Starter Edition for Dummies:
The most obvious difference between an Open Source and a Closed Source operating system is at its most noticeable when the features (although in reality still remaining) are eliminated via semi-user-defined criteria. The most affordable variation of the new Windows should allow three applications at most to be used at once. A slightly more careful look reveals that many of Windows’ own programs are exceptions, including the file manger, the control panel, and most smaller tools. Amusingly, the Starter Edition is supposed to leave the background image unaltered. Every Microsoft-for-Dummies customer is a potential future Linux user.

It should have been obvious that most of the parts of the OS would not count towards the application total.  Considering the existence of gadgets, software running in the background (protection suites), and other related stuff, wouldn’t it be logical to only include applications such as office suites, web browsers, and media players?  The author also doesn’t take into account the fact that not everyone cares about their desktop background.  I’m not defending the ultra cheap edition of 7 (I’m also questioning the sanity of the executives towards the top, who truly don’t understand the needs of a computer user).  I’m pointing out the obvious thing: not everybody’s going to care about certain things like desktop wallpaper and graphical themes.

6. The more Windows versions the better:
In the best case scenario, Windows 7 would get everyone’s attention and within six months Microsoft will have succeeded in replacing all existing Vista and XP computers with Windows 7 machines. Microsoft shouldn’t even dare to believe in such a far-fetched notion. The new Windows version (if it is actually good) will doubtless cause some customers to change over to Windows 7 and the computers sold already installed with Windows 7 will likely cause the Microsoft market share to increase to 10 percent. Whether Windows can jump the 50 percent hurdle is a matter for second consideration. In the worst case scenario (from Microsoft’s point of view), in 2011 we will see one third of all Microsoft users still on XP, one third using Vista, and one third using Windows 7 systems. This would cause customer support costs to rise and would complicate driver unit development. In the matter of browser competition between Firefox and MSIE, the situation was similar. Today, Firefox is close to pushing all versions of Internet Explorer to under 50 percent, if this hasn’t already been accomplished.

In addition, Windows 7 comes with a compatibility mode for Windows XP. This should cause a fair share of confusion, as this mode is only available for the Professional and Ultimate versions. The actual compatibility is only achieved when Windows XP hardware acceleration runs in a virtual machine (Windows Virtual PC).

Here, the author admits to not having running the release candidate himself.  In the third sentence, they make the statement in parenthesis that guarantees the audience that they haven’t tried it.  Now this isn’t to say that because somebody hasn’t tried something, they can’t call it as they see it.  Smoking crack is bad for you, and participation is not necessary to understand that fact.  However, there are times when one must watch a film they disagree with, take a course they know they won’t do well in, or run software that they wouldn’t have orignally considered running.  Why?  That one word is the key: I have run Windows Vista myself due to curiousity getting the best of me.  I am now in a good position to say that Vista sucks, but more importantly, I can say why from experience as opposed to only relying on blogs and news sites telling me why it sucks.  That is the reason that I’m running Windows 7 RC myself.  As for rising support costs, the author also doesn’t appear to understand an important point: 7 is essentially Vista.  Remember Windows 98?  Remember Windows 98 SE?  The second edition was essentially a bug fix for the original release.  In that similar vein, 7 is a bug fix of Vista (only this time, the version number has changed).  As for XP mode, there is nothing stopping the user from installing VirtualBox, and creating an XP virtual machine.

7. Microsoft no longer sets the standard:
When Windows XP was introduced onto the market, Microsoft could pretty much do whatever they wanted in terms of what was left alone and what was altered. If a program failed to work with Windows XP, the system was modified only until the desired compatibility was achieved. Much too often, hardware manufacturer standards were compromised or ignored. The times in which Microsoft set the standard are (thankfully) over. Even when the company with the ISO certificiation from Office Open XML aims for one last success, the software world is still heading in the direction of open standards and does without DRM more and more, the favorite plaything of Microsoft (and Apple). The standards today are set by the Community and the Web – two things that with which Microsoft is long since out of touch.

Microsoft never set the standard in the first place.  Yes, they became popular in the 1990′s, especially with Windows 95.  However, Linux, OS/2, OpenSolaris, and other operating systems and alternative applications have always existed.  Yes, OEM companies were bullied, and Microsoft paid for that.  It wasn’t by the hand of the DOJ, but by the hand of public opinion.  I myself didn’t agree with the anti-trust suit, but when I actually read the license agreement for Windows XP when it first came out, I remembered.  That was the difference, and that ignited the spark that would eventually lead to me exploring other operating systems.  While Microsoft doesn’t set standards per se, they still have a great deal of influence over other software vendors.  Why else is there no Photoshop for Linux or Warcraft for Linux?  The only reason said products exist for OS X is because of Apple’s image to the public (they’re a cool company in the eyes of many, many people and organizations), which brings me to the next point.

Conclusion

The reason why I’m running Windows 7 RC is so that I can say with certainty what its shortcomings are.  A good athlete or a good entrepreneur often studies the competition so they know where they stand.  While I have run into issues with the 64-bit edition (likely due to the Sound Blaster Audigy SE PCI card) blue screening from time to time (though not nearly as much after I updated the BIOS), the 32-bit edition is fairly solid.  Now keep in mind it’s the Ultimate edition, so the other editions are likely to have features per se.  As an operating system, it is quite stable.  Aero doesn’t interfere with the performance of Explorer or applications that are being run.  Running OpenOffice.org wasn’t a big deal either.  The fact that the 32-bit edition didn’t crash at all and is quite stable should say something very important.  The taskbar was also de-cluttered in a sense.  For example, say you have mutliple tabs opened in Internet Explorer or multiple instances of applications open.  They show up under one item in the task bar, and when the mouse moves over it, small previews for each window shows up, and when one of those previews is moused over, the window in question temporarily makes an appearance until the preview graphic is clicked.  The system tray was also organized with a single graphic.  Click on the arrow, and the system tray pops open showing the background services running, such as security suites and other software.  Why am I going on and on about what Windows 7 has?

Look, Microsoft as a corporation has pulled some very notorious snafus in the recent years.  Windows ME blew, XP product activation and genuine advantage caused plenty of IT headaches and consumer nightmares, and Vista…. yeah.  We all remember Vista.  While Linux, X.org, KDE, GNOME, XFCE, and other software projects have made quite a few improvements and have come such a long way, now is not the time to get cocky.  Assuming the executives and marketing people can just get out of the way and stay out of the way, Windows 7 has the potential of not only retaining existing Microsoft customers, but regaining those who have gone over to Apple.  Note that I didn’t include those who run Linux-based systems.  Why?  Most of them are pretty much won over.  There are going to be those who go back to what’s familiar to them out of sheer frustration (even now it happens) over some small detail they don’t quite understand (i.e. why they can’t watch the DVD they paid their hard earned money for… hey, it can still happen).  That number is going to go down with enough education and marketing, and here’s where it gets tricky.

If Windows 7 winds up being a decent product, not only could it gain back developers who have all but abandaoned the Windows platform, it could make it more difficult to turn people on to *nixed operating systems.  I remember talking to an individual who once worked for Microsoft.  When they ran a Linux-based operating system for the first time, they didn’t know what to expect.  When they could get everything working they way they wanted it to, which included compiling their own kernel, only then did they realize the freedom that they had.  Freedom is an after thought to many people.  They just want their computers to work and do what they ask them to do.  The problem at the moment is that the liberty aspect of software that’s licensed in such a way in which sharing is encouraged is marketed first, and a lot of the time, that’s where the failure occurs.  It’s like helios said a long time ago.  People don’t care about freedom.  They just want their systems working so they can get on with their busy schedule.  People also don’t like being preached to either, and if they see a product that’s proprietary and fits their needs, they’ll likely use that product.

What would prevent a user from considering such a product is if the price was too high.  This is where Microsoft can get into some trouble.  The multiple editions of 7 could also cause some headaches (umm…. how about just having a 32-bit and 64-bit edition for everybody?  Wait, that would make sense…).  Now I still have to test the OS In question on other systems, including a slimline desktop that I own, but from what I can tell thus far, it’s not a very good idea to underestimate Microsoft at this point.  They have recently raised some cash by selling off bonds.  Could it mean the buyout of a compnay?  Maybe, maybe not.  Either way, they have billions in extra funding, which means they have plenty of other options.  This also means the developers, documentation writers, and other participants in projects that share source code and encourage sharing alike will need to step it up, because from the looks of it, Microsoft intends to play for keeps.  The corporation in Redmond is like a wild animal that’s been cornered.  This is when they’re the most dangerous.